Pronoun Indefinite¶
Summary¶
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person(s) or thing(s) in general but not to any specific person or thing in
particular. In English, they are usually translated as “whoever” (in reference to persons) or “whatever” (when referring to
things).
Article¶
Biblical Hebrew contains two indefinite pronouns, the pronoun מִי (in reference to persons) and the pronoun מָה (in reference to things). These pronouns can also as interrogative pronoun, especially when they appear at the beginning of a clause/sentence. However, this is not a universal rule; the specific use of these pronouns must always be determined from the context. Indefinite pronouns function in a sentence almost exactly like a relative pronoun (see examples below).
Form¶
Indefinite pronouns do not change their form based on number, gender, or person. However, the vowels can change depending on the vocalization of the word immediately following the pronoun.
Examples¶
Personal indefinite pronoun (מִי)¶
מִֽי־יָרֵ֣א |
mi-yare |
Who_fears |
Whoever is afraid |
מִ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י |
mi layhwah ‘elay |
Who to-Yahweh to-me. |
Whoever is on Yahweh’s side, come to me |
לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה |
lo yada’ti mi ‘asah ‘eth-haddavar hazzeh |
Not I-know who did [dir.obj]_the-thing the-this. |
I do not know who has done this thing. |
מִ֚י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטָא־לִ֔י |
mi ‘asher hata-li |
Who which sinned_to-me |
Whoever has sinned against me |
מִ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָחֵ֔ל לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן |
mi ha’ish ‘asher yahel lehillahem bivne ‘ammon |
Who the-man which begins to-fight with-sons-of Ammon? |
Who is the man who will begin to fight the Ammonites? |
Impersonal indefinite pronoun (מָה)¶
מַה־תֹּאמַ֥ר נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ |
mah-ttomar nafshekha we’e’eseh-llakh |
What_she-says your-soul and-I-will-do_for-you. |
Whatever you say, I will do for you. |
מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ |
mah-yyar’eni wehiggadti lakh |
What_he-shows-me and-I-will-tell to-you. |
Whatever he shows me I will tell you. |
מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא |
mah-shehayah kevar hu |
What_which-exists already it |
Whatever exists has already existed |