§ 163.Adversative and Exceptive Clauses.
Rem. Sometimes the negation is only virtually contained in the preceding sentence, e. g. in the form of a rhetorical question (Mi 6:3 f.) or of conditions which are to be regarded as not having been fulfilled (Jb 31:18); b
yKi or~ai yKi in such cases becomes equivalent to nay, rather.
Rem. The principal statement, to which d
~ai yKi appends an exception, must sometimes be supplied from the context; thus, Gn 40:14 (I desire nothing else) except that thou remember me, equivalent to only do thou remember, &c. (cf. § 106 n, note 2; but it is probably better to read%a; foryKi ). Cf. Mi 6:8, where~ai yKi , equivalent to nothing but, is used before an infinitive, and Jb 42:8, equivalent to only, before a noun. Similarly when~ai yKi after an oath introduces an emphatic assurance, e. g. in 2 K 5:20 as the Lord liveth (I can do nothing else) except I run after him, &c.; cf. 2 S 15:21Keth ., Jer 51:14, Ru 3:12 Keth., and even without the oath, Ju 15:7; cf. the Rem. on c.
Footnotes:
1[1] Very probably this use of