Modality and the Biblical Hebrew Infinitive Absolute (original) (raw)

Dissertation Summary: A Linguistic Reappraisal of the Biblical Hebrew Accusative

2019

This study applies generative linguistics to the Biblical Hebrew (BH) accusative. The standard BH grammars have treated accusative noun phrases under two broad categories, roughly object/complement and adverbial/adjunct. Not only do they disagree about which are objects and which are adverbial, but they have also tended to define subcategories without a clear methodology, usually based on lexical semantics. By contrast, my approach emphasizes syntactic definitions for the major categories, which I argue are three: secondary predicates, arguments, and modifiers. The syntactic and semantic framework of this study depends on the unified approach to predication of Bowers. Under that framework every predicate, whether primary or secondary, is assumed to have a predication phrase (PrP) structure. Secondary predicates are therefore defined very basically to be PrP structures which are somehow subordinate to a primary predication, and thus they may be adjuncts or they may be complements of the verb. Arguments are constituents which are selected by the verb according to one of its recognized valency patterns. There is a limited number of specific syntactic positions for arguments, and the underlying syntax of a verb’s arguments depends on its semantics. In particular, I aim to show that there are four different trivalent structures in BH: prepositional ditransitives, double object constructions, causatives, and complementatives. Modifiers, since they are adjoined, may exist in any number. I assume that modifiers are predicates of one of four conceptual primitives (propositions, situations, events, and manners) and that modifiers attach in the domain which corresponds to the appropriate primitive (CP, TP, PrP, and vP respectively). This study also treats cognate accusatives, where the head noun is formed from the same root as the verb. I argue here that cognateness is not itself relevant for syntax, but rather cognate accusatives may function as arguments, modifiers, or secondary predicates. The analysis of cognate accusatives depends on the transitivity of the verb. This study treats the above categories in turn, providing ample examples from the biblical corpus (Genesis-Deuteronomy). The text of the dissertation is supplemented by a digital appendix of analysed examples from the corpus.

Emphasis or Assertion? Remarks on the Paronomastic Infinitive in Hebrew

Yoo-Ki Kim's recent dissertation challenges the widely-held view that the so-called paronomastic infinitive in Biblical Hebrew acts as a marker of emphasis. Rather, the author suggests (as some others have done before him) that this construction is related to the notion of assertion, i.e., the speaker's belief or conviction that the proposition is true. The present review article evaluates Kim's synchronic analysis; it also attempts to supplement his somewhat cursory discussion of inner-biblical developments and the situation in other Semitic languages.

The biblical hebrew verb system Vol5

1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. In the present work, the fragmentation hypothesis allows us to separate, in fact, several distinct uses: episodic, gnomic and semi-gnomic. Here we discuss the semi-gnomic uses. Much has been written about the characterization of the polysemic Y. On the one extreme, it approximates a simple future, say similar to its use in modern Hebrew or late Aramaic. On the other extreme we find aspectual, modal and gnomic uses of quite a different character, and attempts to put all these uses under one simple label have proven, so far, artificial 1 . Particularly unclear is the line which separates between the episodic and gnomic uses of It is extremely difficult to classify these sentences in terms of tnse and aspect; however, a clear criterion separates the last two from the first three: the fact that Y appears on a subordinate clause. In fact, a subordinate conjunctive clause in Y is always semi-gnomic and of a parenthetic/exegetic nature, or describes a parallel ac...

“Three remarks on infinitival paronomasia in Biblical Hebrew”

The combination of an infinitive absolute with a finite form of the same verb is one of the typical features of Biblical Hebrew. Much light has been shed on the "tautological infinitive" in recent studies. 1 Nevertheless, a number of minor details still need the attention of the Hebrew grammarian.

The Verb in Biblical Hebrew: Description of its Functions up through Discourse

2025

Understanding the Hebrew verbal system is crucial for interpreting the Old Testament, yet its complexity often challenges readers. This comprehensive guide by Peter Streitenberger, M.A. (phil.), who studied Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic at university and classical Greek and Latin during his German secondary education, examines the formation, meaning, and functions of Hebrew verbs across multiple linguistic layers. The book moves beyond the traditional perfective-imperfective distinction to explore the semantically corresponding pairs YIQTOL/WEQATAL and QATAL/WAYYIQTOL, with special attention to the often-neglected QOTEL form. Streitenberger analyzes verbs' roles in syntax, discourse, and proposition relationships, providing readers with practical tools to interpret biblical texts more accurately. Readers will discover how verb forms can indicate certainty, court announcements, unreality, wishes, orders, or temporal relations. The author's systematic approach helps unlock the meaning of biblical passages by understanding the verb as the central control element in Hebrew sentences. This understanding is essential for grasping how subjects, objects, and adverbials are structured around the verb. Drawing from extensive research and recent scholarship, this work serves both as an introduction for beginners and a detailed reference for those seeking deeper understanding of Biblical Hebrew's verbal system. With clear explanations and practical examples from Scripture, this guide equips readers to analyze and comprehend the rich complexity of Hebrew verbs in the Old Testament.