§ 114. The Infinitive Construct.

a

1. The infinitive construct, like the infinitive absolute, may also represent a nomen verbale (§ 45 a), but of a much more flexible character than the infinitive absolute (cf. § 113 a). Its close relation with nouns properly so called is especially seen in the readiness with which the infinitive construct may be used for any case whatever; thus,

(a) As the nominative of the subject, e.g. Gn 2:18 tAyh/ bAj-aol ADb;l. ~id'a'h†', literally, not good is the being of man in his separation; Gn 30:15, 1 S 23:20, Is 7:13, Pr 17:26, 25:7, 24 (but cf. 21:9 tb,v,ñl' bAj in the same statement); y Ps 32:9 prop. there is not a coming near unto thee, but the text is probably corrupt. With a feminine predicate, 1 S 18:23, Jer 2:17.

b

(b) As genitive, e.g. Ec 3:4, dAqr> t[ew> dAps. t[e a time of mourning and a time of dancing; Gn 2:17, 29:7, Neh 12:46, 2 Ch 24:14. This equally includes, according to § 101 a, all those cases in which the infinitive construct depends on a preposition (see below, d) [and Driver, Tenses, § 206].

c

(c) As accusative of the object, e.g. 1 K 3:7 aobw" tace [d;ae aol I know not the going out or the coming in (I know not how to go out and come in); Gn 21:6, 31:28, Nu 20:21, Is 1:14, 37:28 (even with tae ), Jer 6:15, Jb 15:22 (cf. for the use of the infinitive absolute as object, § 113 f); as accusative with a verb expressing fullness, Is 11:9.

d

2. The construction of the infinitive with prepositions (as in Greek, evn tw/ ei=nai( dia. to. ei=nai, &c.) may usually be resolved in English into the finite verb with a conjunction, e.g. Nu 35:19 Ab-A[g>piB. in his meeting him, i.e. if (as soon as) he meets him; Gn 27:45 ( bWv-d[; ); Is 30:12 ~k,s.a'm†' ![;y:ò because ye despise; Jer 2:35 %rem.a'-l[; because thou sayest; Gn 27:1 and his eyes were dim taor>me from seeing, i.e. so that he could not see.

e

This use of the infinitive construct is especially frequent in connexion with for B. or K. to express time-determinations (in English resolved into a temporal clause, as above the combination of the infinitive with ![;y:ò or -l[; is resolved into a causal clause), especially after yhiy>w: (see the examples, § 111 g), e.g. 1 S 2:27 ~yIr;ñc.miB. ~t'Ayh.B†i when they were in Egypt; Gn 24:30  ägw A[m.v'k.W~z<N<òh;-ta, taor>ki yhiy>w: and it came to pass, when he saw (prop. in the seeing) the ring …, and when he heard (prop. in his hearing), &c.

f

But by far the most frequent is the connexion of the infinitive construct with l..1 Starting from the fundamental meaning of l., i.e. direction towards something, infinitives with l. serve to express the most varied ideas of purpose or aim, and very commonly also (with a weakening or a complete disregard of the original meaning of the l. ) to introduce the object of an action, or finally even (like the infinitive absolute used adverbially, § 113 h, and the Latin gerund in -ndo) to state motives or attendant circumstances. See the instances in the Remarks.

g

Rem. 1. The original meaning of the l. is most plainly seen in those infinitives with l. which expressly state a purpose (hence as the equivalent of a final clause), e.g. Gn 11:5 and the Lord came down, ry[ih'-ta, taor>li to see the city; also with a change of subject, e.g. 2 S 12:10 and thou hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite hV'ail. ^l. tAyh.l†i to be (i.e. that she may be) thy wife; cf. Gn 28:4, Jer 38:26 ( tWml' ).—If there is a special emphasis on the infinitive with l., it is placed, with its complement, before the governing verb, e.g. Gn 42:9, 47:4, Nu 22:20, Jos 2:3, 1 S 16:2 with aAB; Ju 15:10, 1 S 17:25 with hl'['.

h

2. Just as clearly the idea of aiming at a definite purpose or turning towards an object may be seen in the combination of the verb hy"h' to be, with l. and an infinitive. In fact tAf[]l†; hy"h' may mean, either (a) he was in the act of, he was about to (as it were, he set himself), he was ready, to do some thing, or (b) he or it was appointed or compelled, &c., to do the action in question. In the latter case tAf[]l†; hy"h' corresponds to the Latin faciendum erat, cf. also the English I am to go. In both cases hy"h' (as elsewhere when copula) is often omitted.

i

Examples of (a) Gn 15:12 aAbl' vm,V,ñh; yhiy>w: and when the sun was going down (just about to set); 2 Ch 26:5 ~yhil{a/ vrd>li yhiy>w: and he set himself to seek God (here with the secondary idea of a continuous action); with the omission of hy"h' Is 38:20, ynI[eñyviAh)l. hA'hy> the Lord is ready to save me; 1 S 14:21 (?), Jer 51:49, y Ps 25:14 (et foedus suum manifestaturus est eis); Pr 18:24 (?), 19:8 ( aocm.li consecuturus est, unless we simply read ac'm.yI with the LXX)2; 20:25, Ec 3:15 tAyh.l†i rv,a] quod futurum est; 2 Ch 11:22, 12:12 (In a negative statement); in a question, Est 7:8 (will he even …?). Cf. also 1 S 4:19.

k

Of (b) Jos 2:5 rAGs.li r[;V;ñh; yhiy>w: and the gate was to be shut (had to be shut); Is 37:26, y Ps 109:13.3 Mostly with the omission of hy"h', e.g. 2 K 4:13 tAf[]l†; hm, ägw %l' what is to be done for thee? ( %l'-rB,d;l. vyEh] ) wouldest thou be (lit. is it to be) spoken for to the king, &c.? 2 K 13:19 tAKh;l. it was to smite equivalent to thou shouldest have smitten; Is 5:4, y Ps 32:9, 68:19 (?), Jb 30:6 (habitandum est iis), 1 Ch 9:25, 10:18, 22:5, 2 Ch 8:13 (?), 11:22, 19:2, 36:19 (?), Ho 9:13, Hb 1:17. In a question 2 Ch 19:2; after aol 1 Ch 5:1, 15:2; after !yae 1 Ch 23:26, 2 Ch 5:11 and frequently.

l

Of the same kind also are the cases, in which the infinitive with l. depends on the idea of an obligation or permission (or prohibition); especially in such forms of expression as 2 S 18:11  ägw ^l. tt,l'ñ yl;[' it was upon me, i.e. it would have been my duty to give thee, &c.4; cf. Mi 3:1 (2 Ch 13:5) it is not for you to (i.e. are ye not bound to)?5 with a negative, 2 Ch 26:18  ägw ^l. aol it pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but only to the priests; also l. !yae with an infinitive expresses it is not permitted (nefas est), may not, e.g. Est 4:2 aAbl' !yae yKi for none might enter; 8:8, 1 Ch 15:2; 65 l. !yae with an infinitive is used in a somewhat different sense, equivalent to it is not feasible, not possible, e.g. in Ec 3:14, 2 Ch 5:11; cf.y Ps 40:6.7—With either meaning aol can be used instead of !yae, e.g. Am 6:10 ryKiz>h;l. aol nefas est, to make mention of the name of the Lord: but Ju 1:19 for it was not possible to drive out, &c., perhaps, however, the text originally stood as in Jos 17:12  ähl. Wlk.y)' aol; 1 Ch 15:2.

m

3. A further class comprises the very numerous cases, in which the infinitive with l. is used as the object8 of a governing verb, hence, again, for the direction which an action takes. The verbs (or conjugations) which occur most frequently in this combination with l. and an infinitive are: lxehe (with an infinitive without l., e.g. Dt 2:25, 31, Jos 3:7), lyaiAh to begin, @ysiAhà@s;y" (prop. to add) to continue, very frequently, even in prose, with an infinitive without l. as Gn 4:12, 8:10, 12, 37:5, 1 S 3:8, Jb 27:1, &c.; ld;x' to cease from, to desist; hL'Ki to complete, to make an end of; ~m;T' to be finished; byrIq.hi to come near to, Gn 12:11; rh;mi to hasten (with an infinitive without l. Ex 2:18); hb'a' to be willing (with an infinitive without l. Is 28:12, 30:9, Jb 39:9); #pex' to will, to desire; !aeme to refuse (to be unwilling); vQeBi to seek; lkoy" to be able (with an infinitive without l., e.g. Gn 24:50, 37:4, Ex 2:3, 18:23, Nu 22:38, Jb 4:2); !t;n" with an accusative of the person in the sense of to give up to some one, to cause, or permit him to do something, e.g. Gn 20:6, y Ps 16:11 (with an infinitive abs. Jb 9:18, see § 113 d), [d;y" to understand how to do something (in Jb 3:8 rre[o ~dIyti[]h†' is analogous); dm;l' to learn; hW"qi to wait, expect (with a change of subject, e.g. Is 5:2 and he waited for it to bring forth grapes).

n

We must further mention here a number of verbs in HiphÇiÖl (partly denominatives), which express an action in some definite direction (cf. § 53 f), as lyDIg>hi to do greatly, lyPiv.hi to make (it) low, H;yBig>hi to make (it) high, qymi[/h†, to make (it) deep, qyxir>hi to make (it) far, distant, byjiyhe to make (it) good (with an infinitive without l. y Ps 33:3, but 1 S 16:17, in the same combination, with l. ); ~yKiv.hi to do anything early (y Ps 127:2, along with its opposite rx;ae to do something late, with an infinitive without l. ); hB'r>hi to make (it) much, al'p.hi to make (it) wonderful (even with a passive infinitive 2 Ch 26:15),9 &c.

o

4. Finally, the infinitive with l. is very frequently used in a much looser connexion to state motives, attendant circumstances, or otherwise to define more exactly. In English, such infinitive constructions (like the Latin gerund in -do; cf. f) must frequently be turned by that or a gerund; e. g. 1 S 12:17 %l,m, ~k,l' laov.li in asking you a king; 14:33, 19:5, 20:36, Gn 3:22, 18:19, 34:7, 15, Ex 23:2, Lv 5:4, 22, 26, 8:15, Nu 14:36, 2 S 3:10, 1 K 2:3 f, 14:8, Jer 44:7 f, y Ps 63:3, 78:18, 101:8, 103:20, 104:14 f., 111:6, Pr 2:8, 8:34, 18:5, Neh 13:18. Sometimes the infinitive with l. is used in this way simply by itself, e. g. 1 Ch 12:8 as the roes upon the mountains rhem;l. (as regards hasting) in swiftness; Gn 2:3, 2 S 14:25 (lLeh;l.); Is 21:1 (@Ax]l†;); Jo 2:26, Pr 2:2, 26:2 and so very frequently the infinitive rmoale dicendo which has become stereotyped as an adverb to introduce direct narration (in the sense of thus, as follows).10

p

5. In a number of instances—especially in the later books—the infin. constr. with l. appears to be attached by WaÒw (like the infinitive absolute, § 113 z), as the continuation of a previous finite verb. In most examples of this kind it is, however, evident that the infinitive with l. virtually depends on an idea of intention, effort, or being in the act of, which, according to the sense, is contained in what has preceded, whilst the copula, as sometimes also elsewhere, is used in an emphatic sense (and that too); thus e. g. Ex 32:29 (if the text be right) fill your hand to-day (sc. with an offering) for the Lordand that to bring a blessing upon you, i. e. that ye may be blessed; cf. 1 S 25:31 (otherwise in verses 26 and 33 where the infinitive absolute is used, see § 113 e); y Ps 104:21, 11 Jb 34:8, Ec 9:1, Neh 8:13, 2 Ch 7:17.—In Lv 10:10 f, lyDIb.h;l.W might be regarded as an explanatory addition to the command contained in verse 9b ( = this prohibition of wine before the service shall ye observe, and that in order to put a difference, &c.); but probably the text has been disturbed by a redactor.—In 2 Ch 30:9 bWvl'w> depends on the idea of receiving a favour which lies in ~ymix]r†;l.. On the other hand, in 1 S 8:12 it is sufficient to explain and in order to appoint them unto him for captains of thousands (sc. he will take them). In Is 44:28 translate and he (Cyrus) shall perform all my pleasure, and that in saying of Jerusalem, &c.

q

3.The period of time to which an action or occurrence represented by the infinitive construct belongs, must sometimes be inferred from the context, or from the character of the principal tenses; cf, e. g. Gn 2:4 these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, ~a'r>B†'hiB. when they were created (prop. in their being created); Ju 6:18  ägw yaiBo-d[; until I come unto thee, and bring forth, &c. Cf. 1 S 18:19 ( =when she should have been given); 2 K 2:1 Ho 7:1.

r

Rem. 1. The constructions of the infinitive with a preposition, described above under d, are almost always continued in the further course of the narrative by means of the finite verb, i. e. by an independent sentence, not by a co-ordinate infinitive. Such a finite verb we regard as governed by a conjunction, which corresponds to the preposition standing before the infinitive. Thus the infinitival construction (frequently even with a change of subject) is continued by a perfect (with aol), Jer 9:12 because they have forsaken (~b'z>['-l[;) my lawW[m.v†' aolw> and have not obeyed my voice; Gn 39:10, 1 S 24:12, Am 1:9; without aol Jb 28:25 (perf. after l. and infin.); by a perfect with w> (cf. § 112 i and v) Am 1:11  ägw Apd>r'-l[; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, txeviw> and did cast off continually all pity (a frequentative perfect; for examples of the perfect consecutive proper see Gn 27:45, Ju 6:18, 1 S 10:8, 2 K 18:32 [Is 36:17], always after yaiBo-d[; until I come); by a simple imperfect, e. g. Pr 1:27 (after B.); Is 30:26 (after ~AyB. in the day, a temporal phrase which has here become equivalent to a preposition); Is 5:24 (after K.), 10:2, 13:9, 14:25, 45:1, 49:5, 1 S 2:8, Pr 2:8, 5:2, 8:21 (always after l.)12; by an imperfect consecutive, e. g. Gn 39:18 and it came to pass, ar'q.a,w)' yliAq ymiyrIh]K†; as I lifted up my voice and cried, that …; 1 K 10:9, Jb 38:13 (after l.); 1 K 18:18 Is 38:9, Jb 38:7, 9 ff. (after B.); Is 30:12, Jer 7:13, Ez 34:8 (after ![;y:ò).

s

2. The negation of an infinitive construct, on account of the predominance of the noun-element in its character, is effected not by the verbal negative aol (except in the compound aolB., which has come to be used as a preposition, without, Nu 35:23, Pr 19:2), but by yTil.Bi, originally a substantive (see the Lexicon), with l. prefixed (but also Nu 14:16 yTil.Bimi), e. g. Gn 3:11 WNM,ñmi-lk'a] yTil.bil. not to eat of it; in a final sense, 4:15 lest any finding him should smite him; only in 2 K 23:10 is l. repeated before the infinitive. In y Ps 32:9 (if the text be right) lB; negatives, not the infinitive, but the predicate which is understood.

Footnotes:

1[1] Cf. § 45 g, according to which the close union of the l. with the first consonant of the infinitive ( bTok.li with a firmly closed syllable, as opposed to btok.Biàbtok.Ki, &c.) seems to point to the formation of a special new verbal form. Quite distinct are the few examples where the infinitive with l. serves to express time, as Gn 24:63 br,['ñ tAnp.li at the eventide (prop. at the time of the return of evening); cf. Dt 23:12, Ex 14:27, Ju 19:26; 2 S 18:29 when Joab sent the king's servant.

2[1] P. Haupt (SBOT., Proverbs, p. 52, lines 10 ff.; Critical Notes on Esther, p. 170, on 78) considers it possible that here and in Pr 2:8, 6:24, 7:5, 16:30, 30:14, as well as in 14:35, 17:21 before a noun, the l is a survival of the emphatic l with an imperf., which is especially common in Arabic. In that case acom.li must be read ac'm.li, i.e. l' ac'm.yI. But all the above instances can be taken as infinitives with l without difficulty.

3[2] Somewhat different are the cases where l. hy"h' with the infinitive (which is then used exactly as a substantive) implies to become something, i.e. to meet with a particular fate, as Nu 24:22 (cf. Is 5:5, 6:13) r[eb'l. for wasting, for which elsewhere frequently hM'v;l. and the like; probably also tALb;l. y Ps 49:15 is to be explained in this way, the hy"h' being omitted.

4[3] 2 S 4:10 (cui dandum erat mihi) appears to be similar; it may, however, be better, with Wellhausen, to omit the rv,a].

5[4] But in 1 S 23:20 after Wnl'ñw> and our part shall be the infinitive without l. stands as the subject of the sentence.

6[5] Quite different of course are such cases as Is 37:3 hd'lel. !yIa;ñ x;kow> and there is not strength to bring forth; cf. Nu 20:5, Ru 4:4.

7[6] In 2 S 14:19 vai ( = vyE it is, there is) is used in a similar sense after ~ai, the negative particle of asseveration, of a truth it is not possible to turn to the right hand or to the left.

8[1] This view is based upon the fact, that in numerous expressions of this kind (see the examples above) the l. may be omitted, and the infinitive consequently stand as an actual accusative of the object (see above, c). However, the connexion of the verb with the object is in the latter case closer and more emphatic (hence especially adapted to poetic or prophetic diction), than the looser addition of the infinitive with l.; thus [;Amv. Wba' aol Is 28:12 is equivalent to they desired not obeying ( Wba' aol also with the infin. abs. in Is 42:24; cf. § 113 d); but [;mov.li Wba' aol Ez 20:8 rather expresses they could not make up their mind as to hearkening. When connected with l., the governing verb has a more independent sense than when it directiy governs the accusative of the object.

9[2] In almost all these examples the principal idea is properly contained in the infinitive, whilst the governing verb strictly speaking contains only a subordinate adverbial statement, and is therefore best rendered in English by an adverb; e.g. Gn 27:20 how is it that thou hast found it so quickly ? (prop. how thou hast hastened to find !), Gn 31:27 wherefore didst thou flee secretly ? So frequently with hB'r>hi (= often, abundantly), Ex 36:5, 1 S 1:12, 2 K 21:6, Is 55:7, Am 4:4, y Ps 78:38, &c.; with bWv (=again), Dt 30:9, 1 K 13:17, Ho 11:9, Ezr 9:14; cf. also 2 S 19:4, Jer 1:12, Jn 4:2, and the analogous instances in § 120 g; also 2 K 2:10 thou hast asked a hard thing.

10[1] rmoale is very often so used after rBed;y>w: in the Priestly document (Gn 8:15, 17:3, &c., and numberless times in the legal parts of Exod., Lev., and Num.)—a pleonasm which is not surprising considering the admittedly prolix and formal style of the document.

11[2] When Delitzsch on y Ps 104:21, referring to Hb 1:17, explains the infinitive with l. as an elliptical mode of expressing the coniugatio periphrastica (equivalent to fiagitaturi sunt a deo cibum suum), this is, in point of fact, certainly applicable to this and a few other places mentioned above; but all these passages, in which the infinitive with l.W follows, are to be distinguished from the cases treated above under h, where the infinitive with l. without WaÒw corresponds to a Latin gerundive, or is actually used to express the coniugatio periphrastica.

12[1] The great frequency of examples of this kind, especially in the poetical books, is due to a striving after what is called chiasmus in the arrangement of the parallel members in the two halves of the verse, i. e. in the instances given, the finite verb at the end of the second (co-ordinate) clause is parallel with the infinitive at the beginning of the first. In this way the verbal form necessarily became separated from the w>, and consequently the imperfect had to be used instead of the perfect consecutive. Such a parallelism of the external and internal members of a verse is frequent also in other cases, and was evidently felt to be an elegance of elevated—poetic or prophetic—style.