The Conditional Sentence

The Conditional Sentence
§ 129. The conditional sent. is compound, consisting of two clauses, the former stating the supposition, and the second the result dependent upon it (the answer to the supposition). Conditional sentences may be nominal or verbal, or partly nominal and partly verbal. The apodosis, in particular, may assume many forms.
In conditional sentences the verbal form will be used which would have been used if the sentence had been direct. The verbal forms vary according as the mind presents to itself the condition as fulfilled and actual (perf.), or to be fulfilled, and merely possible (impf.). In ordinary speech the impf. is most common both in the protasis and apodosis, but the mind may present to itself the condition as realised, in which case the perf. is used. This happens particularly in animated speech, and in the higher style. And, naturally, when the condition is conceived as realised and actual, the result depending on it may appear carried with it, so that two perfs. may be used.
The conditional particles are chiefly ‏אִם‎ if, ‏כִּי‎ when, if, supposing that, ‏לוּ‎ if; less common ‏אְַשֶׁר‎ when, if, and ‏הֵן‎ if; neg. ‏אִם לֹא‎, ‏אִם אַיִן‎ if not, ‏לוּלֵא‎ if not, unless. These may be strengthened by other particles, ‏כִּי אִם‎, ‏גַּם כִּי‎ (‏גם אם‎ rare, Ecclesiastes 8:17).
§ 130. (a) When the supposition expresses a real contingency of any degree of possibility, the most common form is impf. in prot. and vav conv. perf. or simple impf. in apod., the impf. having any of the shades of sense proper to it (§ 43 seq.). The impf. must be used in apod. when the verbal form cannot stand first in the clause, as in a neg. sent., or when apod. precedes the protasis, cf. Amos 9:2-4.—Judges 4:8 ‏אִם תֵּֽלְכִי עִמִּי וְהָלָֽכְתִּי וְאִם־לֹא תֵֽלְכִי לֹא אֵלֵךְ‎ if thou wilt go with me I will go, but if thou wilt not go with me I will not go. 2 Kings 4:29 ‏כִּי תִמְצָא־אִישׁ לֹא תְבָֽרְַכֶנּוּ‎ if thou meetest anyone thou shalt not salute him. Genesis 18:28 ‏לֹא אַשְׁחִית אִם־אֶמְצָא‎ I will not destroy if I find. Genesis 13:16 ‏גַּם זַרְעְַךָ יִמָּנֶה‎... ‏אִם יוּכַל אִישׁ לִמְנוֹת‎ if one could count the dust, thy seed also might be counted. Of course a ptcp. may take the place of impf., Genesis 43:4-5 ‏אִם־יֶשְׁךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ נֵֽרְדָה וְאִם־אֵֽינְךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ לֹא נֵרֵד‎ if thou wilt let go our brother we will go down, but if thou wilt not let him go, &c. Genesis 24:42, Exodus 8:21, Judges 6:36-37, 1 Samuel 19:11. So without ‏ישׁ‎ Deuteronomy 5:22, Judges 9:15; Judges 11:9, 1 Samuel 6:3; 1 Samuel 7:3, 1 Kings 21:6, 2 Kings 10:6. But the prot. may be a purely nominal sent., and the apod. may take almost any form; 1 Kings 18:21 ‏אִם יהוה הָֽאֱלֹהִים לְכוּ אַֽחְַרָיו‎ if Jehovah be God, follow him; Exodus 8:2 ‏אִם מָאֵן אַתָּה הִנֵּה אָֽנֹכִי נֹגֵף‎ if thou refuse, behold, I will smite. Genesis 42:19; Genesis 44:26, Exodus 1:16; Exodus 21:3, Joshua 17:15, Judges 6:31, 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 10:6, Malachi 1:6.
(b) Perf. in prot.—The mind may conceive or imagine the condition as realised and actual, in which case perf. stands in prot. with the same apod. as in (a): Judges 16:17 ‏אִם גֻּלַּחְתִּי וְסָר כֹּחִי‎ if I be shaved my strength will depart; 2 Samuel 15:33 ‏אִם עָבַרְתָּ אִתִּי וְהָיִתָ עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא‎ if thou go on with me thou shalt be a burden to me. Comp. Genesis 43:9 with Genesis 42:37. Deuteronomy 32:41, 2 Kings 7:4, Isaiah 4:4; Isaiah 16:12, Micah 5:8, Jeremiah 14:18; Jeremiah 23:22; Jeremiah 37:10; Jeremiah 49:9, Obadiah 1:5, Job 7:4; Job 10:14; Job 11:13; Job 21:6, Rth_1:12. Comparison of cases like Leviticus 13:53, Leviticus 13:56-57 shows that the use of perf. or impf. is merely a matter of mental conception. Comp. Leviticus 17:4 with 9, Numbers 30:5 with 9. Job 17:13, Job 17:14. Probably the difference of use had become a mere matter of style, although the perf. has in it something more forcible and lively. Cf. Job 31:1-40 throughout.
In many cases the supposition refers to an actual past fact anterior to the speaker's position, or to the main action spoken of; or refers to something which shall have come to light through inquiry or inspection. In all such cases the perf. will be used in the protasis. 1 Samuel 26:19 ‏אִם י׳ הֱסִֽיתְךָ יָרַח מִנְחָה‎ if Je. has set thee on, let him smell an offering ( = if it be Je. that has); Judges 9:19 ‏אִם בֶּֽאֱמֶת עְַשִׂיתֶם שִׂמְחוּ‎ if ye have dealt justly, rejoice. Exodus 22:2; Exodus 22:2 ‏אִם‎... ‏אִם יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב זָֽרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ‎ if the thief be found in the act... if the sun have risen, &c. Deuteronomy 17:2, Deuteronomy 17:3. ‏כִּי יִמָּצֵא אִישׁ אְַשֶׁר יַֽעְַשֶׂה וַיֵּלֶךְ‎ if a man be found who does evil... and has gone and served (having gone). With Exodus 22:3 cf. Exodus 21:36 (‏אוֹ‎). Leviticus 4:23; Leviticus 5:1, Numbers 5:19-20, Numbers 5:27; Numbers 15:24; Numbers 22:20, Deuteronomy 22:20-21, 1 Samuel 21:4, Isaiah 28:25, Amos 3:3-4; Amos 7:2, Psalms 41:6; Psalms 44:21; Psalms 50:18, Job 8:4; Job 9:15-16; Job 31:5, Job 31:9, Job 31:21, Job 31:24, Job 31:33; Job 34:32.
Narratives of past frequentative actions are also often introduced by ‏אִם‎ with perf. (§ 54, R. 1). Genesis 38:9, Numbers 21:9, Judges 2:18; Judges 6:3. More rarely ‏אִם‎ and impf., Genesis 31:8, Exodus 40:37.
(c) The protasis is often of considerable length, and has a tense-secution within itself which must be distinguished from the apod. of the whole sentence. This tense-secution is the usual one. Genesis 28:20 ‏אִם יִֽהְיֶה א׳ עִמָּדִי וּשְׁמָרַנִי וְהָיָה י׳‎... ‏וְנָתַן וְשַׁבְתִּֽי‎ if God will be with me, and keep me, and give me, and I return... then shall Je. be my God. Deuteronomy 13:2 ‏לֹא תִשְׁמַע‎... ‏כִּי יָקוּם נָבִיא וְנָתַן אוֹת וּבָא הָאוֹת‎ if a prophet shall arise and give a sign, and the sign come true... thou shalt not listen. Numbers 5:27 ‏אִם נִטְמְאָה וַתִּמְעֹל ובָאוּ‎... if she has been defiled and trespassed... then shall come, &c. Genesis 43:9 (secution of fut. perf. of imagination is that of impf., § 51, R. 2); Genesis 46:33-34, Judges 4:20, 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 12:14-15; 1 Samuel 17:9, 2 Samuel 15:34, 1 Kings 9:6; 1 Kings 11:38; 1 Kings 12:7.
Rem. 1. Additional exx.—‏אם‎ and impf. in prot., with vav perf. in apod.: Genesis 24:8; Genesis 32:9, Exodus 13:13; Exodus 21:5-6; Exodus 21:11, Numbers 21:2, Judges 14:12-13; Judges 21:21, 1 Samuel 12:15; 1 Samuel 20:6, 1 Kings 6:12; coh. after ‏אם‎ Job 16:6. With impf. in apod.: Genesis 30:31; Genesis 42:37, Exodus 20:25, 1 Samuel 12:25, 1 Kings 1:52, Isaiah 1:18-20; Isaiah 7:9; Isaiah 10:22, Amos 5:22; Amos 9:2-4, Psalms 50:12. With ‏כי‎ in prot.: Genesis 32:17; Genesis 46:33, Exodus 21:2, Exodus 21:7, Exodus 21:20, Exodus 21:22, Exodus 21:26, Exodus 21:28; Exodus 22:4, Exodus 22:6, Exodus 22:9, Deuteronomy 13:13; Deuteronomy 15:16; Deuteronomy 19:16 seq., Joshua 8:5, 1 Samuel 20:13, 2 Samuel 7:12, 1 Kings 8:46, 2 Kings 18:22, Jeremiah 23:33, Hosea 9:16, Psalms 23:4; Psalms 37:24; Psalms 75:3, Job 7:13. With ‏אשר‎, Leviticus 4:22, Joshua 4:21, 1 Kings 8:31.—Various forms of apod.: Genesis 4:7; Genesis 24:49; Genesis 27:46; Genesis 30:1; Genesis 31:50, Exodus 8:21; Exodus 10:4; Exodus 33:15, Judges 9:15, 1 Samuel 19:11; 1 Samuel 20:7, 1 Samuel 20:21; 1 Samuel 21:10, Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 26:15, Psalms 139:8. Exodus 8:26 (‏הֵן‎ in prot.).
Rem. 2. Impf. with simple vav in apod. is less common, Genesis 13:9, Joshua 20:5.
Rem. 3. The prot. is often strengthened by inf. abs., but only with ‏אם‎ and impf., not with ‏כי‎ nor with perf. Exodus 21:5; Exodus 22:3, Exodus 22:11-12, Exodus 22:16, Numbers 21:2, Deuteronomy 8:19, Judges 11:30, 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 20:6-7, 1 Samuel 20:9, 1 Samuel 20:21 (§ 86). So with ‏הֵן‎ Isaiah 54:15. The ‏אם‎ may be strengthened by ‏כי‎.—Inf. abs. with perf. after ‏לוּא‎ 1 Samuel 14:30.—The apod. is also many times strengthened by ‏כי‎, Isaiah 7:9, Jeremiah 22:24.
Rem. 4. Instead of the natural calm apod. with vav perf. or impf. the more animated perf. (of certainty, § 41) may occur, expressing the immediateness or certainty of the result; 1 Samuel 2:16 ‏וְאִם־לֹא לָקַחְתִּי‎ and if not, I will take it. Numbers 32:23, Judges 15:7, Job 20:14, Psalms 127:1-5. Comp. vav conv. impf., Psalms 59:15, Job 19:18. Two perfs. Proverbs 9:12; with ‏כַּֽאְַשֶׁר‎ Genesis 43:14, Esther 4:16; cf. Micah 7:8.—Cases like Numbers 16:29, 1 Samuel 6:9, 1 Kings 22:28 are different, being elliptical. 1 Samuel 6:9 if it go up by Beth. ‏הוּא עָשָׂה‎ he has done it = ye shall know that he, &c.; cf. next clause.
Rem. 5. The conditional particle usually stands first, the order being, particle, verb, subj.; but words may come between part. and verb if emphatic, and oftener with ‏אם‎ than ‏כי‎. In the casuistry of the Law (P) the subj. curiously precedes the particle in the principal clause. Leviticus 4:2
‏נֶפֶשׁ כִּי־תֶֽחֱטָא‎ Leviticus 5:1, Leviticus 5:4, Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 7:21; Leviticus 12:2; Leviticus 13:2 and often; Numbers 9:10; Numbers 27:8; Numbers 30:3-4; cf. Ezekiel 14:9, Ezekiel 14:13; Ezekiel 18:5, Ezekiel 18:18; Ezekiel 33:2, Ezekiel 33:6, Ezekiel 33:9. In subordinate clauses the usual order is found, Leviticus 13:42, &c. Comp. the older order Exodus 22:5; Exodus 22:5-6; Exodus 22:9; Exodus 22:13, and often; but cf. Isaiah 28:15, Isaiah 28:18, 1 Kings 8:37, Psalms 62:10. In the group of Laws Exodus 21:1-36 seq. the principal supposition is made by ‏כי‎ and the subordinate details follow with ‏אם‎ or ‏ואם‎, Exodus 21:2-5, Exodus 21:7-11, &c.
§ 131. Hypothetical sent.—Actions not realised in the past, or considered not realisable (or unlikely) in the pres. or fut. may be made the subject of supposition. In this case ‏לוּ‎ (‏לֻא‎) if, and ‏לוּלֵי‎ (‏לוּלֵא‎) if not, unless, are used. (a) In the case of past actions the perf. stands both in prot. and apod. (§ 39d). Judges 13:23 ‏לוּ חָפֵץ לַֽהְַמִיתֵנוּ לֹא לָקַח‎ if he had wished to kill us he would not have taken, Judges 8:19; Genesis 31:42 ‏לוּלֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי הָיָה לִי כִּי עַתָּה שִׁלַּחְתָּנִי‎ unless the God of my father had been for me, surely thou hadst sent me away empty, Genesis 43:10.—Numbers 22:33 (rd. ‏לוּלֵי‎), Judges 14:18, 1 Samuel 14:30 (apod. interrog.); 1 Samuel 25:34, 2 Samuel 2:27, Isaiah 1:9, Psalms 94:17; Psalms 119:92 (both nominal prot.); Psalms 106:23. Numbers 22:29 may be opt., or, if there had been... I would have slain. See Opt. sent.
(b) When supposition refers to pres. or fut. the apod. is usually impf., 2 Samuel 18:12 ‏לֹא־אֶשְׁלַח יָדִי‎... ‏לֻא אָֽנֹכִי שֹׁקֵל‎ if I weighed 1000 shekels on my palms I would not put forth my hand, 2 Kings 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:29 ‏לוּ חָֽכְמוּ יַשְׂכִּילוּ‎ if they were wise they would perceive this, Job 16:4; Micah 2:11, Psalms 81:14, 2 Samuel 19:7 (nominal prot. and apod.).
Rem. 1. Ezekiel 14:15 ‏לו‎ = ‏אם‎, just as ‏אם‎ = ‏לו‎ Psalms 73:15.—Psalms 44:21 perhaps, if we forgot would he not search? Job 10:14. Genesis 50:15 ‏לו‎ impf., of action feared but deprecated. Deuteronomy 32:27 ‏לולי‎ impf. in prot. may be action generalised in past, or extending into pres. Psalms 124:1-8; Psalms 2:1-12 seems to approach the Ar. laula, but for with a noun; at anyrate the rel. here is not a conj. as in Aram. ellu lo d, unless that.
Rem. 2. The ‏אז‎, ‏עתּה‎ in the apod., originally temporal, have become often merely logical. Both are good, Genesis 31:42; Genesis 43:10, 2 Samuel 2:27, cf. Job 11:15-16, Proverbs 2:5. The ‏כי‎ strengthens, Job 8:6; but in some cases this ‏כי‎ seems resumption of ‏כי‎ of oath, 1 Samuel 25:34, 2 Samuel 2:27. This kind of apod. occurs with no formal prot., the prot. having to be supplied from the connection; e.g. after neg., 1 Samuel 13:13 thou hast not kept; (if thou hadst) then he would have established; or an interr., Job 3:14 why breasts that I should suck? (if not) then I should have lain down; or a gerundive inf., 2 Kings 13:19 percutiendum erat sexies, then thou wouldst have smitten Aram. Exodus 9:15, Job 13:19. This kind of apod. with ‏אז‎, ‏כי אז‎, ‏כי עתּה‎ is common in Job.
§ 132. What is equivalent to a cond. sent. often occurs without any cond. particle. (a) An idiomatic sent. of this kind is made by vav conv. perf. both in prot. and apod. This is chiefly in subordinate clauses. Genesis 44:22 ‏וְעָזַב אֶת־אָבִיו וָמֵת‎ if he leave his father he will die (lit., and he will leave, and he will die), Exodus 4:14 ‏וְרָֽאְַךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ‎ when he sees thee he will be glad in his heart. Genesis 33:13; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:4, Genesis 44:29, Exodus 16:21, Numbers 14:15; Numbers 23:20, 1 Samuel 16:2; 1 Samuel 19:3; 1 Samuel 25:31, 2 Samuel 13:5, 1 Kings 8:30; 1 Kings 18:10 (if they said No, he took an oath of them), 2 Kings 7:9, Isaiah 21:7, Jeremiah 18:4, Jeremiah 18:8; Jeremiah 20:9, Proverbs 3:24. This vav perf. may have any of the senses proper to it, e.g. frequentative, Exodus 16:21; Exodus 33:10, 1 Samuel 14:52, 1 Kings 18:10, Jeremiah 20:9.—Of course if vav cannot be joined to the verb, impf. will be used in either clause, Numbers 23:20 ‏וכֵרֵךְ ולא אְַשִׁיבֶנָּה‎ if he blesses I cannot reverse it; 2 Kings 18:21 ‏אשׁר יִסָּמֵךְ אִישׁ עָלָיו וּבָא‎ on which if one lean it goes into his hand. Deuteronomy 22:3, 1 Samuel 20:13, Joshua 22:18, Isaiah 29:11-12, Proverbs 6:22 (no and in apod.). More vigorously an imper. for second perf., 1 Samuel 29:10.
(b) Two corresponding imper. often form a virtual cond. sent., Genesis 42:18 ‏זֹאת עְַשׂוּ וִֽחְיוּ‎ this do and live (if ye do, ye shall), Isaiah 8:9 ‏הִתְאַזְּרוּ וָחֹתּוּ‎ though ye gird yourselves ye shall be broken. Juss. or coh. may take place of imp., Genesis 30:28, Isaiah 8:10. Two juss. are less usual, Psalms 104:20; Psalms 147:18, Job 10:16; Job 11:17, cf. Isaiah 41:28.
Rem. 1. In the case of two imper. of course both are expressions of the will of the speaker; he wills the first and. he wills the second as the consequence of the first. Similarly in the case of two jussives (§ 64 seq.). It is only to our different manner of thought that a condition seems expressed.
Rem. 2. Such words as ‏אְַשֶׁר‎ he-who, whoever, ‏מִי‎, ‏מִי אְַשֶׁר‎ whoever, and similar phrases form virtually conditional sentences, Judges 1:12; Judges 6:31, Micah 3:5. And the conj. and without any particle may introduce a cond. sent., e.g. with ‏יֵשׁ‎, ‏לֹא‎, ‏עוֹד‎, &c. Judges 6:13 ‏וְיֵשׁ י׳ עִמָּנוּ‎ if then Je. be with us. So 2 Kings 10:15 ‏וָיֵשׁ‎ if it be (a larger accent should be on first ‏ישׁ‎). Similarly the neg. ‏וָלֹא‎ if not, 2 Samuel 13:26, 2 Kings 5:17.—Isaiah 6:13 ‏וְעוֹד בָּהּ‎ if there be still in it a tenth. 2 Kings 7:9 ‏וַֽאְַנַחְנוּ מַחְשִׁים‎. Cf. 2 Samuel 19:7 ‏כִּי אֵֽינְךָ יֹצֵא‎.
But in lively speech aided by intonation almost any direct form of expression without particles may be equivalent to what in other languages would be a conditional. 1. Impf.—Hosea 8:12 ‏נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ‎... ‏אֶכִתֹּב‎ though I wrote... they would be considered; so Isaiah 26:10. Psalms 139:18 ‏אֶסְפְּרֵם‎ were I to count them; Psalms 141:5 should the righteous smite; Psalms 104:22, Psalms 104:27-30, Judges 13:12, Proverbs 26:26; two impf. Son_8:1. Coh., Psalms 40:5 ‏אַגִּידָה‎ if I would declare, Psalms 139:8-9, Job 19:18. With ‏הנה‎, 1 Samuel 9:7 behold we will go ( = if we go), Exodus 8:26.—Cf. Psalms 46:3; Psalms 109:25; Psalms 146:4, Isaiah 40:30.
2. Perf.—Amos 3:8 ‏אַרְיֵה שָׁאַג‎ if the lion roars. Job 7:20 ‏חָטָאתִי‎ be it I have sinned. Psalms 139:18 if I awake. Proverbs 26:12 ‏רָאִיתָ‎ seest thou. Numbers 12:14, Psalms 39:11, Job 3:26; Job 19:4; Job 23:10. With ‏הנה‎, 2 Samuel 18:11, Hosea 9:6, Ezekiel 13:12; Ezekiel 14:22; Ezekiel 15:4. And if perf. naturally also vav impf., Jeremiah 5:22, Psalms 139:11. Exodus 20:25, Job 23:13, Proverbs 11:2. Two perf., Proverbs 18:22, Micah 7:8.
3. The ptcp.—Isaiah 48:13 ‏קֹרֵא אְַנִי‎ if I call they stand up. 2 Samuel 19:7. Ptcp. with art. (or in consn.) whoever, 2 Samuel 14:10, Genesis 9:6, Exodus 21:12, Exodus 21:16 and often. Frequently in Prov., e.g. Exodus 17:13; Exodus 18:13; Exodus 27:14; Exodus 29:21, &c. Particularly ptcp. with ‏כל‎ all; 1 Samuel 2:13, Exodus 19:12, Numbers 21:8, Judges 19:30, 2 Samuel 2:23, 2 Kings 21:12. With nan 1 Kings 20:36, 2 Kings 7:2, Exodus 3:13.
4. Inf. abs.—Proverbs 25:4-5 ‏הָגו סִיגִים‎ if dross be removed, Proverbs 12:7. Inf. cons. with prep., Proverbs 10:25 (2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Kings 8:33, 1 Kings 8:35). Psalms 62:9 ‏בְּמָֹאזְנַיִם לַֽעְַלוֹת‎ to go up (or, at going up = if they are put) upon the balance.