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
Example: GEN 1:4 – with a direct object
| וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאֹ֖ור |
| wayyar ‘elohim ‘eth-ha’owr |
| and-he-saw God [dir.obj]_the-light |
| and God saw the light |
Example: EXO 9:1 – with an indirect object
| 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.
Example: GEN 1:5
| וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה |
| wayyiqra ‘elohim la’or yom welahoshekh qara laylah |
- and-he-called God to-the-light day and-to-the-darkness he-called
- night
|
| God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” |
Example: 2KI 3:22
| וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ זָרְחָ֣ה עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם |
| wayyashkimu vabboqer wehashemesh zorhah ‘al-hammayim |
- and-they-rose-early in-the-morning and-the-sun had-risen
- over_the-waters
|
- They awakened early in the morning and the sun reflected on the
- water
|
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.
Example: JOB 1:1 – indicating a new narrative
| 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 |
Example: 2KI 3:4 – indicating a new section of text
| 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.
Example: 2SA 19:11 – indicating a new section of a narrative
- וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד שָׁ֠לַח אֶל־צָד֨וֹק וְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָ֥ר
- הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ לֵאמֹר֒
|
- wehammelekh dawid shalah ‘el-tsadoq we’el-‘evyathar hakkohanim
- lemor
|
- and-the-king David sent to_Zadok and-to_Abiathar the-priests
- saying
|
| King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying |
Example: 2SA 18:19 – indicating a continuation after a break in the narrative
| 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.
Example: 2KI 3:21
| וְכָל־מוֹאָב֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־עָל֥וּ הַמְּלָכִ֖ים לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בָּ֑ם |
| wekhol-mo’av shame’u ki-‘alu hammelakhim lehillahem bam |
- and-all_of-Moab they-heard that_they-came the-kings to-fight
- against-them
|
- Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come to
- fight against them
|
Example: 2SA 18:18
| וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב־ל֤וֹ בְחַיָּו אֶת־מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙ |
| we’avshalom laqah wayyatsev-lo vehayyaw ‘eth-matseveth |
- and-Absalom had-taken and-he-built_for-him in-his-life
- [dir.obj]_pillar
|
- Now Absalom, while still alive, had built for himself a large
- stone pillar
|