Samuel_Kim_en_uhg/content/infinitive_construct/02.md

Article

The infinitive construct generally functions as a verbal complement to a finite verb, but in rare cases it also functions independently as a verbal noun. The infinitive construct is described as being in the construct state because it can occur in various constructions with prepositions, suffixes, and other nouns in a construct chain. The infinitive construct generally has only one form in each stem (Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to person, gender, or number as do the finite verb forms.

Form

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
Qal	קְטֹל	qetol	kill
Niphal	הִקָּטֵל	hiqqatel	be killed
Hiphil	הַקְטִיל	haqtil	cause to kill
Hophal	Not found
Piel	קַטֵּל	qattel	slaughter
Pual	Not found
Hithpael	הִתְקַטֵּל	hitqattel	kill oneself

Function

The infinitive construct can carry the following range of meanings:

Expresses purpose, result, or complementary action of a main verb (with preposition לְ)

This is by far the most common use of the infinitive construct, as a standard grammatical infinitive. NOTE: The infinitive construct can also be used with other prepositions to complement the main verb (such as the preposition עַל in the example below).

• GEN 11:5 – expressing purpose for the action of the main verb

וַיֵּ֣רֶד יְהוָ֔ה **לִרְאֹ֥ת** אֶת־הָעִ֖יר וְאֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל

wayyered yehwah **lir'oth** 'eth-ha'ir we'eth-hammigdal

and-he-came-down Yahweh **to-see** [dir.obj]_the-city and-[dir.obj]_the-tower

So Yahweh came down **to see** the city and the tower

• EXO 3:4 – expressing result of the action of the main verb

וַיַּ֥רְא יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת

wayyar yehwah ki sar **lir'oth**

and-he-saw Yahweh that he-had-turned-aside **to-see**

When Yahweh saw that he had turned aside **to look**

• EXO 3:8 – expressing complementary action of the main verb

וָאֵרֵ֞ד **לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ**׀ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֗יִם **וּֽלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ֮** מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִוא֒

wa'ered **lehatsilo** miyyad mitsrayim **uleha'alotho** min-ha'arets hahiw'

and-I-have-come-down **to-deliver-them** from-hand-of Egypt **and-to-bring-them-up** from-the-land the-that

I have come down **to free them** from the Egyptians' power and **to bring them up** from that land

• 1SA 14:33 – also expressing complementary action, but with a more nuanced meaning

הִנֵּ֥ה הָעָ֛ם חֹטִ֥אים לַֽיהוָ֖ה **לֶאֱכֹ֣ל** עַל־הַדָּ֑ם

hinneh ha'am hotiym layhwah **le'ekhol** 'al-haddam

behold the-people are-sinning to-Yahweh **to-eat** on_the-blood

Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh **by eating** with the blood.

• AMO 1:11 – with preposition עַל to express purpose for the action of the main verb

לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־**רָדְפ֨וֹ** בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙

lo 'ashivennu 'al-**rodfo** vaherev 'ahiw

not I-will-revoke-it on_**his-pursuing** with-the-sword his-brother

I will not turn away punishment, because **he pursued** his brother with the sword

Provides temporal reference for the action of the main verb (with various prepositions)

The infinitive construct can be used with other prepositions (besides those included below) to provide temporal reference. In those cases, the context and the meaning of the preposition generally make clear the specific temporal nuance being indicated.

• 1SA 2:27 – with preposition בְּ to express simultaneous action

הֲנִגְלֹ֤ה נִגְלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ **בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם** בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם

hanigloh niglethiy 'el-beth 'avikha **biheyotham** bemitsrayim

[quest.]-indeed I-revealed-myself to_house-of your-father **while-they-were** in-Egypt

Did I not reveal myself to the house of your ancestor, **when they were** in Egypt?

• GEN 12:14 – with preposition כְּ to express commencing action

וַיְהִ֕י **כְּב֥וֹא** אַבְרָ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יְמָה

wayhi **kevo** 'avram mitsraymah

and-it-happened **as-coming** Abram to-Egypt

It came about that **when** Abram **entered** into Egypt

• JDG 6:18 – with preposition עַד to express durative action (until a specified time of ending)

וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אָנֹכִ֥י אֵשֵׁ֖ב עַ֥ד שׁוּבֶֽךָ

wayyomar 'anokhi 'eshev 'ad **shuvekha**

and-he-said myself I-will-remain until **you-return**

Yahweh said, "I will wait until **you return**"

Functions as a verbal noun

The infinitive construct sometimes functions as an independent noun or introduces an entire clause that functions as a noun.

• 1SA 15:22 – functioning as a noun

שְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ מִזֶּ֣בַח ט֔וֹב

**shemo'a** mizzevah tov

**obeying** from-sacrifice good

**Obedience** is better than sacrifice

• GEN 2:17 – introducing a clause functioning as a noun

כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם **אֲכָלְךָ֥** מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת

ki beyom **'akholkha** mimmennu moth tamuth

for in-day-of **your-eating** from-it dying you-will-die

for on the day that **you eat** from it, you will surely die

Introduces direct speech (אמר + לְ)

• GEN 1:22

וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר

wayvarekh 'otham 'elohim **lemor**

and-he-blessed [dir.obj]-them God **to-say**

God blessed them, **saying**

Regarding a pronominal suffix

When the infinitive construct takes a pronominal suffix, that suffix can be either the subject or the object of the infinitive itself (not the main verb), as determined by the context.

• JER 2:17 – infinitive construct with suffix as subject of the action

הֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ **עָזְבֵךְ֙** אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ

halo-zoth ta'aseh-llakh **'ozvekh** 'eth-yehwah 'elohayikh

[quest.]-not_this you-have-done_to-yourself **your-forsaking** [dir.obj]_Yahweh your-God

Did you not do this to yourselves when **you abandoned** Yahweh your God?

• RUT 1:16 – infinitive construct with suffix as object of the action

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעָזְבֵ֖ךְ

wattomer ruth 'al-tifge'i-vi **le'ozvekh**

and-she-said Ruth not\_you-press\_on-me **to-forsake-you**

But Ruth said, "Do not make me **go away from you**