§ 133. The Comparison of Adjectives. (Periphrastic Expression of the Comparative and Superlative.)
A.Wünsche , 'Der Komparativ im Hebr. im Lichte der arab. Gramm.,' in Vierteljahrsschrift für Bibelkunde, 1904, p. 39:8 ff.
Rem. I. This use of b
-!mi is also very common when the attributive idea is represented by an intransitive verb, e. g. 1 S 10:23~['h'-lK'mi HK;g>YIw: and he was higher than any of the people; Na 3:8. Jb 7:6. Elsewhere, especially after transitive verbs,-!mi rather represents (on its different senses see § 119 v–z) the idea of a separation, distinction or superiority of one person or thing from or over others.3 This is evident in such cases as-!mi rx;B' to choose something (to prefer it) before something else, e. g. Jb 7:15, cf. Dt 14:2 (also-!mi !Art.yI the excellence of² over² , Ec 2:13); it is also seen in examples like Gn 37:3wyn"B'-lK'mi @seAy-ta, bh;a' laer'f.yIw> now Israel loved Joseph more than all his (other) children; 29:30, 1 S 2:29, Ho 6:6.4
2. A somewhat different idea underlies the use of c
-!mi after adjectives, or intransitive verbs possessing an attributive sense, when the thought to be expressed is that the quality is too little or too much in force for the attainment of a particular aim or object, e. g. Is 7:13~K,mi j[;m.h; is it a small thing (i. e. too little) for you to² ? Jb 15:11; after an intransitive verb, e. g. Gn 32:11 I am too insignificant (yTin>joñq' ) for all the mercies (I am not worthy of² ), &c.; cf. also the expressions-!mi dbeK' to be too heavy for one, Ex 18:18, Nu 11:14,y Ps 38:5;-!mi hv'q' to be too hard for one, Dt 1:17;-!mi j[;m' to be too few for something, Ex 12:4;-!mi rb'G" to be too strong for one,y Ps 65:4;-!mi ~c;[' to be too mighty for one, Gn 26:16;-!mi ~Wr to be too high for one,y Ps 61:3;-!mi rc; to be too narrow for one, Is 49:19;rc;q' -!mi to be too short for something, Is 50:2, and very frequently-!mi al'p.nI to be too wonderful for one (and, consequently, inconceivable or unattainable), Gn 18:14, Dt 17:8, 30:11, Jer 37:17, Pr 30:18; iny Ps 139:6ha'yliP. in the same sense is followed by!mi .—This use is especially seen in the numerous instances in which the attribute is followed by-!mi with an infinitive, e. g. 1 K 8:64 the brazen altar² waslykih'me !joq' too little to receive (to be able to receive) the burnt offering, cf. Gn 4:13, 36:7 too great for them to dwell together; after verbs, e. g. Ex 12:4, Is 28:20,y Ps 40:6. Finally, cf.-!mi ~k,l' br; , followed by the infinitive, it is enough (prop. too much) for you to² meaning ye have² long enough, 1 K 12:28; cf. Ex 9:28 and Ez 44:6 (-!mi followed by a substantive).5
In all these instances d
-!mi expresses either the removal of a thing from a person, or the severance of the person from some aim or object; cf. also the expressionä wgw lKo ~h,me rceB'yI-aol nothing will be unattainable for them (prop. there shall not be cut off from them anything which, &c.), Gn 11:6, Jb 42:3.
3. The attributive idea, on which e
-!mi logically depends, must sometimes, in consequence of a pregnant use of the-!mi (see the analogous examples in § 119 ff), be supplied from the context, e. g. Is 10:10~yIl;ñv'Wr mi ~h,yles ip.W whose graven images were more numerous than those at Jerusalem, &c.;6 Mi 7:4 worse than a thorn hedge;y Ps 62:10 lighter than a breath; Jb 11:17 clearer than the noonday; Ec 4:17 better than, &c.
Rem. I. The above examples apply only to the most common relative attributes (great, small, good), and to expressions which by usage easily came to be recognized as periphrases for the superlative. Other adjectives, however, when followed by a partitive genitive, also acquire the sense of a superlative; this appears from the context, e. g. Dt 33:19 the most hidden treasures of the sand; Ju 5:29 the wisest amongst her ladies; Is 14:30, 19:11, 23:8f., 29:19, Jer 49:20, Ez 28:7, Zc 11:7, h
y Ps 45:13, Jb 30:6 (in the most horrible of valleys), 41:22; probably alsoy Ps 35:16. On this government by the adjective generally, cf. § 132 c.—Moreover, the combination of a substantive in the construct state with an adjective used substantivally (§ 128 w) sometimes serves as a periphrasis for the superlative, e. g. Is 22:24!j'Q'h; yleK. lKo all the smallest vessels. On Ct 7:10 see § 126 x.
2. Other periphrases for the superlative are the use of a substantive in the construct state before the plural of the same word (which is naturally to be regarded as a partitive genitive; cf. our book of books), e. g. Ex 26:33 i
~yvid'Q'h.; vd,qo the most holy place;~yrIyVih; ryvi (Ct 1:1) the most excellent song; cf. Gn 9:25 ( = servus servorum, the lowest servant); Nu 3:32, Dt 10:17 (y Ps 136:2, 3)8; 1 K 8:27, Is 34:10 (cf. Gal 1:5, Rev 22:5); Jer 3:19, Ez 16:7, 26:7 (king of kings, of Nebuchadrezzar; cf. 1Tim 6:15, Rev 17:14, 19:16, and another kind of periphrasis iny Ps 95:3); Ec 1:2. Similarly in Jer 6:28 two participles are combined, and in Ho 10:15 two substantives in the singular. Finally, the same object is attained by connecting one substantive in the construct state with another of the same stem (!AtB'v; tB;v; a sabbath of solemn rest, i. e. an obligatory day of rest, Ex 31:15, &c.) or of the same meaning (e. g.hl'pea] %v,xñ a thick darkness, Ex 10:22).
3. The intensification of attributes by means of repetition belongs rather to rhetoric than to syntax, e. g. Ec 7:24 k
qmo[' qmo[' exceeding deep; 1 S 2:3, Pr 20:14; the adjective is even used three times in Is 6:3.—Cf. the repetition of adverbs for the same purpose in Gn 7:19, Nu 14:7 (daom. daom. exceedingly, alsodaom. daom.Bi Ex 1:7, &c.); Ez 42:15.—On the other hand, in Dt 28:43 the repetition expresses a continuous progress, higher and higher… lower and lower; in Dt 2:27 (see § 123 e) and 16:20 (nothing but justice) the constancy of the action. Cf. Ex 23:30j[;m. j[;m. little by little, very gradually.9
The repetition of substantives serves also as a periphrasis for the superlative in such cases as l
rDo rdol. (Ex 3:15) = to the remotest generations; cf. 17:16, Jer 6:14, 8:11 (perfect peace); Ez 21:32 (hW"[; three times);10 35:7, Na 1:2; cf. also Ho 2:21 f. and the emphatic combination of synonymous verbs in Is 33:10. Sometimes the completeness of an action or state is expressed by placing together two or even three substantives of the same stem and of similar sound, cf. Is 22:5, Ez 6:14 (33:28 f., 35:8); 32:15, Na 2:11, Zp 1:15 (Jb 30:3, 38:27).
Footnotes:
2[2] In Ju 11:25 the adjective is specially intensified by repetition, art thou so much better than Balak ? It would also be possible, howover, to translate art thou really better
4[2] On the other hand, the phrase
5[3] Cf. also 2 K 4:3, Where the idea of doing something too little is paraphrased by the Hiph.
6[4] With this comparatio decurtata, cf. the still bolder pregnant construction in
7[1] Cf. also
9[1] Adverbs of the same stem are connected in this way in Nu 6:9, Is 29:5, 30:13; of different stems in Is 5:26 and Jo 4:4. In Nu 12:2 the particles
10[2] Different in kind from the triple utterance of the same words in 2 S 18:33, Jer 7:4 and 22:29, and the double exclamation in Jer 4:19 and La 1:16 (?).