Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key

OET OET-RV OET-LV GHT ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Parallel Simple Interlinear Topics Reference Dictionary Search

unfoldingWord Hebrew Grammar ⌂ ©

Infinitive Construct

Summary

The infinitive construct is a non-finite verbal form that usually functions as a verbal complement, providing extra information regarding the purpose, result, or temporal frame of the verbal action of the main verb. In rare cases, the infinitive construct functions independently as a noun.

Article

The infinitive construct generally functions as a verbal complement to a finite verb, but in rare cases it also functions independently as a noun. The infinitive construct is described as being in the construct state because it can occur in various constructions with prepositions, suffixes, and other nouns in a construct chain. The infinitive construct generally has only one form in each stem formation (Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to person, gender, or number as do the finite verb forms.

Form

Infinitive Construct Paradigm
Parsing Hebrew Transliteration Gloss
Qal קְטֹל qetol kill
Niphal הִקָּטֵל hiqqatel be killed
Hiphil הַקְטִיל haqtil cause to kill
Piel קַטֵּל qattel slaughter
Hithpael הִתְקַטֵּל hitqattel kill oneself

The infinitive construct is not found in the Hophal or Pual stems in Biblical Hebrew.

Function

The infinitive construct can carry the following range of meanings.

Expresses purpose, result, or complementary action of a main verb (with preposition לְ)

This is by far the most common use of the infinitive construct, as a standard grammatical infinitive.

Note

The infinitive construct can also be used with other prepositions to complement the main verb (such as the preposition עַל in the example below).

In the following example, the infinitive construct is expressing purpose for the action of the main verb.

Example: GEN 11:5
וַיֵּ֣רֶד יְהוָ֔ה לִרְאֹ֥ת אֶת־הָעִ֖יר וְאֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל
wayyered yehwah lir'oth 'eth-ha'ir we'eth-hammigdal
and-he-came-down Yahweh to-see [dir.obj]_the-city
and-[dir.obj]_the-tower
So Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower

OET comparison: GEN 11:5: RV GEN 11:5 · LV GEN 11:5 · Read together GEN 11:5

Show passage in OET

Word details: לִ,רְאֹ֥ת

In the following example, the infinitive construct is expressing the result of the action of the main verb.

Example: EXO 3:4
וַיַּ֥רְא יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת
wayyar yehwah ki sar lir'oth
and-he-saw Yahweh that he-had-turned-aside to-see
When Yahweh saw that he had turned aside to look

OET comparison: EXO 3:4: RV EXO 3:4 · LV EXO 3:4 · Read together EXO 3:4

Show passage in OET

OET-RV EXO 3:4

4 When Yahweh saw that he’d left his path in order to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Mosheh, Mosheh.”
 ¶ “I’m here,” he replied.

Word details: ׃

In the following example, the infinitive construct is expressing the complementary action of the main verb.

Example: EXO 3:8
וָאֵרֵ֞ד לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ׀ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֗יִם וּֽלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ֮ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִוא֒
wa'ered lehatsilo miyyad mitsrayim uleha'alotho min-ha'arets hahiw'
and-I-have-come-down to-deliver-them from-hand-of Egypt
and-to-bring-them-up from-the-land the-that
I have come down to free them from the Egyptians' power and to bring them up from that land

OET comparison: EXO 3:8: RV EXO 3:8 · LV EXO 3:8 · Read together EXO 3:8

Show passage in OET

OET-RV EXO 3:8

8 So I’ve come down to set them free from Mitsri (Egyptian) control and to bring them up from there to a good and wide land—a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s currently the place of the Kena’anim (Canaanites), the Hitim, the Amorim, the Perizim, the Hivim, and the Yevusim.

Word details: לְ,הַצִּיל֣,וֹ · וּֽ,לְ,הַעֲלֹת,וֹ֮

In the following example, the infinitive construct is expressing complementary action, but with a more nuanced meaning.

Example: 1SA 14:33
הִנֵּ֥ה הָעָ֛ם חֹטִ֥אים לַֽיהוָ֖ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל עַל־הַדָּ֑ם
hinneh ha'am hotiym layhwah le'ekhol 'al-haddam
behold the-people are-sinning to-Yahweh to-eat on_the-blood
Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating with the
blood.

OET comparison: 1SA 14:33: RV SA1 14:33 · LV SA1 14:33 · Read together SA1 14:33

Show passage in OET

OET-RV SA1 14:33

33 Then King Sha’ul (Saul) was told, “Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood still in it.”
 ¶ “You’ve all acted treacherously,” he responded, “Now, roll a big stone over to me.”

Word details: לֶ,אֱכֹ֣ל

In the following example, the infinitive construct with preposition עַל to express purpose for the action of the main verb.

Example: AMO 1:11
לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־רָדְפ֨וֹ בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙
lo 'ashivennu 'al-rodfo vaherev 'ahiw
not I-will-revoke-it on_his-pursuing with-the-sword
his-brother
I will not turn away punishment, because he pursued his brother
with the sword

OET comparison: AMO 1:11: RV AMO 1:11 · LV AMO 1:11 · Read together AMO 1:11

Show passage in OET

OET-RV AMO 1:11

11 This is what Yahweh says,
 ⇔ “Even if Edom was three or four sins below the threshold,
 ⇔ I wouldn’t turn away their punishment,
 ⇔ because he pursued his brother with the sword and abandoned all pity.
 ⇔ His anger raged continually,
 ⇔ ≈ and his rage lasted forever.

Word details: רָדְפ֨,וֹ

Provides temporal reference for the action of the main verb (with various prepositions)

The infinitive construct can be used with other prepositions (besides those included below) to provide temporal reference. In those cases, the context and the meaning of the preposition generally make clear the specific temporal nuance being indicated.

Infinitive construct with preposition בְּ to express simultaneous action:

Example: 1SA 2:27
הֲנִגְלֹ֤ה נִגְלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם
hanigloh niglethiy 'el-beth 'avikha biheyotham bemitsrayim
[quest.]-indeed I-revealed-myself to_house-of your-father
while-they-were in-Egypt
Did I not reveal myself to the house of your ancestor,
when they were in Egypt?

OET comparison: 1SA 2:27: RV SA1 2:27 · LV SA1 2:27 · Read together SA1 2:27

Show passage in OET

OET-RV SA1 2:27

27 One day one of God’s prophets came to Eli and told him, “This is what Yahweh says, ‘Didn’t I clearly reveal myself to your ancestors when they were Par’oh’s (Pharaoh) slaves in Mitsrayim (Egypt)?

Word details: בִּֽ,הְיוֹתָ֥,ם

Infinitive construct with preposition כְּ to express commencing action:

Example: GEN 12:14
וַיְהִ֕י כְּב֥וֹא אַבְרָ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יְמָה
wayhi kevo 'avram mitsraymah
and-it-happened as-coming Abram to-Egypt
It came about that when Abram entered into Egypt

OET comparison: GEN 12:14: RV GEN 12:14 · LV GEN 12:14 · Read together GEN 12:14

Show passage in OET

OET-RV GEN 12:14

14 So that’s what happened when they entered Mitsrayim—the Mitsrim indeed noticed that Saray was very beautiful,

Word details: כְּ,ב֥וֹא

Infinitive construct with preposition עַד to express durative action (until a
specified time of ending):
Example: JDG 6:18
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אָנֹכִ֥י אֵשֵׁ֖ב עַ֥ד שׁוּבֶֽךָ
wayyomar 'anokhi 'eshev 'ad shuvekha
and-he-said myself I-will-remain until you-return
Yahweh said, "I will wait until you return"

OET comparison: JDG 6:18: RV JDG 6:18 · LV JDG 6:18 · Read together JDG 6:18

Show passage in OET

OET-RV JDG 6:18

18 Please wait here while I go and prepare my gift for you and bring it back here for you.”
 ¶ “Okay, I’ll stay here until you get back,” he said.

Functions as a noun

The infinitive construct sometimes functions as an independent noun.

Example: 1SA 15:22
שְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ מִזֶּ֣בַח ט֔וֹב
shemo'a mizzevah tov
obeying from-sacrifice good
Obedience is better than sacrifice

OET comparison: 1SA 15:22: RV SA1 15:22 · LV SA1 15:22 · Read together SA1 15:22

Show passage in OET

OET-RV SA1 15:22

22 But Shmuel asked,
 ⇔ “Is Yahweh happier with burnt offerings and sacrifices
 ⇔ than with those who follow his instructions?
 ⇔ Listen, obedience is better than sacrifice—
 ⇔ ≈ paying attention is worth more than the fat of rams.

Word details: ׃

The infinitive construct may also introduce an entire clause that functions as a noun.

Example: GEN 2:17
כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת
ki beyom 'akholkha mimmennu moth tamuth
for in-day-of your-eating from-it dying you-will-die
for on the day that you eat from it, you will surely die

OET comparison: GEN 2:17: RV GEN 2:17 · LV GEN 2:17 · Read together GEN 2:17

Show passage in OET

OET-RV GEN 2:17

17 but you mustn’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because the day you eat its fruit you’ll certainly die.”

Word details: אֲכָלְ,ךָ֥ · ׃

Introduces direct speech (אמר + לְ)

The infinitive construct of אמר with preposition לְ is used to introduce direct speech.

Example: GEN 1:22
וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר
wayvarekh 'otham 'elohim lemor
and-he-blessed [dir.obj]-them God to-say
God blessed them, saying

OET comparison: GEN 1:22: RV GEN 1:22 · LV GEN 1:22 · Read together GEN 1:22

Show passage in OET

Regarding use with a pronominal suffix

When the infinitive construct takes a pronominal suffix, that suffix can be either the subject or the object of the infinitive itself (not the main verb), as determined by the context.

The following example is an infinitive construct with suffix as subject of the action.

JER 2:17
הֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עָזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ
halo-zoth ta'aseh-llakh 'ozvekh 'eth-yehwah 'elohayikh
[quest.]-not_this you-have-done_to-yourself your-forsaking
[dir.obj]_Yahweh your-God
Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your
God?

OET comparison: JER 2:17: RV JER 2:17 · LV JER 2:17 · Read together JER 2:17

Show passage in OET

Word details: עָזְבֵ,ךְ֙

The following example is an infinitive construct with suffix as object of the action.

Example: RUT 1:16
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעָזְבֵ֖ךְ
wattomer ruth 'al-tifge'i-vi le'ozvekh
and-she-said Ruth not_you-press_on-me to-forsake-you
But Ruth said, "Do not make me go away from you

OET comparison: RUT 1:16: RV RUT 1:16 · LV RUT 1:16 · Read together RUT 1:16

Show passage in OET

OET-RV RUT 1:16

16 But Ruth replied, “Please don’t insist that I leave you and go back, because wherever you go, I’ll go with you and wherever you live, I’ll live there too. Your people are my people, and your god is my god.