Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar/162. Disjunctive Sentences

by Wilhelm Gesenius, edited and enlarged by Emil Kautzsch

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§162. Disjunctive Sentences.

a The introduction of another possible case, excluding that which preceded, is effected by אוֹ or, e.g. Ex 21³⁶, equivalent to the Latin vel; but also equivalent to aut with an exclusive antithesis, 2 K 2¹⁶; so Is 27⁵ אוֹ= it would then happen that, for which elsewhere אוֹ כִי.

b In the sense of sive—sive we find אוֹ—אוֹ, or אִם—אִם, or וְאִם—אִם (see the examples in the Lexicon), also וְ—וְ Lv 5³, Nu 9¹⁴, Dt 24⁷, Is 2¹³ ff., Jer 32²⁰, ψ 76⁷, Jb 34²⁹, perhaps also Ex 21¹⁶ (but not Pr 29⁹; cf. Delitzsch on the passage), and לְ—לְ (see § 143 e); cf. also גַּם—גַּם (in Gn 24⁴⁴ וְגַם—גַּם) both—and; but גַּם לֹא—גַּם לֹא (in Gn 21²⁶ וְגַם לֹא—וְגַם לֹא; Zp 1¹⁸ גַּם ... לֹא—גַּם) neither—nor. On disjunctive questions, see § 150 g.