Summary
The infinitive absolute is an extremely flexible non-finite verbal form and can
function as an adverb, a finite verb, a verbal complement, or a noun. Its most common use is to
express intensity or certainty of verbal action.
Article
Of all the verbal conjugations in Biblical Hebrew, the Infinitive
Absolute is the simplest in form but the most complex in function,
demanding the most sensitivity to its context to determine its meaning.
The Infinitive Absolute is described as being in the absolute state
because it stands on its own as an independent grammatical entity. The form can appear with the conjunction, but it never occurs in any other kind of construction
with a prefix or
suffix,
an attached preposition, or with a
noun
in a construct chain. The Infinitive Absolute generally has only one
form in each
stem formation
(Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to
person, gender, or number like the finite verb
forms. Grammatically, the Infinitive Absolute is considered a non-finite verbal form but can function as an
adverb,
a finite main verb, a verbal complement, or even as a noun. The context must be carefully
investigated to discern the precise meaning of an infinitive absolute in
each instance.
Function
The Infinitive Absolute can express the following range of meanings.
Expresses intensity or certainty of verbal action
In most cases, the Infinitive Absolute is paired with a finite verb of
the same root. When used in this way, the infinitive absolute functions
adverbially, either certifying or intensifying the action of the main
verb, depending on the context. Normally an infinitive absolute
precedes the main verb, except with
Imperative verbs
and with
participles;
in those cases, an infinitive absolute follows.
The following example shows an infinitive absolute expressing intensity of
action.
Example: GEN 2:16
| מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל |
| mikkol 'ets-haggan 'akhol tokhel |
| from-every tree-of_the-garden eating you-may-eat |
| From every tree in the garden you may freely eat. |
The following example shows an infinitive absolute expressing certainty of
action.
Example: GEN 2:17
| בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת |
| beyom 'akholkha mimmennu moth tamuth |
| in-day-of your-eating from-it dying you-will-die |
| on the day that you eat from it, you will surely die. |
Functions as a finite main verb
The Infinitive Absolute often substitutes for a finite verb. In these
cases, an infinitive absolute can carry an emotive sense and should be
treated with great sensitivity to the context for precise nuance of
meaning. The examples listed below are not comprehensive, but only
provide a sampling of potential options for the exact meaning.
Example: JOB 40:2
| הֲ֭רֹב עִם־שַׁדַּ֣י יִסּ֑וֹר |
| harov 'im-shadday yissor |
| [quest.]-contend with_Almighty faultfinder |
- Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the
- Almighty?
|
The following example shows an infinitive absolute continuing the action
of the preceding verb.
Example: GEN 41:43
| וְנָת֣וֹן אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ |
| wenathon 'otho 'al kol-'erets mitsrayim |
| and-placing [dir.obj]-him over whole_land-of Egypt |
| Pharaoh put him over all the land of Egypt. |
The following example shows an infinitive absolute functioning as an
emphatic command (either direct or indirect).
Example: EXO 20:8
| זָכ֛וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת |
| zakhor 'eth-yom hashabbath |
| Remember [dir.obj]_day the-Sabbath |
| Remember the Sabbath day |
The following example shows an infinitive absolute functioning ambiguously
(could be an adverb or a finite verb).
Example: HOS 10:4
| דִּבְּר֣וּ דְבָרִ֔ים אָל֥וֹת שָׁ֖וְא כָּרֹ֣ת בְּרִ֑ית |
| dibberu devarim 'aloth shawe karoth berith |
| they-speak words swearing emptiness cutting covenant |
- They speak empty words and make covenants by swearing
- falsely.
|
Complements the action of the main verb
An infinitive absolute (or a pair of infinitive absolutes) can follow a
finite verb of a different root to describe complementary action.
In the following example, a single infinitive absolute is functioning
adverbially.
Example: GEN 30:32
- אֶֽעֱבֹ֨ר בְּכָל־צֹֽאנְךָ֜ הַיּ֗וֹם הָסֵ֨ר מִשָּׁ֜ם כָּל־שֶׂ֣ה׀
- נָקֹ֣ד וְטָל֗וּא
|
| 'e'evor bekhol-tsonekha hayyom haser misham kol-seh naqod wetalu |
- let-me-pass though-all_your-flock today turning aside from-there
- every_sheep speckled and-spotted
|
- Let me walk through all your flock today, removing from it every
- speckled and spotted sheep
|
In the following example, a pair of infinitive absolutes are functioning
adverbially.
Example: 1SA 3:12
| בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ אָקִ֣ים ... הָחֵ֖ל וְכַלֵּֽה |
| bayyom hahu' 'aqim ... hahel wekhalleh |
| in-the-day the-that I-will-carry-out ... beginning and-ending. |
| On that day I will carry out ... from beginning to end. |
Expresses progression or continuance of verbal action (הלךְ)
The Infinitive Absolute (and sometimes the
Participle)
of the specific root הלךְ can be used to express a sense of progression
or continuance of the action of a main verb.
Example: Gen 8:3
| וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ הַמַּ֛יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָ֖רֶץ הָל֣וֹךְ וָשׁ֑וֹב |
| wayyashuvu hammayim me'al ha'arets halokh washov |
| and-they-returned the-waters from-over the-earth going and-returning |
| The flood waters receded from off the earth continually. |
Example: 2SA 18:25
| וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב |
| wayyelekh halokh weqarev |
| and-he-walked going and-approaching |
| The runner came closer and neared the city. |
Example: JDG 14:9
| וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וְאָכֹ֔ל |
| wayyelekh halokh we'akhol |
| And-he-walked going and-eating |
| He ... went on, eating as he went |
Functions as a noun
This is an extremely rare use of the Infinitive Absolute.
Example: ISA 22:13
| וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֗ה הָרֹ֤ג׀ בָּקָר֙ וְשָׁחֹ֣ט
צֹ֔אן אָכֹ֥ל בָּשָׂ֖ר וְשָׁת֣וֹת יָ֑יִן |
| wehinneh sason wesimhah harog baqar weshahot tson 'akhol
basar weshathoth yayin |
| and-behold joy and-gladness killing cattle and-slaughtering sheep
eating flesh and-drinking wine |
| But look, instead, celebration and gladness, killing cattle and
slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine |
