Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/371

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 [gg Rem. The subject is sometimes added to the infinitive absolute when it takes the place of the finite verb, e.g. Lv 67, Nu 1535, Dt 152, ψ 175, Pr 1712, Jb 402, Ec 42, Est 91. So, probably, also in Gn 1710, Ex 1248, although here כָּל־זָכָר according to § 121 a might also be taken as an object with a passive verb; cf. Est 313. In 1 S 2526, 33 the subject follows an infinitive absolute which is co-ordinated with an infinitive construct, see above, e.

§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 218 לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָֽאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ, literally, not good is the being of man in his separation; Gn 3015, 1 S 2320, Is 713, Pr 1726, 257, 24 (but cf. 21:9 טוֹב לָשֶׁ֫בֶת in the same statement); ψ 329 prop. there is not a coming near unto thee, but the text is probably corrupt. With a feminine predicate, 1 S 1823, Jer 217.

 [b (b) As genitive, e.g. Ec 34 עֵת סְפוֹד וְעֵת רְקוֹד a time of mourning and a time of dancing; Gn 217, 297, Neh 1246, 2 Ch 2414. 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 37 לֹא אֵדַע צֵאת וָבֹא I know not the going out or the coming in (I know not how to go out and come in); Gn 216, 3128, Nu 2021, Is 114, 3728 (even with אֵת), Jer 615, Jb 1522 (cf. for the use of the infinitive absolute as object, § 113 f); as accusative with a verb expressing fullness, Is 119.

 [d 2. The construction of the infinitive with prepositions (as in Greek, ἐν τῷ εἶναι, διὰ τὸ εἶναι, &c.) may usually be resolved in English into the finite verb with a conjunction, e.g. Nu 3519 בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ in his meeting him, i.e. if (as soon as) he meets him; Gn 2745 (עַד־שׁוּב); Is 3012 יַ֫עַן מָֽאָסְכֶם because ye despise; Jer 235 עַל־אָמְרֵךְ because thou sayest; Gn 271 and his eyes were dim מֵרְאֹת from seeing, i.e. so that he could not see.

 [e This use of the infinitive construct is especially frequent in connexion with בְּ or כְּ‍ to express time-determinations (in English resolved into a temporal clause, as above the combination of the infinitive with יַ֫עַן or עַל־ is resolved into a causal clause), especially after וַיְהִי (see the