Conjunction¶
Summary¶
A conjunction
is a word that shows a relationship between two different words, phrases, sentences, or even entire paragraphs.
In other words, conjunctions are grammatical connectors.
The most common conjunctions in English are “and,” “or,” “but,” and “for.”
Conjunctions are closely related to both sentential adverbs and particles.
Some particles in Biblical Hebrew are closely related to conjunctions.
Article¶
Biblical Hebrew contains only one primary conjunction (the prefix וְ), but a whole family of other words also function as conjunctions. In Biblical Hebrew, particles and conjunctions are often combined with each other to form compound conjunctions. Compound conjunctions should not be considered merely as the sum of the components, but rather as a single grammatical entity with its own range of meanings which may or may not be different than the individual component words.
There are eight major categories of conjunctions. There are others as well, but these are the main kinds of conjunctions: conjunctive (“and”); alternative (“or”); contrastive (“but”); explicative (“surely”); causal (“for”); conditional (“if”); concessive (“except”); restrictive (“only”).
Many conjunctions in Biblical Hebrew have potential to function in multiple categories.
Sentences in Biblical Hebrew often begin with the conjunction ו (as either a consonant or a shureq vowel). This conjunction וְ (“and”) cannot stand alone as an independent word but must be connected to another word as a prefix. This can be added to a noun, a verb, a pronoun, or a particle. The shewa in וְ can lengthen to a vowel, usually pathah (when paired with the definite article) or qamets (when paired with both the article and a ה prefix), but others are also possible.
Note
The conjunction וְ is often left untranslated when it begins a sentence or clause, or when it appears within the sequential verbal forms (Verb Sequential Perfect and Verb Sequential Imperfect). Also, the conjunction is often added between every item of a list in Biblical Hebrew; but in English the וְ is not translated for each item.
-וְ¶
Form¶
The conjunction וְ can appear either as a prefix to a word or particle, or as part of a sequential verbal form.
וְעֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמַּלְאָֽךְ |
we’omed lifne hammal’akh |
and-he-was-standing to-face-of the-angel |
and he was standing in front of the angel |
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שְׁלִישִֽׁי׃ |
wayehi-‘erev wayehi voqer yom shelishi |
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This was evening and morning, the third day. |
Function¶
The conjunction וְ can express any of the following connective relationships:
Conjunctive¶
A conjunctive
conjunction simply joins two words/phrases/sentences together and is usually translated as “and” in
English. This kind of conjunction can be used either comparatively (joining similar ideas) or contrastively (joining dissimilar ideas).
וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ |
ume’ets hadda’ath tov wara’ lo thokhal mimmennu |
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When a conjunctive conjunction connects two events that happen at the same time, it has a similar meaning to a conditional conjunction expressing an actual condition. In these cases, the conjunction can be translated as “while” or “when” in English.
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wayyiqra ‘elohim la’or yom welahoshekh qara laylah |
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He named the light “day,” and he named the darkness “night.” |
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Alternative¶
An alternative
conjunction compares two words/phrases/sentences as alternates and is usually
translated as “or” in English.
לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֜ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָֽ֣־וּבִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ |
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Contrastive¶
A contrastive
conjunction contrasts two words/phrases/sentences as different in some way and is usually translated as “but” in
English.
וְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ |
wenoah matsa hen be’ene yehwah |
But-Noah found favor in-eyes-of Yahweh. |
But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh. |
וְהֶ֨בֶל הֵבִ֥יא גַם־ה֛וּא מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן |
wehevel hevi gam-hu mibbekhoroth tsono umehelvehen |
And-Abel brought also_he from-firstborn-of his-flock even-from-fat |
As for Abel, he brought some of the firstborn of his flock and some of the fat |
ֹאו¶
The word אוֹ is the standard alternative conjunction in Biblical Hebrew, usually translated as “or” in English.
אִם־עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר א֣וֹ אָמָ֑ה׃ |
‘im-‘eved yiggah hashor ‘o ‘amah |
If_male-servant gores the-ox or female-servant |
If a bull attacks and gores a male or female slave |
כִּי¶
Note
כִּי is one of the most flexible words in Biblical Hebrew in terms of its meaning. It can function either as a conjunction or as a particle, with many different potential meanings. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon to confirm how the word is being used in any specific instance.
The word כִּי is the standard causal conjunction in Biblical Hebrew, and is usually translated as “for” in English. However, it is also commonly used as a conditional conjunction (usually translated, “if”). Often,כִּי is conditional when it occurs at the beginning of a sentence and causal when it occurs in the middle (or toward the end) of a sentence, but there are notable exceptions to this general rule.
Causal¶
A causal
conjunction expresses a relationship of cause (of some kind) between two grammatical items.
These can include a relationship of reason or result as well as a relationship of purpose or goal.
However, sometimes it is extremely difficult to distinguish between a causal conjunction that
expresses purpose/goal and one that expresses reason/result.
When כִּי functions as a causal conjunction, it is often translated into English simply as “for”, which can express either reason/result or purpose/goal. This is the most common use of the word כִּי.
expresses reason or result¶
This kind of causal conjunction expresses either the reason for or the result of an action/event. In English, it is usually translated as “for” or “because”.
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expresses purpose or goal¶
This kind of causal conjunction expresses the purpose for or intended outcome of an action/event. In English, it is usually translated as “for” or “so that”.
מָ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ כִּ֥י עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ |
mah ra’itha ki ‘asitha ‘eth-haddavar hazzeh |
What did-you-see so-that you-did [dir.obj]_the-thing the-this? |
What prompted you to do this thing? |
Conditional¶
A conditional
conjunction introduces either a hypothetical situation or an actual situation,
as determined by the context.
This is also a very common use of the word כִּי in Biblical Hebrew.
expresses a hypothetical condition¶
A hypothetical condition
expresses an imaginary action or event that has
not actually happened in reality. This kind of conditional conjunction
is usually translated as “if” in English. Hypothetical conditions have
potential to convey many different nuances of possibility and/or
desirability.
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expresses an actual condition¶
An actual condition
expresses an action or event that has actually
happened in reality, and is usually translated as “when” or “while” in
English. Usually, this kind of condition indicates something that is
happening concurrently with the main action/event being described, or
something that has happened in the past in certain circumstances.
וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת |
wayhiy ki-zaqen yitshaq wattikhheyna ‘enayw mere’oth |
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When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see |
Other uses¶
The word כִּי can also express other conjunctive meanings, often as an contrastive following a negated statement. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of the word in any specific instance.
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saray ‘ishtekha lo-thiqra ‘eth-shemah saray ki sarah shemah |
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אִם¶
Note
Like the word כִּי, the word אִם in Biblical Hebrew is also extremely flexible in its meaning. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of the word in any specific instance.
Conditional¶
The word אִם is the standard conditional
conjunction in Biblical Hebrew.
It is most often used to describe a hypothetical condition and
translated as “if” in English. However, this term can can be nuanced and
translated in a variety of specific ways, and it can be joined with
various other particles to form different compound conjunctions.
Therefore, this word must be translated always with senstivity to the
context to express the correct nuance.
expresses a hypothetical condition¶
A hypothetical condition
expresses an imaginary action or event that has
not actually happened in reality. This kind of conditional conjunction
is usually translated as “if” in English. Hypothetical conditions have
potential to convey many different nuances of possibility and/or
desirability.
אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א בִסְדֹ֛ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר |
‘im-‘emtsa visdom hamishim tsaddiqim bethokh ha’ir |
If_I-find in-Sodom fifty righteous in-place the-city |
If I find fifty people in Sodom who have done nothing wrong |
The following example is a hypothetical condition as an affirmation of an actual condition.
אִם־יַעֲמֹ֨ד מֹשֶׁ֤ה וּשְׁמוּאֵל֙ לְפָנַ֔י |
‘im-ya’amod mosheh ushemu’el lefanay |
Though_stood Moses and-Samuel before-me |
Even if Moses or Samuel were standing in front of me |
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Alternative¶
This use of the conjunction אִם is often found in a question and is usually translated as “or” in English.
הֲלָ֥נוּ אַתָּ֖ה אִם־לְצָרֵֽינוּ׃ |
halanu ‘attah ‘im-letsarenu |
Are-for-us you or_for-our-enemies? |
Are you for us or for our enemies? |
וְעַתָּה¶
The word עַתָּה (“now”) in Biblical Hebrew often functions as a temporal adverb, and sometimes as a sentential adverb. However, when עַתָּה appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause, it usually functions not as an adverb but as a conjunction, either standing alone or as a compound conjunction (when paired with the prefix וְ or with particles such as גַּם or כִּי). In either case, the term functions as a type of causal conjunction, indicating that what follows is based upon what has come before. This conjunction must be translated always with great sensitivity to the context to express the correct nuance; in English, this conjunction can be translated as “now”, “so”, “so now”, “and now”, “therefore”, and others. A dictionary or lexicon will indicate the specific nuance of this term in individual contexts.
עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את |
‘attah qum tse’ min-ha’arets hazzoth |
Now rise-up go-out from_the-land the-this |
Now rise up and leave this land |
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וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ה֑וּא |
wayyomer gam-‘attah khedivrekhem ken-hu |
And-he-said also_now as-your-words thus_it |
Now also let it be according to your words. |
כִּ֣י עַתָּ֗ה הֵכִ֨ין יְהוָ֧ה אֶת־מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ |
ki ‘attah hekhin yehwah ‘eth-mamelakhtekha |
For now he-established Yahweh [dir.obj]_your-reign |
For then Yahweh would have established your rule |
לֽוּ¶
This term is a conditional conjunction, similar to אִם but used only to express hypothetical conditions. The word can also appear in the alternate forms לוּא and לֻא. This conjunction either: 1) expresses a condition that cannot (or probably will not) happen, usually translated “if” in English; or 2) conveys a strong desire for something to happen that cannot (or probably will not) be realized, usually translated “if only” in English.
לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ |
lu hafets yehwah lahamithenu |
If he-wanted Yahweh to-kill-us |
If Yahweh intended to kill us |
לוּ֩־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם |
lu-mathnu be’erets mitsrayim |
If-only we-had-died in-the-land-of Egypt |
We wish we had died in the land of Egypt |
פֶּן¶
This term is also a conditional conjunction, and it expresses a certain kind of hypothetical condition. The word can be used in two different ways: either 1) in warnings to express a potential condition that will take place if the warning is not heeded, usually translated “lest” in English; or 2) to express the reason for a certain action to prevent a possible condition from taking place, usually translated as “so that…not” (or similar phrasing) in English.
וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ |
welo thigge’u bo pen-temuthun |
and-not you-will-touch in-it so-that-not_you-will-die |
nor may you touch it, or you will die. |
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hishamer lekha pen-tedabber ‘im-ya’aqov mittov ‘ad-ra’ |
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Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad. |
רַק¶
A restrictive
conjunction sets apart a clause or phrase as unique within its context.
Sometimes this restrictive function emphasizes a particular item as the most important or most prominent;
in these cases, the conjunction is similar in meaning to an affirmative conjunction.
At other times, however, this restrictive function introduces a particular limitation to something previously expressed; in
these cases, this conjunction is similar in meaning to a concessive conjunction.
The word רַק is the standard restrictive conjunction in Biblical Hebrew.
Compound conjunctions¶
Note
Sometimes multiple conjunctions or particles appear together but do NOT form a compound conjunction; in such cases, each word retains its individual range of meanings. These instances must be determined from the context. If in doubt, consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of any specific occurrence.
A concessive
conjunction expresses an exception or disclaimer to what has been stated immediately previous.
כִּי אִם¶
Sometimes the words כִּי and אִם are paired together to form a compound conjunction that functions most often as a strong contrastive or a strong concessive (“except”). In English, it is usually translated as “but”, “but if”, or “except”. It is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of any specific occurrence of this compound conjunction.
כִּ֛י אִם־אָכְל֥וּ מַצֹּ֖ות בְּתֹ֥וךְ אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ |
ki ‘im-‘okhlu matsowth bethowkh ‘ahehem |
but if_they-ate unleavened-bread in-midst-of their-brothers. |
but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. |
אַף כִּי¶
Sometimes the words אַף and כִּי are paired together to form a compound conjunction that functions as a strong affirmative (similar to an affirmation particle). This compound conjunction can appear with or without the prefix conjunction וְ (“and”).
אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים |
‘af ki-‘amar ‘elohim |
indeed he-has-said God |
Has God really said |
וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י־אַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי׃ |
we’af ki-‘ahare mothi |
and-more after my-death |
how much more after my death? |