An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

5.
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6.
Gen 18:5
י֑ ל־וּא ִ טְ ח ָ ן ֵכּ ם ָבּ רֻ ְכּ As [the more] they multiplied, so [the more] they sinned
םידִ בָ
ֲע יני ֵ ֵע ְכ ה ֵנּהִ . . . םהי ֶ נוֹד ֵ א ֲ דַי־לאֶ הוהי־לא ֶ וּניני ֵ ֵע ן ֵכּ
against me.
Hos 4:7
As the eyes of slaves (look) to the hand of their
master…so our eyes (look) to YHWH.
Ps 123:2
The particle כּ can be used with two compared things, the effect being that the
situation of one of them is likened to that of the other. The present situation (i.e., the
situation under discussion) is usually given first (## 7–8), though the reverse is found
(## 9–10). 29
7. עשׁ֑ ָ רָ ָכּ קידִּ ַצּ ַכ הָיהָ ו ְ And the (state of the) righteous would be like the (state)
of the wicked.
Gen 18:25
8. ׃הֹערְ ַפ ְכּ ךָוֹמ֫ ָכ י ִכּ Indeed, you are like Pharaoh.
9. הרוֹתּ ָ ם ָשׁ אָ ָכּ תאטָּ חַ ַכּ
םה֑ ֶ ָל תחַ א ַ
10. ינֵ ְפל ִ הֶיהִי ְ ר ֵגּ ַכּ ם ֶכ ָכּ
׃הוהי
Gen 44:18
The guilt offering (˒šm) is like the sin offering (ḥṭ˒t):
there is one set of rules for (both of) them.
Lev 7:7
As you are, so shall the sojourner be before YHWH.
Num 15:15
38.6 Exceptive Clauses
a There is a small class of dependent clauses which presents exceptions to the situation
described in the corresponding main clauses. Exceptive dependent clauses are similar
in function to restrictive independent clauses, marked by such sentential adverbs as
קר ַ (39.3.5); the clauses differ in that the independent clauses refer to a longer stretch
of preceding text, while the dependent clauses refer only to the immediately preceding
main clause. 30
b The particle םא is frequent in exceptive clauses, with יתִּ לְ בּ ִ (# 1) or יכּ (## 2–4);
ִ ֵ ֲ
יתלבּ is found without םא (# 5).
1. . . . וֹלוֹק ריפ ְכּ ןתִּי ה Does a lion roar…unless it has vanquished (its prey)? 31
29 See also Lev 24:16, kaggēr kā˒ezrāḥ. The two k-phrases may together be seen as a
type of “small clause,” the rule of thumb.
30
Compare the treatment of Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 92–94, who keeps such
clauses together; see also van Leeuwen, “Die Partikel םא,” ִ 42–47, esp. 46–47.
31 Note also blty ˒m in Amos 3:3 and ky˒m in 3:7.