# BBH Chapter 20 — Qal Infinitive Construct

## Files

### Reference Files

File | Description
--- | ---
infinitive-construct-paradigms.md | Full paradigm tables: Strong A/B, III-ה, Biconsonantal, I-י, I-נ, I-aleph; summary table

### Exercises

Exercise | Description
--- | ---
exercises/ch20-parsing-drill/ | 25-item drill: Parts A/B (IC recognition by root class and preposition) and Part C (disambiguation vs. Imperative, Imperfect, Perfect)
exercises/ch20-passage-exercise/ | 15-item passage exercise: Gen 2, Gen 11, Gen 19, Gen 37, Gen 39, Exo 3, Exo 19, Ecc 3, Gen 45 — full range of IC functions in context
exercises/ch20-qal-ic-paradigm-drill/ | Paradigm drill — write the Infinitive Construct and לְ form for 6 root classes

### Flashcards

File | Format | Description
--- | --- | ---
ch20-morphology-deck.md | Markdown | 32-card morphology deck — Qal Infinitive Construct with root class groupings
ch20-morphology-deck.txt | Anki import | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (32 cards)
ch20-morphology-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (32 cards)
ch20-vocab-deck.md | Markdown | Vocabulary deck — 15 words (8 verbs, 5 nouns, 2 other) with POS tags and frequency
ch20-vocab-deck.txt | Anki import | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (15 cards)
ch20-vocab-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (15 cards)

### Notebooks

Notebook | What it shows
--- | ---
Qal Stem | Qal stem: infinitive construct distribution and top roots
Verbal Syntax | Infinitive construct usage and governing preposition analysis
Hebrew Prepositions | Governing prepositions on infinitive constructs (לְ, בְּ, כְּ, מִן)

Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt
Data: MACULA Hebrew WLC (~4,029 Qal Infinitive Construct tokens OT-wide)

## 1. Function (BBH §20.2)

The Infinitive Construct (IC) is a verbal noun — it has the properties of both a verb (it takes subjects, objects, and aspect) and a noun (it can be governed by prepositions). It never inflects for person, number, or gender on its own; those are expressed by suffixes (see Ch19).

Function | Description | Example
--- | --- | ---
Complementary (verbal object) | Completes another verb: "he was able to…", "he began to…" | לֹ֣א יָכֹ֔ל לְ/דַבֵּ֥ר — "he was not able to speak"
Purpose / result (לְ + IC) | "in order to…", "so as to…" | לִ/רְאֹ֥ת — "to see / in order to see"
Temporal — when (בְּ + IC) | "when…", "while…" | בְּ/צֵ֥את — "when he went out"
Temporal — as/when (כְּ + IC) | "as…", "when…" | כִּ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ — "when he heard"
Temporal — until (עַד + IC) | "until…" | עַד שׁוּב — "until he returned"
After / from (מִ/מֵ + IC) | "from…", "after…", "too… to…" | מֵ/עֲשׂ֖וֹת — "from doing / too… to do"
Epexegetical (לְ + IC after noun) | Explains or specifies the noun | עֵ֥ת לָ/מוּת — "a time to die" (Qoh 3:2)
Gerundive / abstract noun | Functions as a subject or object | טוֹב שֶׁ֖בֶת — "dwelling is good"

> Key diagnostic: Look for a preposition (לְ, בְּ, כְּ, מִ, עַד) before a form that looks like a verb but has no prefix — that is the Infinitive Construct. The most common signal in narrative is לֵ/אמֹ֑ר ("saying") after a verb of speech (over 800 times in the Torah alone).

## 2. Form — Diagnostic Markers (BBH §20.3–20.5)

The Qal Infinitive Construct resembles the Qal Imperative 2ms in most strong roots:

- Strong root (A-class): שְׁמֹר — identical to Imperative 2ms (context distinguishes)
- Strong root (B-class): שְׁמֹעַ — patach before guttural R3 (but holem on R2)
- With לְ prefix (most common): לִ/שְׁמֹר — hireq under lamed; shewa under R1
- III-ה roots: רְאוֹת / לִ/רְאוֹת — ה replaced by וֹת (holem-waw + taw)
- Biconsonantal roots: שׁוּב / בֹּא / קוּם — full long vowel preserved; bare IC = same as imperative
- I-י roots: לֶ/כֶת (הלך) / צֵאת (יצא) / שֶׁ/בֶת (ישב) — irregular contracted forms
- I-נ roots: סְפֹר (ספר, I-נ behaves normally in IC) / but נְסֹ֣עַ — some I-נ verbs are irregular
- I-aleph roots: אֱמֹר / אֱכֹל — hateph-seghol under aleph (same as Imperative)

## 3. Paradigm

Full paradigm tables are in the paradigm reference file.

Form | BBH § | Notes
--- | --- | ---
Strong Root (שמר) | §20.3 | Identical to Imperative 2ms
With לְ prefix | §20.4 | Most common pattern; hireq under ל
III-ה roots | §20.5 | וֹת ending: רְאוֹת, עֲשׂוֹת, הֱיוֹת
Biconsonantal roots | §20.6 | Full vowel: בֹּא, שׁוּב, קוּם
I-י roots | §20.7 | Contracted: לֶ/כֶת, צֵאת, שֶׁ/בֶת
I-נ roots | §20.7 | Nun assimilates in some: תֵּת (נתן)
I-aleph roots | §20.7 | Hateph: אֱמֹר, אֱכֹל

## 4. Real Forms — שָׁמַר (to keep/guard)

Form | Hebrew | Gloss | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect 3ms | שָׁמַר | "he kept" |
Imperfect 3ms | יִשְׁמֹר | "he will keep" |
Wayyiqtol 3ms | וַיִּשְׁמֹר | "and he kept" |
Imperative 2ms | שְׁמֹר | "Keep!" | Identical form to IC
Inf. Construct (bare) | שְׁמֹר | "to keep / keeping" | Same form as Imperative; context distinguishes
Inf. Construct + לְ | לִ/שְׁמֹר | "to keep / in order to keep" | Most common pattern
Inf. Construct + בְּ | בְּ/שָׁמְר/וֹ | "when he kept" | + 3ms subject suffix
Participle ms | שֹׁמֵר | "keeping / one who keeps" |

> Critical distinction: שְׁמֹר alone is ambiguous between Imperative 2ms and Inf.Construct. Context resolves: if the form is the subject or object of another verb, or follows a preposition, it is the IC. If it is addressed to a second person with command force, it is the Imperative.

## 5. Most Common Lemmas — Qal Infinitive Construct in the Torah

Corpus: Genesis–Deuteronomy · ~1,081 Qal IC tokens (including connector morphemes)

Root | IC Form | Torah (×) | Meaning | Common Use
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
אמר | לֵ/אמֹר | ~800+ | say, speak | לֵאמֹר after verbs of speech = "saying" (quotative formula)
הלך | לֶ/כֶת / הֲלֹ֣ךְ | 12 | go, walk | Purpose and temporal
בוא | בֹּא / לָ/בוֹא | 11 | come, enter | לָבוֹא = "to come/enter"
עבר | לַ/עֲבֹ֣ר | 9 | pass, cross | Purpose clauses
ראה | לִ/רְאוֹת | 6 | see | Purpose: "in order to see"
נתן | תֵּת | 6 | give | IC of I-נ; very short form
עשה | לַ/עֲשׂוֹת | 5 | do, make | Complementary and purpose
מלא | מְלֹאת | 5 | be full, complete | Temporal: "when days were complete"
שוב | שׁוּב / לָ/שׁוּב | 5 | return | Purpose and temporal
אכל | לֶ/אֱכֹל | 3 | eat | Complementary after verbs of permission/prohibition
שלח | שְׁלֹחַ | 2 | send | Purpose
שמע | שְׁמֹ֣עַ | 2 | hear | Temporal: כִּ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ
שנא | שְׂנֹ֥א | 2 | hate | Verbal noun use
ירד | לָ/רֶדֶת | 2 | go down | לְ + I-י IC
נסע | בְּ/נְסֹ֣עַ | 2 | set out | בְּ + IC temporal
ידע | לָ/דַ֥עַת | — | know | III-ה IC; common in Deu
היה | הֱי֥וֹת | 2 | be, become | III-ה IC: הֱיוֹת

## 6. Example Passages

### Complementary Infinitive (after modal verb)

Complementary — Gen 2:16–17 — מִכֹּ֛ל עֵ֥ץ הַ/גָּן אָכֹ֖ל תֹּאכֵֽל
"From every tree of the garden you may surely eat."
→ אכל Qal IC (Infinitive Absolute as intensifier here — but note next verse): וּמֵ/עֵ֗ץ הַ/דַּ֤עַת טוֹב֙ וָ/רָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ — "you shall not eat from it"; מֵ/עֵץ = "from the tree" — preposition + noun + IC follows.

Complementary — Gen 19:22 — מַהֵ֣ר הִמָּלֵ֣ט שָׁ֑מָּה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ לַ/עֲשׂ֣וֹת דָּבָ֔ר
"Hurry, escape there! For I am not able to do anything…"
→ עשה Qal IC (לַ/עֲשׂוֹת); complementary after יכל; the angel's limitation before Sodom.

### Purpose / Result (לְ + IC)

Purpose — Gen 11:5 — וַ/יֵּ֣רֶד יְהוָ֔ה לִ/רְאֹ֥ת אֶת-הָ/עִ֖יר
"And the LORD came down to see the city."
→ ראה Qal IC (לִ/רְאוֹת → III-ה; וֹת ending); לְ + IC = purpose clause; divine descent to Babel.

Purpose — Exo 3:8 — וָ/אֵרֵ֞ד לְ/הַ/צִּיל֣/וֹ מִ/יַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֗יִם
"And I came down to deliver him from the hand of Egypt."
→ נצל Hiphil IC (לְ/הַ/צִּיל); purpose; God's self-declaration of intent.

Purpose — Deu 6:18 — לְמַ֣עַן יִיטַב֙ לָ֔/ךְ וּ/בָ֕אתָ וִ/ירַשְׁתָּ֖ אֶת-הָ/אָ֣רֶץ הַ/טֹּבָ֑ה
"…so that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land…"
→ ירש Qal IC implied in context; לְמַעַן introduces a purpose clause with finite verb following.

### Temporal — When (בְּ + IC)

Temporal bᵉ — Gen 19:17 — וַ/יְהִ֕י כְ/הוֹצִיאָ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם הַ/ח֑וּצָה
"And when they had brought them outside…"
→ יצא Hiphil IC (כְּ/הוֹצִיאָ֥ם) + 3mp subject suffix; temporal clause opening narrative.

Temporal bᵉ — Gen 39:19 — וַ/יְהִ֣י כִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ אֲדֹנָ֗יו אֶת-דִּבְרֵ֤י אִשְׁתּ֙/וֹ֙
"And when his master heard the words of his wife…"
→ שמע Qal IC (כִּ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ); B-class; כְּ + IC = temporal; standard Hebrew narrative technique.

### Temporal — As / When (כְּ + IC)

Temporal kᵉ — Gen 37:18 — וַ/יִּרְא֥וּ אֹת֖/וֹ מֵ/רָחֹ֑ק וּ/בְ/טֶ֗רֶם יִקְרַ֤ב אֲלֵי/הֶם֙
"They saw him from a distance, and before he came near them…"
→ Context for בְּטֶרֶם + imperfect (not IC here, but common temporal pairing with IC).

Temporal kᵉ — Exo 19:1 — בְּ/יוֹם֙ הַ/זֶּ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ מִ/דְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י … לְ/צֵ֥את בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם
"…in their going out from the land of Egypt."
→ יצא Qal IC (לְ/צֵ֥את); I-י IC form (צֵאת = going out); temporal + origin.

### Quotative Formula (לֵאמֹר)

Quotative — Gen 1:22 — וַ/יְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛/ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
"And God blessed them, saying:"
→ אמר Qal IC (לֵ/אמֹ֑ר); I-aleph; the quotative לֵאמֹר follows verbs of speech to introduce direct discourse; ~2,600× OT-wide — the single most common IC form.

### Until (עַד + IC)

Until — Gen 26:13 — וַ/יֵּ֤לֶךְ הָ/אִישׁ֙ הָלֹ֣ךְ וְ/גָדֵ֔ל עַ֥ד כִּֽי-גָדַ֖ל מְאֹֽד
"The man grew and grew until he became very great."
→ גדל Qal Perfect — עַד כִּי + finite verb (IC also used: עַד + IC = "until [action]").

## 7. Conjugation Distribution — Qal (OT-wide)

Conjugation | Count | % of Qal
--- | --- | ---
Consecutive Perfect (Weqatal) | 10,979 | 23.7%
Perfect (Qatal) | 9,245 | 19.9%
Imperfect (Yiqtol) | 7,914 | 17.0%
Participle | 5,078 | 10.9%
Infinitive Construct | 4,029 | 8.7%
Consecutive Imperfect (Wayyiqtol) | 3,987 | 8.6%
Imperative | 2,531 | 5.5%
Participle Passive | 914 | 2.0%
Jussive | 740 | 1.6%
Infinitive Absolute | 489 | 1.1%

> Teaching note: The Infinitive Construct (4,029 tokens, 8.7% of Qal) ranks fifth among Qal conjugations — more common than the Wayyiqtol! This reflects the heavy use of לְ-infinitives as purpose/complementary clauses, temporal constructions (בְּ/כְּ + IC), and especially the quotative לֵאמֹר (~2,600 tokens), which follows almost every verb of speech in Hebrew narrative. Mastering the IC unlocks the structure of most Hebrew temporal clauses and speech formulas.

## 8. Parsing Quick Reference

Form | Root | Class | Gloss | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
לִ/שְׁמֹר | שמר | Strong | "to keep" | לְ + IC; hireq under ל
לִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ | שמע | B-class | "to hear" | לְ + IC; gutt. patach at R3
לִ/רְאוֹת | ראה | III-ה | "to see" | וֹת ending
לַ/עֲשׂוֹת | עשה | III-ה + I-gutt. | "to do" | I-gutt. chateph + וֹת
לָ/בֹא / לָ/בוֹא | בוא | Biconsonantal | "to come" | Full long vowel
לָ/שׁוּב | שוב | Biconsonantal | "to return" | Full shureq
לָ/קוּם | קום | Biconsonantal | "to arise" | Full shureq
לֶ/כֶת | הלך | I-י | "to go" | Contracted: ל + כ + seghol-taw
שֶׁ/בֶת | ישב | I-י | "to dwell" | IC without ל; seghol-taw
צֵאת | יצא | I-י + III-א | "to go out" | Tsere + aleph + taw
תֵּת | נתן | I-נ | "to give" | Both nuns drop; very short
לֵ/אמֹר | אמר | I-aleph | "saying" | Quotative; ~2,600× OT
לֶ/אֱכֹל | אכל | I-aleph | "to eat" | Hateph under aleph
הֱיוֹת | היה | III-ה | "to be" | הֱ + יוֹת
לָ/דַ֥עַת | ידע | I-י | "to know" | I-י + dagesh in ד
בְּ/שָׁמְר/וֹ | שמר | Strong | "when he kept" | בְּ + IC + 3ms subject suffix
כִּ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ | שמע | B-class | "when he heard" | כְּ + IC temporal