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