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:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/word_order.rst
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.. _word_order:
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Word Order
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==========
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Summary
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-------
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In Biblical Aramaic the verb normally comes first in a sentence or
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clause. In cases where another grammatical element precedes the verb,
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especially the subject, the context must determine whether or not a new
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narrative or section of text is being introduced, or whether or not the
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narrator is introducing a break in the narrative.
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Article
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-------
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In verbal sentences (that is, sentences with a verb), the structure of
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the sentence in Biblical Aramaic is: (1) the
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:ref:`verb`,
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in first position; (2) the subject, in second position; (3) the object,
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in third position. Other grammatical elements such as
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:ref:`adverb`,
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prepositional phrases, discourse
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:ref:`particle`,
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etc. can be inserted at various points within that general sentence
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structure. In most cases, variations from the standard word order are
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for literary reasons or to add some emphasis (usually on the word moved
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to the beginning of the sentence), but this does not fundamentally
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change the meaning. Sometimes however, if a grammatical element (often
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the subject) is placed before the verb, it has implications for the
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general structure of a narrative and/or how to best divide up the text
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in smaller blocks. In these cases, the context must determine whether
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this introduces a new narrative or section of text, or if it indicates a
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break in the narrative.
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Poetic portions of the Aramaic Bible generally not follow the standard
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structure for several reasons. For example, they use a lot of nominal
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sentences that do not have a verb, they use parallelisms where the same
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thought is repeated twice, as well as other poetic tools.
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The standard word order
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 1:4 – with a direct object
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וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאֹ֖ור
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wayyar 'elohim 'eth-ha'owr
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and-he-saw God [dir.obj]\_the-light
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and God saw the light
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.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 9:1 – with an indirect object
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וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה
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wayyomer yehwah 'el-mosheh
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and-he-said Yahweh to\_Moses
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And Yahweh said to Moses
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Deviation with no change in meaning
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Not indicating a break in the narrative, because here the deviation
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happens in the middle of a sentence.
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.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 1:5
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וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם **וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ** קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה
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wayyiqra 'elohim la'or yom **welahoshekh** qara laylah
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"and-he-called God to-the-light day **and-to-the-darkness** he-called
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night"
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"God called the light ""day,"" **and the darkness** he called ""night."""
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2KI 3:22
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וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר **וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ** זָרְחָ֣ה עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם
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wayyashkimu vabboqer **wehashemesh** zorhah 'al-hammayim
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"and-they-rose-early in-the-morning **and-the-sun** had-risen
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over\_the-waters"
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"They awakened early in the morning **and the sun** reflected on the
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water"
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Introducing a new narrative or section of text
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Though it is common to begin a book or major portion of a book with the
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:ref:`verb_sequential_imperfect`,
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it is also possible to put the subject of the first sentence at the
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beginning of the book.
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.. csv-table:: Example: JOB 1:1 – indicating a new narrative
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אִ֛ישׁ הָיָ֥ה בְאֶֽרֶץ־ע֖וּץ אִיּ֣וֹב שְׁמ֑וֹ
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**'ish** hayah ve'erets-'uts 'iyyov shemo
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**man** there-was in-land-of\_Uz Job his-name
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There was **a man** in the land of Uz whose name was Job
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2KI 3:4 – indicating a new section of text
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וּמֵישַׁ֥ע מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָ֖ב הָיָ֣ה נֹקֵ֑ד
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**umesha' melekh-mo'av** hayah noqed
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**and-Mesha king-of\_Moab** was sheep-breeder
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Now **Mesha king of Moab** bred sheep
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A subject placed before the verb can also indicate a new, smaller
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section of a narrative, or a continuation after there has been a short
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break in the narrative.
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 19:11 – indicating a new section of a narrative
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"וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד שָׁ֠לַח אֶל־צָד֨וֹק וְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָ֥ר
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הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ לֵאמֹר֒"
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"**wehammelekh dawid** shalah 'el-tsadoq we'el-'evyathar hakkohanim
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lemor"
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"**and-the-king David** sent to\_Zadok and-to\_Abiathar the-priests
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saying"
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**King David** sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 18:19 – indicating a continuation after a break in the narrative
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וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר
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**wa'ahima'ats** ben-tsadoq 'amar
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**and-Ahimaaz** son-of\_Zadok he-said
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**Then Ahimaaz** son of Zadok said
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Indicating a small break in the narrative
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Sometimes a grammatical element (usually the subject) placed before the
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verb can indicate a break in the narrative action to provide the reader
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with some extra information about the story being told. Usually, these
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instances will be clearly discerned from the context.
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2KI 3:21
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וְכָל־מוֹאָב֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־עָל֥וּ הַמְּלָכִ֖ים לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בָּ֑ם
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**wekhol-mo'av** shame'u ki-'alu hammelakhim lehillahem bam
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"**and-all\_of-Moab** they-heard that\_they-came the-kings to-fight
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against-them"
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"**Now** when **all the Moabites** heard that the kings had come to
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fight against them"
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.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 18:18
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וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב־ל֤וֹ בְחַיָּו אֶת־מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙
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**we'avshalom** laqah wayyatsev-lo vehayyaw 'eth-matseveth
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"**and-Absalom** had-taken and-he-built\_for-him in-his-life
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[dir.obj]\_pillar"
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"**Now Absalom**, while still alive, had built for himself a large
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stone pillar"
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