The Nomen Actionis or Infinitive

The Nomen Actionis or Infinitive
1. Infinitive Absolute
§ 84. The infin. abs. as an abstract noun expresses the bare idea of the verbal action, apart from the modifications which subject-inflections or tense-forms lend to it. Used along with the inflected form it gives emphasis to the expression of the action, and, when used alone, graphically represents the action in its exercise, continuance, prevalence, and the like, sometimes almost with the force of an exclamation.
Construction of inf. abs.—Expressing the bare notion of the verb the inf. abs. refuses to enter into close construction, receiving neither suffixes nor prep. It may, however—(a) Be the subj. in a nominal sent., esp. when the pred. is ‏מוֹב‎ good, or ‏לא טוב‎ (in poet. ‏בַּל טוב‎) not good, but also otherwise. Proverbs 28:21 ‏הַכֶּר־פָּנִים לֹא־טוֹב‎ to be partial is not good. 1 Samuel 15:23, Jeremiah 10:5, Proverbs 24:23; Proverbs 25:27, Job 25:2. In Job 6:25 it is subj. to a verbal sent.
(b) Or the obj. of a verb. Isaiah 1:17 ‏לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב‎ learn to do well; Isaiah 42:24 ‏לֹא אָבוּ הָלוֹךְ‎ they willed not to walk. Isaiah 7:15; Isaiah 57:20, Proverbs 15:12, Job 9:18; Job 13:3. Rarely in gen. Isaiah 14:23 ‏בְּמַטְאְַטֵא הַשְׁמֵד‎ with the besom of destruction. Proverbs 1:3; Proverbs 21:16. Cf. Rem. 1.
(c) It may govern like its own finite verb, e.g. acc., Hosea 10:4 ‏כָּרֹת בְּרִית‎ making covenants; Isaiah 22:13 ‏הָרֹג בָּקָר וְשָׁחֹט צֹאן‎ killing oxen and slaying sheep. Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 21:5; Isaiah 59:4, Isaiah 59:13, Proverbs 25:4, Proverbs 25:5. Or prep., Isaiah 7:15 ‏מָאוֹס בָּרָע וּבָחוֹר בַּטּוֹב‎ to refuse evil and choose good. It is not followed by gen. either of noun or pron.
Rem. 1. 1 Samuel 1:9 is the only ex. of inf. abs. with prep. (text dubious). The inf. abs. tends, however, to become a real noun (Job 25:2, Lamentations 3:45), and may take prep. when so used, Isaiah 30:15, and also when used adverbially, Nehemiah 5:18. The inf. cons. hiph. is occasionally pointed like inf. abs., e.g. Deuteronomy 32:8, Jeremiah 44:19, Jeremiah 44:25, which introduces some uncertainty (Deuteronomy 26:12, Nehemiah 10:38 should perhaps be read pi.). Inf. abs. as obj. seems to occur first in Is.
§ 85. Use of inf. abs.—The inf. abs. is used first, along with the forms of its own verb, to add emphasis. In this case it stands chiefly before its verb, but also after it. Secondly, it is used adverbially to describe the action of a previous verb. And, thirdly, it is used instead of the finite or other inflected forms of the verb.
§ 86. Use along with its own verb.—(a) When before its verb the kind of emphasis given by inf. abs. may be of various kinds, e.g. that of strong asseveration in promises or threats; that of antithesis in adversative statements; the emphasis natural in a supposition or concession; and that of interrogation, particularly when the speaker is animated, and throws into the question an intonation of surprise, scorn, dislike, &c. Such shades cannot be reproduced in translation. Occasionally such a word as indeed, surely (Genesis 2:17), forsooth (Genesis 37:8), of course (Genesis 43:7), at all (Hosea 1:6), &c., may bring out the sense, but oftenest the kind of emphasis is best expressed by an intonation of the voice.
Ex. of asseveration: Genesis 2:17 ‏מוֹת תָּמוּת‎ thou shalt (surely) die! Genesis 16:10; Genesis 18:10, 2 Samuel 5:19. Frequently in injunctions; Exodus 21:28 ‏סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל הַשּׁוֹר‎ the ox shall be stoned, Exodus 23:4, Deuteronomy 12:2, and often. Antithesis: Judges 15:13 ‏לֹא כִּי אָסֹר נֶֽאֱסָרְךָ וְהָמֵת לֹא נְמִיתֶךָ‎ nay, we will bind thee, but we will not kill thee. 2 Samuel 24:24, Deuteronomy 7:26; Deuteronomy 13:10; Deuteronomy 21:14, and often, 1 Samuel 6:3, 1 Kings 11:22, Amos 9:8, Isaiah 28:28, Jeremiah 32:4; Jeremiah 34:3. Supposition (very common): Exodus 21:5 ‏וְאִם אָמֹר יֹאמַר הָעֶבֶד‎ but if the slave should say. Judges 11:30, Exodus 22:4, Exodus 22:11-12, Exodus 22:16, Exodus 22:22, Judges 14:12, Judges 14:1 S. I. 11; Judges 20:6, Judges 20:9, Judges 20:21, 2 Samuel 18:3. So concession: Genesis 31:30 ‏וְעַתָּה הָלֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ‎ well, thou hast gone off because, &c. (but why steal my gods?). 1 Samuel 2:30. In questions: Genesis 24:5 ‏הֶֽהָשֵׁב אָשִׁיב אֶת־בִּנְךָ‎ am I, then, to bring back? Genesis 37:8, Genesis 37:10 ‏הְַמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ‎ shalt thou rule (forsooth) over us? Genesis 43:7 ‏הְַיָדֹעַ נֵדַע כִּי יֹאמַר‎ were we (then) to know? Numbers 22:30, Numbers 22:37-38, Judges 11:25, 1 Samuel 2:27, 2 Kings 18:33, Isaiah 50:2, Jeremiah 26:19, Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 18:23, Zechariah 7:5.
The peculiar emphasis of inf. abs. is well felt when a speaker gives a report regarding circumstances, or repeats (directly or indirectly) the words of another, or his own thoughts. Genesis 43:3, Genesis 43:7, Judges 9:8; Judges 15:2, 1 Samuel 10:16; 1 Samuel 14:28, 1 Samuel 14:43; 1 Samuel 20:3, 1 Samuel 20:6, 1 Samuel 20:28; 1 Samuel 23:22, 2 Samuel 1:6. Also when restrictive particles, ‏אַךְ‎, ‏רַק‎ are used, Genesis 27:30; Genesis 44:28, Judges 7:19.
(b) In negative sent. inf. abs. precedes the neg. Isaiah 30:19 ‏בָּכוֹ לֹא־תִבְכֶּה‎ thou shalt not weep. Judges 15:13 above, Exodus 8:28; Exodus 34:7, Deuteronomy 21:14, Judges 1:28, 1 Kings 3:27, Amos 3:5, Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 13:12. With ‏אַל‎, 1 Kings 3:26, Micah 1:10. Exceptions occur mostly when a denial is given to previous words, Genesis 3:4, Amos 9:8, Psalms 49:7.
(c) When placed after its verb inf. abs. has often the same force as when before it. 2 Kings 5:11 ‏אָמַרְתִּי אֵלַי יֵצֵא יָצוֹא‎ I thought, He will (certainly) come out unto me. Numbers 23:11, 2 Samuel 3:24; 2 Samuel 6:20, Jeremiah 23:39, Daniel 11:10, Daniel 11:13. In this case inf. abs. is sometimes strengthened by ‏גם‎. Genesis 46:4
‏וְאָֽנֹכִי אַֽעַלְךָ גַם־עָלֹה‎ I will also bring the up; Genesis 31:15, Numbers 16:13. Inf. abs. always stands after imper. and ptcp., Numbers 11:15 ‏הָרְגֵנִי־נָא הָרֹג‎ kill me rather (at once); Jeremiah 22:10 ‏בְּכוּ בָכוּ לַֽהֹלֵךְ‎ weep, indeed, for him that is gone away. Judges 5:23, Isaiah 6:9. With ptcp. Jeremiah 23:17, Isaiah 22:17, Judges 11:25?
But inf. abs. after its verb suggests an indefinitely prolonged state of the action, and therefore expresses continuance, prevalence, &c. Numbers 11:32 ‏וַיִּשְׁטְחוּ לָהֶם שָׁטוֹחַ‎ and they went spreading them out (the quails). Jeremiah 6:29. This use is clearer when another inf. abs. is added; Judges 14:9 ‏וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְאָכֹל‎ he went on, eating as he went; Genesis 8:7 ‏וַיֵּצֵא יָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב‎ and it went (always) out and back. 1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Kings 20:37, 2 Kings 2:11, Isaiah 19:22. This use is akin to the adverbial use, cf. 2 Kings 21:13, where rd. probably ‏מָחֹה וְהָפֹךְ‎, with larger accent at dish. This inf. before the verb, Isaiah 3:16, cf. Psalms 126:6.
Rem. 1. Exx. like Genesis 43:3, Genesis 43:7, Amos 9:8 hardly prove that infin. abs. intensifies the action in the same sense as the pi. With 1 Samuel 20:6 cf. 1 Samuel 20:23. In Genesis 19:9 the inf. after verb may emphasise the assumption to be judge on the part of one who was a stranger rather than the habit of judging. Joshua 24:10.
Rem. 2. The inf. abs. is oftenest of the same conjug. as the finite, whether before or after it, e.g. Kal Genesis 2:16, niph. Exodus 22:4, pi. Genesis 22:17, pu. Genesis 40:15, hiph. Genesis 3:16, hoph. Ezekiel 16:4, hith. Numbers 16:13. But as the nomen actionis of the Kal expresses the abstract idea of the verb in general, it may be joined with any other conjug., e.g. with niph. Exodus 21:20; pi. 2 Samuel 20:18; pu. Genesis 37:33; hiph. 1 Samuel 23:22, Genesis 46:4; hoph. Exodus 21:12 (and always in this phrase shall be put to death); hithpo. Isaiah 24:19. Other combinations are rarer, e.g. inf. hoph. with niph. 2 Kings 3:23, and with pu. Ezekiel 16:4; inf. pi. with hiph. 1 Samuel 2:16. Occasionally the inf. is from another verb, cognate and similar in sound, Isaiah 28:28, Jeremiah 8:13; Jeremiah 48:9 (Zephaniah 1:2?). If text right in Jeremiah 42:10, ‏שׁוב‎, the weak yod has fallen away, cf. Jud Jeremiah 19:11, 2 Samuel 22:41.
Rem. 3. Instead of inf. abs. the abstract noun is sometimes used; Isaiah 35:2, Jeremiah 46:5, Micah 4:9, Habakkuk 3:9 (last two cognate stems), Job 27:12, cf. Isaiah 29:14, both inf. and noun.—Occasionally the form of inf. cons. is used, Numbers 23:25, Rth_2:16, Jeremiah 50:34, Proverbs 23:1 (all due to assonance with following verb), Psalms 50:21, Nehemiah 1:7.—2 Kings 3:24 ‏והכות‎ text amiss (but cf. § 96, R. 4), Ezekiel 11:7 rd. ‏אוציא‎. Cf. however, Joshua 4:3; Joshua 7:7, Ezekiel 7:14.
Rem. 4. The verb ‏הלך‎ with its inf. abs. is followed: (a) mostly by another inf. abs. as above in c, e.g. 2 Samuel 3:16. ‏וילך הלוך וּבָכֹה‎, Joshua 6:9, 2 Kings 2:11; but (b) also by ptcp. 2 Samuel 18:25 ‏וילך הלוך וְקָרֵב‎, Jeremiah 41:6, cf. 2 Samuel 16:5; and (c) by a finite tense, 2 Samuel 16:13 ‏וילך הלוך וַיְקַלֵּל‎, Joshua 6:13, 1 Samuel 19:23, 2 Samuel 13:19, cf. Isaiah 31:5.
But ‏הלך‎ is often used in a metaphorical sense to express progress, continuance, &c. in an action or condition, which is expressed by ptcp. or adj. Genesis 26:13 ‏וילך הלוך וְגָדֵל‎ he grew ever greater. Judges 4:24, 1 Samuel 14:19, 2 Samuel 5:10, 1 Chronicles 11:9. In the same sense the ptcp. ‏הֹלֵךְ‎ is used in a predication. 2 Samuel 3:1 ‏וְדָוִד הֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק‎ D. waxed stronger and stronger. Exodus 19:19 always waxed louder. 1 Samuel 2:26 (1 Samuel 17:41 in a literal sense), 2 Samuel 15:12, 2 Chronicles 17:12, Esther 9:4, Proverbs 4:18.
Used adverbially with inf. abs. of other verbs inf. abs. of ‏הלך‎ expresses the same idea of progress or endurance. Genesis 12:9 ‏וַיִּסַּע הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ‎ he continued always journeying; Genesis 8:3 always receded more and more, cf. Genesis 8:5.
§ 87. Adverbial use of inf. abs.—The inf. abs. is used to describe adverbially the manner, degree, &c., of the action expressed by a previous verb. This inf. is itself without and, but other inf. may be subjoined to it. Deuteronomy 9:21 ‏וָֽאֶכּתֹ אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן הֵיטֵב‎ and I beat it, grinding it small; 1 Samuel 3:12
‏אָקִים את כל־אשׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי הָחֵל וְכַלֵּה‎ I will fulfil all that I have spoken, from beginning to end. Genesis 21:16; Genesis 30:32, Numbers 6:23, Joshua 3:17; Joshua 6:3, Joshua 6:11, 1 Samuel 17:16, 2 Samuel 8:2, Isaiah 57:17, Micah 6:13, Zechariah 7:3, Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 12:17; Jeremiah 22:19. Cf. Genesis 30:37 ‏מַחְשׂף‎. Some inf. abs. (chiefly hiph.) have become almost simple adverbs, as ‏הֵיטֵב‎ well, very, ‏הַרְבֵּה‎ much, very, ‏הַרְחֵק‎ far, Genesis 21:16, Joshua 3:16.
Rem. 1. Here belongs the phrase of Jer., e.g. Jeremiah 7:13 ‏הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר‎... ‏וָֽאְַדַבֵּר‎ I spoke, earnestly speaking, in which inf. of first verb is repeated; Jeremiah 11:7; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 32:33; Jeremiah 35:14, Jeremiah 35:15. As adverbial inf. is without and, delete vav in Jeremiah 26:5.—Instead of inf. of first verb there is finite form, Isaiah 57:17, cf. Isaiah 31:5. In Hosea 10:4 the inf. might exegese ‏דִּבְּרוּ דברים‎, giving examples of their idle or swelling words; or they may express actions on the same line as their talk.
§ 88. Inf. abs. instead of inflected forms.—(a) When circumstances, personal relations, &c., have already been suggested by an inflected verbal form, it is often thought sufficient to subjoin further actions in the bare inf. form. This inf. may follow any inflected form, and, unlike the adverbial inf., is introduced by and. Judges 7:19 ‏וַיִּתְקְעוּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרוֹת וְנָפוֹץ הַכַּדִּים‎ they blew with the trumpets, and broke the pitchers; 1 Kings 9:25 ‏וְהֶֽעֱלָה שׁ׳ וְהַקְטֵיר‎ and Solomon offered sacrifices (freq.) and burnt incense; Jeremiah 14:5 ‏גַּם־אַיֶּלֶת בַּשָּׂדֶה יָֽלְדָה וְעָזוֹב‎ even the hind calves, and forsakes (her young); Jeremiah 32:44 ‏שָׂדוֹת יִקְנוּ וְכָתוֹב בַּסֵּפֶר וְחָתוֹם וְהָעֵד עֵדִים‎ they shall buy fields, and subscribe deeds, and seal them, and take witnesses. The usage becomes more common in later style. Cf. Rem. 1.
(b) The bare inf. abs. is used without a preceding inflected form when the verbal action or state in itself, apart from modifications of time, person, &c., is to be forcibly presented, e.g. in injunctions which are general; in descriptions of prevailing conduct or condition of things; but also in any case where the action in itself, apart from its conditions, is to be vividly expressed. Exodus 20:8 ‏זָכוֹר את יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת‎ remember the sabbath day!—Hosea 4:2 ‏אָלֹה וְכַחֵשׁ וְרָצֹחַ וְגָנֹב וְנָאֹף‎ false swearing, and murder, and theft, and adultery (they practise)!—1 Kings 22:30 ‏הִתְחַפֵּשׂ וָבֹא בַמִּלְחָמָה‎ disguise myself (will I), and go into the battle! 2 Kings 4:43 ‏כֹּה אמר י׳ אָכוֹל וְהוֹתֵר‎ thus saith Je., Eat (shall ye) and leave over! (c) So in other cases where the action in itself, apart from its circumstances, is to be stated, the inf. abs. is sufficient. Isaiah 20:2 ‏וַיַּעַשׂ כֵּן הָלֹךְ עָרוֹם וְיָחֵף‎ he did so, walking naked and barefoot, Isaiah 5:5. Particularly when the action is first indicated by this. Jeremiah 9:24 ‏בְּזֹאת יִתְהַלֵּל הַמִּתְהַלֵּל הַשְׂכֵּל וְיָדֹעַ אֹתִי‎ in this let one glory, in understanding and in knowing me; Isaiah 58:6 is not this the fast that I like, ‏פַּתֵּחַ חַרְצֻבּוֹת רֶשַׁע‎ to loose the bonds of wickedness, &c. (three inf., cf. Isaiah 58:7). Genesis 17:10; Deuteronomy 15:2, Isaiah 37:30, Zechariah 14:12.
Rem. 1. Exx. of a. After perf., 1 Samuel 2:27-28, Hosea 10:4, Jeremiah 19:13; Jeremiah 22:14, Haggai 1:6, Zechariah 3:4; Zechariah 7:5, 1 Chronicles 5:20, 2 Chronicles 28:19, Ecclesiastes 4:1-2; Ecclesiastes 9:11, Esther 9:6, Esther 9:12, Esther 9:16, cf. Esther 9:17, Daniel 9:5.—After impf., Jeremiah 32:44; Jeremiah 36:23. With ‏אוֹ‎ or, Leviticus 25:14, Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 14:21.—After vav impf., Genesis 41:43, Exodus 8:15, Jeremiah 37:21, 1 Chronicles 16:36, Nehemiah 8:8.—Vav perf., Zechariah 12:10.—Inf., 1 Samuel 22:13, Jeremiah 7:18, cf. Jeremiah 32:33.—Ptcp., Habakkuk 2:15, Esther 8:8.
Rem. 2. Exx. of b. Inf. abs. as imper., Exodus 12:48; Exodus 13:3, Deuteronomy 1:16; Deuteronomy 5:12; Deuteronomy 31:26, Joshua 1:13, 2 Kings 3:16, Zechariah 6:10. So ‏הָלוֹךְ‎ go! 2 Samuel 24:12, 2 Kings 5:10, and often in Jer., 2 Kings 2:2; 2 Kings 3:12, &c. Isaiah 14:31? (‏נָמוֹג‎ inf. abs.).—Of prevailing conduct or condition, Isaiah 21:5; Isaiah 22:13; Isaiah 59:4, Isaiah 59:13, Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 8:15; Jeremiah 14:19, Exodus 21:31, Haggai 1:9.—Exx. of c, Jeremiah 3:1 (‏ושׁוב‎), Ezekiel 23:30, Ezekiel 23:46, Job 40:2, Proverbs 17:12; Proverbs 25:4, Proverbs 25:5.
Rem. 3. Like inf. cons. (§ 96), inf. abs. when used for finite may be continued by fin. form, Isaiah 42:22; Isaiah 58:6.
Rem. 4. A force akin to that of inf. abs. is sometimes obtained by repeating the verb in another form. Psalms 118:11, Zephaniah 2:1, Habakkuk 1:5, Isaiah 29:9 (Hosea 4:18). But in some of these places text is doubtful.
Rem. 5. When inf. abs. is used for finite verb the subj. is occasionally expressed with it, Deuteronomy 15:2, Leviticus 6:14. Numbers 15:35, 1 Samuel 25:26, Isaiah 42:22, Psalms 17:5, Job 40:2, Proverbs 17:12, Ecclesiastes 4:2, Esther 9:1. Genesis 17:12-13 make it probable that ‏כל־זכר‎Genesis 17:10 is subj. and not acc. after pass.
Rem. 6. In § 86 (cf. § 67) and § 87 the inf. abs. is no doubt in acc.; possibly also in § 88, cf. Kor. 2:77.
2. The Infinitive Construct
§ 89. The inf. cons. has the qualities both of noun and verb, being used like a gerund, admitting prepp. and suffixes, and yet having the government of its verb. As nomen verbi it does not of itself express tense; the time is either indefinite or suggested by the context and circumstances. It is too little of a noun to take the art., § 19.
§ 90. Cases of inf. cons. itself.—(a) The inf. cons. may be nom. as subject to a nominal sentence, especially when the pred. is "good" or "not good" (§ 84a), but also otherwise, Genesis 2:18 ‏לֹא טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָֽאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ‎ man's being alone is not good; Isaiah 7:13 ‏הַמְעַט מִכֶּם הַלְאוֹת אְַנָשִׁים‎ is wearying men too little for you? Genesis 29:19; Genesis 30:15, Exodus 14:12, Judges 9:2; Judges 18:19, 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Samuel 23:20; 1 Samuel 29:6, 2 Samuel 18:11, Isaiah 10:7, Micah 3:1, Psalms 118:9, Proverbs 10:23; Proverbs 13:19; Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 16:12, Proverbs 16:16, and often.
(b) It may be in gen. by a noun or prep. Genesis 2:4 ‏בְּיוֹם עְַשׂוֹת יהוה‎ in the day of Jehovah's making; Genesis 14:17 ‏אַֽחְַרֵי שׁוּבוֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת‎ after his returning from smiting. Genesis 2:17; Genesis 21:5; Genesis 24:30; Genesis 29:7, Isaiah 7:17, Hosea 2:3, Hosea 2:17. Also, though rarely, after an adj. or ptcp. in cons., Isaiah 56:10, Jeremiah 13:23, Psalms 127:2, Proverbs 30:29. In a few instances ‏כל‎ all precedes inf. cons., Genesis 30:41, 1 Kings 8:52, Psalms 132:1-18, 1 Chronicles 23:31.
(c) It may be in acc. as obj. to an active verb. 1 Kings 3:7 ‏לֹא אֵדֵע צֵאת וָבֹא‎ I know not how to go out or come in. Genesis 8:10, Exodus 2:3, Deuteronomy 2:25, 2 Kings 19:27, Isaiah 1:14; Isaiah 11:9, Jeremiah 15:15, Amos 3:10, Psalms 101:3. The acc. sign ‏את‎ occurs before inf. 2 Kings 19:27 (Isaiah 37:28). The inf. cons. with prep. ‏ל‎, which expresses the direction of the action of governing verb, has in usage greatly superseded the simple inf. when obj.; Genesis 18:29 ‏וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד לְדַבֵּר‎, Genesis 11:8; Genesis 13:16. This inf. with ‏ל‎ has become almost a simple verbal form, and appears often as subj. in the nominal sent., 1 Samuel 15:22, 2 Samuel 18:11, Isaiah 10:7 with Isaiah 28:19, Micah 3:1, Psalms 118:8, Proverbs 21:9 with Proverbs 25:24. Cf. Habakkuk 2:14.
Rem. 1. It is usually the whole clause rather than the mere inf. that is grammatical subj.; comp. the forcible phrase 2 Samuel 14:32. The inf. cons. is too little nominal to be subj. to a verb: in 2 Samuel 22:36 rd. with Psalms 18:35 ‏וענוָתך‎; 1 Kings 16:31 ‏הְַנָקֵל‎ is ptcp., cf. 1 Samuel 18:23. In 2 Samuel 24:13 ‏נֻֽסְךָ‎ is loosely appended to preceding words. Isaiah 37:29 ‏שַֽׁאְַנַנְךָ‎ if text right may be an ex., or adj. used substantively (vocalisation varies). Psalms 17:3 ‏זַמֹּתִי‎ if inf. is scarcely subj. to following verb. On the other hand the fem. inf. tends to be a real noun, and may be subj. to a verb, Proverbs 10:12.—It is rare that the mas. form of inf. is construed as fem. (neut.), 1 Samuel 18:23, Jeremiah 2:17 with Jeremiah 2:19.
Rem. 2. Deuteronomy 25:2 ‏בִּן הַכּוֹת‎ worthy of a beating (adjudged the bastinado) is peculiar, cf. 1 Samuel 20:31.
§ 91. Government by inf. cons.—(a) The agent or subj., which usually immediately follows inf., is in the gen. Genesis 2:4 ‏עְַשׂוֹת יהוה‎ Jehovah's making; Genesis 19:16 ‏בְּחֶמְלַת י׳ עָלָיו‎ in Jehovah's pitying him. Genesis 16:16; Genesis 24:11, Exodus 17:1, Deuteronomy 1:27, 1 Kings 10:9. So with suff., Genesis 3:19 ‏עַד שֽׁוּבְךָ אֶל־הָֽאְַדָמָה‎ until thy returning to the ground, Genesis 3:5; Genesis 39:18.
When separated from inf. by intervening words the subj., with a looser construction, must be supposed to be in the nom.; Isaiah 20:1 ‏בִּשְׁלֹחַ אֹתוֹ סַֽרְגוֹן‎ when Sargon sent him. Genesis 4:15, Numbers 24:23, Deuteronomy 4:42, Joshua 14:11, Judges 9:2, 1 Samuel 16:16, 2 Samuel 18:29, Isaiah 5:24, Jeremiah 21:1, Ezekiel 17:10, Psalms 51:1-19; Psalms 56:1; Psalms 76:10; Psalms 142:4, Proverbs 1:27; Proverbs 25:8, Job 34:22.
(b) The inf. cons. puts its obj. in the same case as the verb does from which it is derived, i.e. acc. or gen. through a prep. 1 Samuel 19:1 ‏לְהָמִית אֶת־דָּוִד‎ to kill David; Deuteronomy 10:15 ‏לְאַֽהְַבָה אֹתָם‎ to love them; Numbers 22:11 ‏לְהִלָּחֶם בּוֹ‎ to fight with him. Genesis 2:4, Deuteronomy 2:7, 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 15:4, Genesis 19:16, Deuteronomy 30:20, Isaiah 7:1. The inf. may take two acc. like its verb, Genesis 41:39, Deuteronomy 26:19, Joshua 10:20.
(c) When subj. and obj. are both expressed the usual order is: inf., subj., obj. Genesis 41:39 ‏אַֽחְַרֵי הוֹדִיעַ א׳ אֹֽתְךָ‎ after God's showing thee; Hosea 3:1 ‏כְּאַֽהְַבַת י׳ אֶת־בְּנֵי ישׂ׳‎ as Je. loveth the children of Israel; and with pron. as subj. Genesis 39:18 ‏כַּֽהְַרִימִי קוֹלִי‎ when I lifted up my voice. Genesis 11:11, Genesis 11:13; Genesis 13:10; Genesis 24:30; Genesis 39:19, 1 Kings 11:24; 1 Kings 13:23, 1 Kings 13:31, Isaiah 10:15, Amos 1:3, Amos 1:6, Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:13, &c.
Rem. 1. The subj., especially when a pron., is often omitted: (a) when clear from the context, Genesis 24:30 ‏כִּרְאֹת‎ when he saw, Genesis 19:29, Deuteronomy 4:21, 1 Kings 20:12, Ezekiel 8:6. (b) When general and indeterminate, Genesis 33:10 ‏כִּרְאֹת‎ as one sees; Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 2:13; 1 Samuel 18:19, 2 Samuel 3:34; 2 Samuel 7:29, Isaiah 7:22; Isaiah 10:14.—Genesis 25:26, Exodus 27:7; Exodus 30:12, Numbers 9:15; Numbers 10:7, Zephaniah 2:2, Zechariah 13:9, Psalms 42:3 with Psalms 42:11, Job 13:9; Job 20:4. The obj. is also often omitted, when a pron., in the same circumstances. § 73, R. 5.
Rem. 2. The subj. is probably nom. in some cases where it is not separated from inf. (a above), e.g. when ‏ל‎ of inf. has pretonic qameç; 2 Samuel 19:19 ‏לָשׂוּם הַמֶּלֶךְ‎ with Genesis 16:3 ‏לְשֶׁבֶת אַבְרָם‎, 1 Kings 6:1, Job 37:7. The inf. hiph. of ‏ע׳ו‎ verbs is never shortened except with suff. (Genesis 39:18 in c above), e.g. Isaiah 10:15 ‏כְּהָנִיף שֵׁבֶט‎, Isaiah 14:3 ‏בְּיוֹם הָנִיחַ י׳‎, 2 Samuel 17:14, Psalms 46:2.
Rem. 3. The obj. of inf. when a noun is probably acc. and not gen. objecti. When inf. has suff. this is clear, Genesis 39:18, Deuteronomy 9:28. Also the particle ‏את‎ is frequently expressed, Genesis 14:17; Genesis 25:26, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 11:22, 1 Samuel 18:19; 1 Samuel 25:2, Zechariah 13:9. Cases in which neither of these marks is present are probably to be decided on the same analogy, e.g. Judges 14:6 ‏כְּשַׁסַּע הַגְּדִי‎ as one rends a kid, Isaiah 10:14 as one gathers eggs, Isaiah 17:5, 1 Kings 18:28, Psalms 66:10; Psalms 101:3, Proverbs 21:3. The fem. inf., while it may take acc., is occasionally construed with gen. obj., Psalms 73:28 ‏קִרְבַת אלהים‎ to draw near to God, Micah 6:8, so Aram. Ezra 4:22. So the common ‏לִקְרָאתִי‎ to meet me, ‏לִקְרַאת דָּוִד‎ to meet David, &c. Similarly fem. verbal noun, Deuteronomy 29:22, cf. acc. Ezekiel 17:9, Amos 4:11, and with mas. noun, Numbers 10:2 (Habakkuk 3:13?). In Numbers 23:10 rd. perhaps ‏מִי סָפַר‎. Others consider cases like Isaiah 10:14; Isaiah 17:5 as gen. obj. (Hitz. on Isaiah 1:7).
Rem. 4. Though inf. has a distinct suff. for acc. only in 1 p. s. and occasionally in others, e.g. 3 s. ‏להוצאֵהוּ‎, Jeremiah 39:14, and Jeremiah 39:1 pl. ‏להוציאָנוּ‎, Exodus 14:11, there seems no reason to doubt that the suff. of all the persons are often in acc. There is no syntactical reason why inf. should govern acc. of 1 p. s. and not of the other persons, as it does govern acc. of all persons with ‏את‎. A gen. obj. would in many cases be awkward, as Genesis 37:4 ‏דַּבְּרוֹ‎ to speak to him, and where the suff. is parallel to ‏את‎ as Genesis 37:22, Deuteronomy 1:27. In Deuteronomy 23:5 the suff. has verbal n demons. Comp. exx. like Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:25, Deuteronomy 9:28; Deuteronomy 26:19 with Psalms 89:27, Judges 13:23; Judges 14:8; Judges 18:2, 1 Samuel 2:25; 1 Samuel 19:11, 1 Kings 20:35, 2 Kings 9:35, Psalms 106:23, Psalms 106:26, Psalms 106:27. When prep. ‏ל‎ precedes inf. the suff. is mostly acc.; also often when ‏מן‎ precedes, and even when other prepp. are prefixed.—Numbers 22:13 ‏לְתִתִּי‎ = ‏לְתִתֵּנִי‎, and Jeremiah 27:8 ‏תֻּמִּי‎ seems used as trans., though cf. Sep.
§ 92. Usage of inf. cons.—The inf. cons. with prepp. has all the meanings of the finite forms with conjunctions. Genesis 4:8 ‏בִּֽהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה‎ when they were in the field; Genesis 3:19 ‏עַד שֽׁוּבְךָ‎ until thou return, cf. Hosea 10:12 ‏עַד יָבוֹא‎ until he come, Genesis 39:16, 2 Samuel 10:5. Genesis 39:18 ‏כַּֽהְַרִימִי קוֹלִי‎ when I lifted up, cf. Genesis 37:23 ‏כַּֽאְַשֶׁר בָּא‎ when he came. The prepp. become conjunctions, taking finite forms, by combination with the rel. ‏אשׁר‎, which, however, is often omitted, as Hosea 10:12 above, Hosea 5:15. Genesis 18:12 with Judges 11:36, 2 Samuel 19:30; Amos 1:11 with 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 3:11 with Isaiah 43:4.—Genesis 13:10; Genesis 34:7; Genesis 35:1, 1 Samuel 9:15, 2 Samuel 12:6, Exodus 19:18. Cf. § 145.
§ 93. The prep. ‏ל‎, which properly expresses the direction of the action of previous verb, is used with inf. cons. in a weaker sense (like gerund in do) to explain the circumstances or nature of a preceding action. This gerundial (adverbial) use is very common. 1 Samuel 14:33 ‏הָעָם חֹטִאים לֶֽאֱכֹל עַל־הַדָּם‎ the people are sinning in eating with the blood; 1 Kings 5:23 ‏תַּֽעְַשֶׂה אֶת־חֶפְצִי לָתֵת לֶחֶם בֵּיתִי‎ thou wilt do my desire in giving (so as to give) bread for my house. Genesis 18:25; Genesis 19:19; Genesis 29:26; Genesis 34:7; Genesis 43:6, 1 Samuel 12:17, 1 Samuel 12:19; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 20:20, 2 Samuel 14:20, 1 Kings 8:32; 1 Kings 14:8; 1 Kings 16:19. So the frequent ‏לֵאמֹר‎ saying. Similarly in explanation of a comparison, Genesis 3:22, 2 Samuel 14:25, Isaiah 21:1, Ezekiel 38:16, Proverbs 26:2, 1 Chronicles 12:8.—Joshua 22:26 is peculiar if text right. Isaiah 44:14 ‏לִכְרֹת‎ text dubious.
§ 94. The inf. with ‏ל‎ is also used as a circumscription in various senses of the imperfect. (a) As a periphrastic fut. Genesis 15:12 ‏וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לָבוֹא‎ and it was, the sun was about to set, Joshua 2:5. Isaiah 38:20 ‏י׳ לְהֽוֹשִׁיעֵנִי‎ Je. is (ready, about) to save me. Isaiah 10:32, Jeremiah 51:49, Psalms 25:14; Psalms 49:15, Proverbs 19:8, Ecclesiastes 3:15, 1 Chronicles 9:25.—In 1 Samuel 14:21 rd. ‏קָבְבוּ גם־המה‎ they also turned to be. (b) As a gerundive, in the sense of is to be, must be, ought to be. 2 Kings 4:13 ‏מֶה לַֽעְַשׂוֹת לָךְ הְַיֵשׁ לְדַבֶּר־לָךְ‎ what is to be done for thee? should one speak for thee to the king? 2 Kings 13:19 ‏לְהַכּוֹת חָמֵשׁ אוֹ־שֵׁשׁ פְּעָמִים‎ percutiendum erat. Isaiah 5:4, Hosea 9:13, Psalms 32:9; Psalms 49:15, Job 30:6, 2 Samuel 4:10. Or in the sense of can be, Judges 1:19, 2 Samuel 14:19 (‏אשׁ‎ = ‏יֵשׁ‎).—The consn. in Genesis 15:12, Joshua 2:5 appears to be as 1 Samuel 7:10, 2 Samuel 2:24, 1 Kings 20:40, 2 Kings 2:11, and often, the vb. was being understood.
§ 95. The negative inf. is formed—(a) Usually by particle ‏בִּלְתִּי‎ with ‏ל‎, as Genesis 3:11 ‏צִוִּיתִיךָ לְבִלְתִּי אְַכָל־מִמֶּנּוּ‎ I commanded thee not to eat of it, Deuteronomy 4:21, 1 Kings 11:10. This particle negatives inf. in its various uses, e.g. when it expresses purpose, Genesis 4:15; Genesis 38:9, and frequently in its gerundial or explicative sense, Genesis 19:21, Exodus 8:29, Deuteronomy 3:3; Deuteronomy 8:11; Deuteronomy 17:12, Joshua 5:6, Judges 2:23; Judges 8:1, Jeremiah 16:12; Jeremiah 17:23-24, Jeremiah 17:27.
(b) The inf. as periphrastic fut. or gerundive (§ 94) is negatived by ‏לֹא לְ‎ or ‏אֵין לְ‎. Amos 6:10 ‏לֹא לְהַזְכִּיר בְּשֵׁם י׳‎ the name of Je. must not be mentioned; Judges 1:19 (could not dispossess), 1 Chronicles 5:1. Esther 4:2 ‏כִּי אֵין לָבוֹא אֶל־הַשַּׁעַר‎ the gate must not be gone to. Ezra 9:15, 2 Chronicles 5:11; 2 Chronicles 20:6, 2 Chronicles 20:17; 2 Chronicles 22:9, Esther 8:8, Psalms 40:5, Ecclesiastes 3:14. There seems no difference in sense between ‏לא ל‎ and ‏אין ל‎, though the latter is common in the later style; cf. 1 Chronicles 15:2 with 23. 26. Jeremiah 4:11 does not belong here.
§ 96. In the progress of the discourse, when new clauses are added with and, the inf. is very generally changed into the finite construction. Genesis 39:18 ‏כַּֽהְַרִימִי קוֹלִי וָֽאֶקְרָא‎ lifted up my voice and cried; 2 Kings 18:32 ‏עַד בֹּאִי וְלָֽקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם‎ till I come and take you. Genesis 27:45, Judges 6:18, 1 Samuel 24:11, Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 10:2; Isaiah 13:9; Isaiah 30:12, Isaiah 30:26; Isaiah 45:1, Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11, Psalms 104:14, Psalms 104:15. This resolution is necessary with a neg. clause, Amos 1:9. Cf. Rem. 2.
Rem. 1. The pleonastic neg. ‏לְבִלְתִּי ל‎ (§ 95) occurs 2 Kings 23:10 (cf. ‏לְמַעַן ל‎ Ezekiel 21:20), and ‏מִבִּלְתִּי‎ Numbers 14:16 because Je. was not able.— The inf. is sometimes negatived by prep. ‏מן‎ away from, as Isaiah 5:6 ‏מֵֽהַמְטִיר‎ command not to rain. So after to swear Isaiah 54:9, cf. Deuteronomy 4:21, and to beware Genesis 31:29 (cf. Genesis 31:24), 2 Kings 6:9. Occasionally a periphrasis of ‏לֵאמֹר‎ saying and direct speech is employed, Genesis 3:11 with Genesis 3:17, Amos 2:12.
Rem. 2. The finite tense consecutive to the inf. (§ 96) will show the nuances of time, relation, &c., in which the inf. was used. Thus Genesis 39:18, 1 Samuel 24:11, the inf. referred to a past act; 2 Kings 18:32, Judges 6:18 to a future one, and Amos 1:11 to a frequentative action. Loose constructions occasionally arise in the process of resolution, e.g. Hosea 9:7 ‏על רֹב עְַוֹנְךָ וְרַבָּה‎ i.e. ‏וְעַל־אְַשֶׁר רבה‎ and because... is great; so Jeremiah 30:14, Jeremiah 30:15. So perhaps 1 Samuel 4:19 ‏וּמֵת‎... ‏אל־הִלָּקַח‎, i.e. ‏אשׁר מֵת‎ (‏עַל‎)‏וְאֶל־‎ and regarding the fact that he was dead.
Rem. 3. Sometimes, esp. in later style, the inf. with suff. appears used for finite form, Job 9:27 ‏אם אָמְרִי‎ if I think (my thought be). Jeremiah 9:6, Zephaniah 3:20, Daniel 11:1. Comp. also the consn. Exodus 9:18, 2 Samuel 19:24.
Rem. 4. The inf. cons. with and is used, particularly in later style, in continuation of a preceding finite or other form (cf. inf. abs. § 88). Several times ‏וְלָתֵת‎, Exodus 32:29, Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 19:12, Daniel 12:11. Originally and in the older passages the inf. stood perhaps under the influence of a will or purpose implicitly contained in preceding clause, but in many cases this cannot any more be discovered; the inf. is merely a shorter way of indicating the action. Amos 8:4, Hosea 12:2 (Sep. wants and), 1 Samuel 8:12, Jeremiah 44:19, Ezekiel 13:22, Isaiah 44:28, Leviticus 10:10-11, Nehemiah 8:13, Psalms 104:21, Job 34:8, 1 Chronicles 6:34; 1 Chronicles 10:13, 2 Chronicles 7:17; 2 Chronicles 8:13, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Daniel 2:16, Daniel 2:18. In Genesis 42:25 and to restore is under "commanded," the preceding clause being brachylogy usual with "command." Prep. omitted 1 Chronicles 21:24, cf. 2 Samuel 24:24.
Rem. 5. Though the pass. inf. is quite common the act. is often used where pass. might be expected. Genesis 4:13, Exodus 19:13, 1 Samuel 18:19, Isaiah 18:3, Hosea 10:10, Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 25:34; Jeremiah 41:4, Haggai 2:15, Psalms 42:3; Psalms 67:3, Job 20:4, Ecclesiastes 3:2.
Obs.— In composition, if doubt arise, it is safe to use prep. ‏ל‎ before inf., as the bare inf. being a noun can be governed properly only by a trans. verb. The prep. must be used: 1. After verbs expressing purpose and verbs of motion, Genesis 2:15, Exodus 3:4. 2. After a nominal sent., pos. or neg., Genesis 2:5; Genesis 24:25. 3. After an adj., Genesis 19:20, Isaiah 5:22 (Job 3:8 a rare exception). 4. After a noun, Hosea 8:11; Hosea 10:12, Isaiah 5:22, unless the inf. be gen., Genesis 29:7. Such verbs, however, as ‏יָכֹל‎ to be able, ‏מֵאֵן‎ to refuse, are trans. in Heb. and may take bare inf., Deuteronomy 1:9, Hosea 8:5, Isaiah 1:13, Numbers 22:14, Jeremiah 3:1-25, Jeremiah 3:1-25; so ‏נִלְאָה‎ to be weary, Isaiah 1:14, Jeremiah 15:6.