Infinitive Absolute

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.

Form

Infinive Absolute Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
Qal	קָטוֹל	qatol	kill
Niphal	הִקָּטֹל / נִקְטֹל	hiqqatol / niqtol	be killed
Hiphil	הַקְטֵל	haqtel	cause to kill
Hophal	הָקְטֵל	hoqtel	causing to be killed
Piel	קַטֵּל / קַטֹּל	qattel / qattol	slaughter
Pual	קֻטֹּל	quttol	be slaughtered
Hithpael	הִתְקַטֵּל	hitqattel	kill oneself

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