An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

9. םירִ ָבדּ ְ ה־ת ַ א ֶ וֹע ְמ ָשׁ ְבּ
ה ֶלּא֑ ֵ֫
הָ
10.
וֹב־וֹעגְ ִפ ְ
Gen 2:4
when he heard these words
1 Sam 11:6
בּ when he meets him
Num 35:19
36.3.2 As a Finite Form
a Sometimes in poetic speech or in late Hebrew the infinitive construct after לו is used
as an equivalent of a finite verb (or of a nominal construction) to represent a situation
successive to that represented by a finite verb (# 1) or participle (# 2). 39
1. י ֵל ֲע ֹפּ־ם ֫ ִע הרָ ְבחֶ ְל חרַ אָ וְ
ת ֶכלֶ ֫ ָלו ְ ןוֶ א֑
ָ֫
׃ע ַשׁ ר־י ֫ ֶ ֵשׁ נְ א־ם ַ ִע
2. . . . םינִ הֹכּ ֲ הַ ֵמ םיבִּ רַ וְ
. . . םיבִּ רַ
וְ
. . . םי ִכֹבּ
׃לוֹק םירִ הָ ְל
He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with
wicked men.
Job 34:8
Many of the priests…were weeping…and
many…were shouting.
Ezra 3:12
In many of its uses the infinitive construct is continued by a finite verb.
3. . יתִ רוֹתּ־ת ָ א ֶ ם ָב זְ ָע־ל ַע
י ִלוֹקב ְ וּע ְמ ָשׁ־אֹ לוְ . .
because they have forsaken my law…and have not
obeyed my voice
Jer 9:12
[Page 612] 37 Participles
37.1 Form and Meaning
37.2 Substantival Use
37.3 Participial Syntax: Accusative and Genitive
37.4 Adjectival Use
37.5 Relative Use
37.6 Predicate Use
37.7 Use with Finite Verbs
7.1 With היה
7.2 In Association with Finite Verbs
37.1 Form and Meaning
a The participle is so called because it participates in both nominal and verbal
characteristics; it is a non-finite verb form used as a noun (specifically, as an
adjective). 1 English has two participles, the present participle (in -ing; used to form
the progressive verbs, # 1, and in noun clauses, # 2) and the past participle (in -ed;
39 Joüon §124p / p. 364.
1 R. H. Robins, P. Swiggers, and A. Martinet in MPD 21, 26–27, 41, 44, 50, 59, 81.