Word Order¶
Summary¶
In Biblical Hebrew the verb normally comes first in a sentence or clause. In cases where another grammatical element precedes the verb, especially the subject, the context must determine whether or not a new narrative or section of text is being introduced, or whether or not the narrator is introducing a break in the narrative.
Article¶
In verbal sentences (that is, sentences with a verb), the structure of the sentence in Biblical Hebrew is: (1) the Verb, in first position; (2) the subject, in second position; (3) the object, in third position. Other grammatical elements such as Adverb, prepositional phrases, discourse particle, etc. can be inserted at various points within that general sentence structure. In most cases, variations from the standard word order are for literary reasons or to add some emphasis (usually on the word moved to the beginning of the sentence), but this does not fundamentally change the meaning. Sometimes however, if a grammatical element (often the subject) is placed before the verb, it has implications for the general structure of a narrative and/or how to best divide up the text in smaller blocks. In these cases, the context must determine whether this introduces a new narrative or section of text, or if it indicates a break in the narrative.
Poetic portions of the Hebrew Bible generally not follow the standard structure for several reasons. For example, they use a lot of nominal sentences that do not have a verb, they use parallelisms where the same thought is repeated twice, as well as other poetic tools.
The standard word order¶
וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאֹ֖ור |
wayyar ‘elohim ‘eth-ha’owr |
and-he-saw God [dir.obj]_the-light |
and God saw the light |
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה |
wayyomer yehwah ‘el-mosheh |
and-he-said Yahweh to_Moses |
And Yahweh said to Moses |
Deviation with no change in meaning¶
Not indicating a break in the narrative, because here the deviation happens in the middle of a sentence.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה |
wayyiqra ‘elohim la’or yom welahoshekh qara laylah |
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God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” |
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ זָרְחָ֣ה עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם |
wayyashkimu vabboqer wehashemesh zorhah ‘al-hammayim |
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Introducing a new narrative or section of text¶
Though it is common to begin a book or major portion of a book with the Verb Sequential Imperfect, it is also possible to put the subject of the first sentence at the beginning of the book.
אִ֛ישׁ הָיָ֥ה בְאֶֽרֶץ־ע֖וּץ אִיּ֣וֹב שְׁמ֑וֹ |
‘ish hayah ve’erets-‘uts ‘iyyov shemo |
man there-was in-land-of_Uz Job his-name |
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job |
וּמֵישַׁ֥ע מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָ֖ב הָיָ֣ה נֹקֵ֑ד |
umesha’ melekh-mo’av hayah noqed |
and-Mesha king-of_Moab was sheep-breeder |
Now Mesha king of Moab bred sheep |
A subject placed before the verb can also indicate a new, smaller section of a narrative, or a continuation after there has been a short break in the narrative.
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King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying |
וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר |
wa’ahima’ats ben-tsadoq ‘amar |
and-Ahimaaz son-of_Zadok he-said |
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said |
Indicating a small break in the narrative¶
Sometimes a grammatical element (usually the subject) placed before the verb can indicate a break in the narrative action to provide the reader with some extra information about the story being told. Usually, these instances will be clearly discerned from the context.
וְכָל־מוֹאָב֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־עָל֥וּ הַמְּלָכִ֖ים לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בָּ֑ם |
wekhol-mo’av shame’u ki-‘alu hammelakhim lehillahem bam |
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וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב־ל֤וֹ בְחַיָּו אֶת־מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙ |
we’avshalom laqah wayyatsev-lo vehayyaw ‘eth-matseveth |
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