212 lines
8.1 KiB
ReStructuredText
212 lines
8.1 KiB
ReStructuredText
:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/infinitive_absolute.rst
|
||
|
||
.. _infinitive_absolute:
|
||
|
||
Infinitive Absolute
|
||
===================
|
||
|
||
Summary
|
||
-------
|
||
|
||
The infinitive absolute is an extremely flexible non-finite verbal form and can
|
||
function as an adverb, a finite verb, a verbal complement, or a noun. Its most common use is to
|
||
express intensity or certainty of verbal action.
|
||
|
||
Article
|
||
-------
|
||
|
||
Of all the verbal conjugations in Biblical Hebrew, the Infinitive
|
||
Absolute is the simplest in form but the most complex in function,
|
||
demanding the most sensitivity to its context to determine its meaning.
|
||
The Infinitive Absolute is described as being in the :ref:`absolute state<state_absolute>`
|
||
because it stands on its own as an independent grammatical entity. The form can appear with the conjunction, but it never occurs in any other kind of construction
|
||
with a prefix or
|
||
:ref:`suffix<suffix>`,
|
||
an attached preposition, or with a
|
||
:ref:`noun<noun>`
|
||
in a construct chain. The Infinitive Absolute generally has only one
|
||
form in each
|
||
:ref:`stem formation<stem>`
|
||
(Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to
|
||
person, gender, or number like the :ref:`finite<verb-finite>` verb
|
||
forms. Grammatically, the Infinitive Absolute is considered a :ref:`non-finite<verb-non-finite>` verbal form but can function as an
|
||
:ref:`adverb<adverb>`,
|
||
a finite main verb, a verbal complement, or even as a noun. The context must be carefully
|
||
investigated to discern the precise meaning of an infinitive absolute in
|
||
each instance.
|
||
|
||
Form
|
||
----
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Infinive Absolute Paradigm
|
||
:header-rows: 1
|
||
|
||
Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
|
||
Qal,קָטוֹל,qatol,kill
|
||
Niphal,הִקָּטֹל / נִקְטֹל,hiqqatol / niqtol,be killed
|
||
Hiphil,הַקְטֵל,haqtel,cause to kill
|
||
Hophal,הָקְטֵל,hoqtel,causing to be killed
|
||
Piel,קַטֵּל / קַטֹּל,qattel / qattol,slaughter
|
||
Pual,קֻטֹּל,quttol,be slaughtered
|
||
Hithpael,הִתְקַטֵּל,hitqattel,kill oneself
|
||
|
||
Function
|
||
--------
|
||
|
||
The Infinitive Absolute can express the following range of meanings.
|
||
|
||
Expresses intensity or certainty of verbal action
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
In most cases, the Infinitive Absolute is paired with a finite verb of
|
||
the same root. When used in this way, the infinitive absolute functions
|
||
adverbially, either certifying or intensifying the action of the main
|
||
verb, depending on the context. Normally an infinitive absolute
|
||
precedes the main verb, except with
|
||
:ref:`Imperative<verb_imperative>` verbs
|
||
and with
|
||
:ref:`participles<participle_active>`;
|
||
in those cases, an infinitive absolute follows.
|
||
|
||
The following example shows an infinitive absolute expressing intensity of
|
||
action.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 2:16
|
||
|
||
מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן **אָכֹ֥ל** תֹּאכֵֽל
|
||
mikkol 'ets-haggan **'akhol** tokhel
|
||
from-every tree-of\_the-garden **eating** you-may-eat
|
||
From every tree in the garden you may **freely** eat.
|
||
|
||
The following example shows an infinitive absolute expressing certainty of
|
||
action.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 2:17
|
||
|
||
בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ **מ֥וֹת** תָּמֽוּת
|
||
beyom 'akholkha mimmennu **moth** tamuth
|
||
in-day-of your-eating from-it **dying** you-will-die
|
||
"on the day that you eat from it, you will **surely** die."
|
||
|
||
Functions as a :ref:`finite<verb-finite>` main verb
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
The Infinitive Absolute often substitutes for a finite verb. In these
|
||
cases, an infinitive absolute can carry an emotive sense and should be
|
||
treated with great sensitivity to the context for precise nuance of
|
||
meaning. The examples listed below are not comprehensive, but only
|
||
provide a sampling of potential options for the exact meaning.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: JOB 40:2
|
||
|
||
הֲ֭רֹב עִם־שַׁדַּ֣י יִסּ֑וֹר
|
||
harov 'im-shadday **yissor**
|
||
[quest.]-contend with\_Almighty **faultfinder**
|
||
"Should anyone who wishes to criticize **try to correct** the
|
||
Almighty?"
|
||
|
||
The following example shows an infinitive absolute continuing the action
|
||
of the preceding verb.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 41:43
|
||
|
||
וְנָת֣וֹן אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
|
||
**wenathon** 'otho 'al kol-'erets mitsrayim
|
||
**and-placing** [dir.obj]-him over whole\_land-of Egypt
|
||
Pharaoh **put** him over all the land of Egypt.
|
||
|
||
The following example shows an infinitive absolute functioning as an
|
||
emphatic command (either direct or indirect).
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 20:8
|
||
|
||
זָכ֛וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת
|
||
**zakhor** 'eth-yom hashabbath
|
||
**Remember** [dir.obj]\_day the-Sabbath
|
||
**Remember** the Sabbath day
|
||
|
||
The following example shows an infinitive absolute functioning ambiguously
|
||
(could be an :ref:`adverb<adverb>` or a finite verb).
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: HOS 10:4
|
||
|
||
דִּבְּר֣וּ דְבָרִ֔ים **אָל֥וֹת** שָׁ֖וְא **כָּרֹ֣ת** בְּרִ֑ית
|
||
dibberu devarim **'aloth** shawe **karoth** berith
|
||
they-speak words **swearing** emptiness **cutting** covenant
|
||
"They speak empty words and **make** covenants by **swearing**
|
||
falsely."
|
||
|
||
Complements the action of the main verb
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
An infinitive absolute (or a pair of infinitive absolutes) can follow a
|
||
finite verb of a different root to describe complementary action.
|
||
|
||
In the following example, a single infinitive absolute is functioning
|
||
adverbially.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 30:32
|
||
|
||
"אֶֽעֱבֹ֨ר בְּכָל־צֹֽאנְךָ֜ הַיּ֗וֹם **הָסֵ֨ר** מִשָּׁ֜ם כָּל־שֶׂ֣ה׀
|
||
נָקֹ֣ד וְטָל֗וּא"
|
||
'e'evor bekhol-tsonekha hayyom **haser** misham kol-seh naqod wetalu
|
||
"let-me-pass though-all\_your-flock today **turning aside** from-there
|
||
every\_sheep speckled and-spotted"
|
||
"Let me walk through all your flock today, **removing** from it every
|
||
speckled and spotted sheep"
|
||
|
||
In the following example, a pair of infinitive absolutes are functioning
|
||
adverbially.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 3:12
|
||
|
||
בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ אָקִ֣ים ... הָחֵ֖ל וְכַלֵּֽה
|
||
bayyom hahu' 'aqim ... **hahel wekhalleh**
|
||
in-the-day the-that I-will-carry-out ... **beginning and-ending**.
|
||
On that day I will carry out ... **from beginning to end**.
|
||
|
||
Expresses progression or continuance of verbal action (הלךְ)
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
The Infinitive Absolute (and sometimes the
|
||
:ref:`Participle<participle_active>`)
|
||
of the specific root הלךְ can be used to express a sense of progression
|
||
or continuance of the action of a main verb.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: Gen 8:3
|
||
|
||
וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ הַמַּ֛יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָ֖רֶץ הָל֣וֹךְ וָשׁ֑וֹב
|
||
wayyashuvu hammayim me'al ha'arets **halokh washov**
|
||
"and-they-returned the-waters from-over the-earth **going and-returning**"
|
||
The flood waters receded from off the earth **continually**.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 18:25
|
||
|
||
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב
|
||
wayyelekh **halokh weqarev**
|
||
and-he-walked **going and-approaching**
|
||
The runner came **closer and neared** the city.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 14:9
|
||
|
||
וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וְאָכֹ֔ל
|
||
wayyelekh **halokh we'akhol**
|
||
And-he-walked **going and-eating**
|
||
"He ... went on, **eating as he went**"
|
||
|
||
Functions as a :ref:`noun<noun>`
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
This is an extremely rare use of the Infinitive Absolute.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 22:13
|
||
|
||
"וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֗ה **הָרֹ֤ג**\ ׀ בָּקָר֙ **וְשָׁחֹ֣ט**
|
||
צֹ֔אן **אָכֹ֥ל** בָּשָׂ֖ר **וְשָׁת֣וֹת** יָ֑יִן"
|
||
"wehinneh sason wesimhah **harog** baqar **weshahot** tson **'akhol**
|
||
basar **weshathoth** yayin"
|
||
"and-behold joy and-gladness **killing** flesh **and-slaughtering** sheep
|
||
**eating** flesh **and-drinking** wine"
|
||
"But look, instead, celebration and gladness, **killing** cattle **and
|
||
slaughtering** sheep, **eating** meat **and drinking** wine"
|