# BBH Chapter 21 — Qal Infinitive Absolute

## Files

### Reference Files

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

### Exercises

Exercise | Description
--- | ---
exercises/ch21-parsing-drill/ | 25-item drill: Part A (emphatic pairs), Part B (standalone IA: imperatival and manner), Part C (discrimination: IA vs. IC vs. Imperative vs. Perfect vs. Imperfect)
exercises/ch21-passage-exercise/ | 15-item passage exercise: Gen 2, Exo 3, Exo 20/Deu 5, Gen 8, Gen 26, Gen 44, Deu 6/8, Num 15 — all four IA functions in context
exercises/ch21-qal-ia-paradigm-drill/ | Paradigm drill — write the Qal Infinitive Absolute for 6 root classes from memory

### Flashcards

File | Format | Description
--- | --- | ---
ch21-morphology-deck.md | Markdown | 32-card morphology deck — Qal Infinitive Absolute with root class and function groupings
ch21-morphology-deck.txt | Anki import | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (32 cards)
ch21-morphology-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (32 cards)
ch21-vocab-deck.md | Markdown | Vocabulary deck — 14 words (9 verbs, 5 nouns) with POS tags and frequency
ch21-vocab-deck.txt | Anki import | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (14 cards)
ch21-vocab-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (14 cards)

### Notebooks

Notebook | What it shows
--- | ---
Qal Stem | Qal stem: infinitive absolute distribution and paronomastic usage
Verbal Syntax | Infinitive usage patterns (construct vs. absolute) by book and genre

Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt
Data: MACULA Hebrew WLC (~489 Qal Infinitive Absolute tokens OT-wide)

## 1. Function (BBH §21.2)

The Infinitive Absolute (IA) is a verbal noun like the IC, but it behaves differently: it cannot be governed by prepositions or take pronominal suffixes. Its most distinctive feature is the intensifying or emphasizing role it plays when paired with a finite verb of the same root.

Function | Description | Example
--- | --- | ---
Emphatic intensifier (Inf. Abs. + finite verb) | Precedes or follows a finite verb of the same root; intensifies the action ("surely/certainly/absolutely") | מ֥וֹת תָּמוּת — "you shall surely die"
Verbal substitute (Imperatival IA) | Stands alone functioning as a command or prohibition | זָכ֕וֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת — "Remember the Sabbath day!"
Continuation (Serial / Waw + IA) | A series of IA forms after an opening finite verb continues the action; common in legal texts | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר … לֵאמֹ֣ר … שָׁמ֣וֹר וְ/עָשִׂ֑יתָ — continues a command chain
Manner / circumstance | Describes how an action is performed; translated as an adverb | הָלֹ֣ךְ וּ/בָכֹ֔ה — "he went along weeping"
Progressive / iterative | Paired with a participle or imperfect to express ongoing or repeated action | הָלוֹךְ֙ וְ/גָדֵ֔ל — "growing greater and greater"

> Key diagnostic: Spot the IA by looking for a word with a long vowel on R2 (holem or shureq) followed by a finite verb of the same root — that is the emphatic pair. The IA typically ends in ◌ֹ (holem on R2 + final consonant) for strong roots, or in vowel + ה/וֹ for III-ה roots.

## 2. Form — Diagnostic Markers (BBH §21.3–21.5)

The Qal IA differs slightly from the IC and Imperative:

- Strong root (A-class): שָׁמ֣וֹר — qamets under R1 + holem-waw on R2 (contrast IC: shewa under R1)
- Strong root (B-class / gutt. R3): שָׁמ֣וֹעַ — qamets + holem-waw + patach before R3 guttural
- III-ה roots: עָשׂ֑וֹה or עָשׂ֥וֹ — ה retained (contrast IC where ה → וֹת); some forms show וֹ only
- Biconsonantal roots: שׁ֣וֹב / מ֥וֹת — looks like bare IC; context (paired with same-root finite verb) distinguishes
- I-י roots: יָצ֣וֹא (יצא) / יָדֹ֣עַ (ידע) — IA retains the yod-root shape (contrast contracted IC)
- I-נ roots: נָת֤וֹן (נתן) — IA retains both nuns (contrast IC תֵּת)
- I-aleph roots: אָכ֤וֹל (אכל) / אָמ֤וֹר (אמר) — qamets under aleph + holem-waw

### Quick contrast: IC vs. IA (strong A-class)

Form | Pattern | Example | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Infinitive Construct | Shewa + holem | שְׁמֹר | IC: follows prepositions; can take suffixes
Infinitive Absolute | Qamets + holem-waw | שָׁמ֣וֹר | IA: no preposition; no suffix; intensifies
Imperative 2ms | Shewa + holem | שְׁמֹר | Same as IC; context distinguishes

## 3. Paradigm

Full paradigm tables are in the paradigm reference file.

Form | BBH § | Notes
--- | --- | ---
Strong Root (שמר) | §21.3 | Qamets + holem-waw
Strong B-class (שמע) | §21.3 | Holem-waw + patach before gutt.
III-ה roots | §21.4 | ה retained; some forms vary
Biconsonantal roots | §21.5 | Short: מ֥וֹת, שׁ֣וֹב — identical to bare IC
I-י roots | §21.6 | Yod-shape retained: יָצ֣וֹא, יָדֹ֣עַ
I-נ roots | §21.6 | Nuns retained: נָת֤וֹן
I-aleph roots | §21.6 | Qamets under aleph: אָכ֤וֹל

## 4. Real Forms — מוּת and שָׁמַר

### מות — the most common Qal IA root

Form | Hebrew | Gloss | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect 2ms | מַ֫תָּה | "you died" |
Imperfect 2ms | תָּמוּת | "you will die" |
Inf. Absolute | מ֥וֹת | "dying / die" | IA of biconsonantal root — no preposition
Emphatic pair | מ֥וֹת תָּמוּת | "you shall surely die" | IA + Imperfect of same root = certain death
Inf. Construct | מוּת | "to die" | IC = same form (context: with לָ/בְּ prefix)

### שמר — strong A-class contrasts

Form | Hebrew | Pattern | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | ---
IC (bare) | שְׁמֹר | shewa + holem | "to keep"
IA | שָׁמ֣וֹר | qamets + holem-waw | "keeping/surely keep"
Imperative 2ms | שְׁמֹר | shewa + holem | "Keep!"
Imperfect 3ms | יִשְׁמֹר | יִ + shewa + holem | "he will keep"

> Critical distinction: The IA (שָׁמ֣וֹר) has qamets under R1, while the IC and Imperative (שְׁמֹר) have shewa. This vowel difference is the diagnostic marker.

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

Corpus: Genesis–Deuteronomy · 149 Qal IA tokens

Root | IA Form | Torah (×) | OT-wide (×) | Meaning | Typical Use
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
מות | מ֥וֹת | 31 | 49 | die | מ֥וֹת תָּמוּת — "you shall surely die" (death penalty formula)
שמע | שָׁמ֣וֹעַ | 8 | 17 | hear | שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמָע — "hear attentively" (legal obedience)
זכר | זָכ֕וֹר | 5 | 8 | remember | זָכ֕וֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת — Imperatival IA (Exo 20:8)
שמר | שָׁמ֣֛וֹר | 5 | — | keep, guard | שָׁמ֣וֹר תִּשְׁמֹר — "you shall carefully keep"
הלך | הָל֣וֹךְ | 5 | 45 | go, walk | הָלוֹךְ וְגָדֵל — manner/progressive
פשׂה | פָּשֹׂ֥ה | 4 | — | spread | Emphatic in Lev skin-disease laws
פקד | פָּקֹ֨ד | 4 | 5 | visit, punish | Emphatic/legal contexts
אבד | אָבֹ֖ד | 3 | — | perish | אָבֹ֖ד תֹּאבֵדוּן — "you shall utterly perish"
אכל | אָכֹ֥ל | 3 | 14 | eat | אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵל — "you may freely eat" (Gen 2:16)
יצא | יָצוֹא֙ | 3 | 7 | go out | יָצוֹא֙ יֵצֵא — emphatic going out
טרף | טָרֹ֥ף | 3 | — | tear | טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַ֖ף — "he has surely been torn" (Gen 44:28)
נתן | נָתֹ֨ן | 3 | 6 | give | Emphatic contexts
גאל | גָּאֹ֖ל | 3 | — | redeem | Legal contexts in Leviticus
ראה | רָאֹ֣ה | 2 | 5 | see | רָאֹ֣ה רָאִ֛יתִי — "I have surely seen"
היה | הָי֧וֹ | 2 | 6 | be | Emphatic affirmation

## 6. Example Passages

### Emphatic Intensifier

Emphatic — Gen 2:17 — מ֥וֹת תָּמוּת
"…you shall surely die."
→ מות Qal IA (מ֥וֹת) + Qal Imperfect 2ms of same root; the IA before the finite verb signals absolute certainty; this formula appears in every death-penalty pronouncement in the Torah.

Emphatic — Gen 2:16 — אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל
"…you may freely eat."
→ אכל Qal IA (אָכֹ֥ל) + Qal Imperfect 2ms of same root; emphatic permission (not prohibition); the same IA + finite-verb structure that signals death in v.17 here signals full freedom.

Emphatic — Gen 44:28 — טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַ֖ף
"He has surely been torn to pieces."
→ טרף Qal IA (טָרֹ֥ף) + Qal Perfect passive; Jacob's earlier conclusion about Joseph; dramatic emphasis on the certainty of the presumed death.

Emphatic — Exo 3:7 — רָאֹ֣ה רָאִ֛יתִי
"I have surely seen the affliction of my people…"
→ ראה Qal IA (רָאֹ֣ה) + Qal Perfect 1cs; God's declaration at the burning bush; the emphasis underscores his active, attentive concern.

### Verbal Substitute (Imperatival IA)

Imperatival — Exo 20:8 — זָכ֕וֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
→ זכר Qal IA (זָכ֕וֹר) functioning as Imperative; no finite verb of same root; the IA stands alone as the command. Compare Deu 5:12 where the same command uses the true Imperative שָׁמ֗וֹר.

Imperatival — Deu 5:12 — שָׁמ֗וֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁ֑וֹ
"Keep the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
→ שמר Qal IA (שָׁמ֗וֹר) functioning as Imperative; the Deuteronomy version of the Sabbath command (contrast Exo 20:8 זָכ֕וֹר); both IAs serve as commands.

### Manner / Circumstance

Manner — Gen 8:3 — הָל֣וֹךְ וָ/שׁ֑וֹב
"…receding steadily" (lit. "going and returning").
→ הלך Qal IA (הָל֣וֹךְ) + שוב Qal IA (וָשׁ֑וֹב); paired IAs express the manner of the flood waters receding; "going to and fro."

Manner/Progressive — Gen 8:5 — הָל֣וֹךְ וְ/חָס֔וֹר
"The waters continued receding…" (lit. "going and decreasing").
→ הלך Qal IA + חסר Qal IA; two IAs strung together describing progressive movement; a distinctive Hebrew idiom for gradual, ongoing action.

Manner — Gen 26:13 — הָלוֹךְ֙ וְ/גָדֵ֔ל עַ֥ד כִּֽי-גָדַ֖ל מְאֹֽד
"He grew richer and richer until he became very wealthy."
→ הלך Qal IA + גדל Qal IA (unusual: גדל is strong, IA form is גָדֵל); progressive/iterative: "kept going and growing."

### Continuation (Serial IA in Legal/Command Texts)

Serial — Deu 6:17 — שָׁמ֣וֹר תִּשְׁמְר֗וּן אֶת-מִצְוֹ֤ת יְהוָה֙
"You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD…"
→ שמר Qal IA (שָׁמ֣וֹר) + Qal Imperfect 2mp; emphatic intensification in the Deuteronomic legal style; "keep — keep them."

## 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 Absolute (489 tokens, 1.1% of Qal) is the least common Qal conjugation. Yet its effect is outsized — it concentrates in legal formulas (death penalties, covenant commands) and narrative moments of highest dramatic intensity. Nearly two-thirds of all IA tokens appear with the emphatic IA + finite-verb construction. The IA is rare but unmistakable when it appears.

## 8. Parsing Quick Reference

Form | Root | Pattern | Gloss | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
מ֥וֹת | מות | Biconsonantal IA | "dying/surely die" | Most common IA; death-penalty formula
שָׁמ֣וֹר | שמר | Strong A IA | "surely keep" | Qamets + holem-waw; contrast IC שְׁמֹר
שָׁמ֣וֹעַ | שמע | Strong B IA | "surely hear" | Qamets + holem-waw + patach at R3
זָכ֕וֹר | זכר | Strong A IA | "remember!" | Imperatival IA; Exo 20:8
אָכֹ֥ל | אכל | I-aleph IA | "freely eat" | Qamets under aleph; Gen 2:16
הָל֣וֹךְ | הלך | I-י IA | "going" | Manner/progressive; retains original shape
יָצוֹא֙ | יצא | I-י IA | "going out" | IA retains yod-shape (contrast IC צֵאת)
יָדֹ֣עַ | ידע | I-י IA | "surely know" | IA form; gutt. patach at R3
נָת֤וֹן | נתן | I-נ IA | "surely give" | Both nuns retained (contrast IC תֵּת)
רָאֹ֣ה | ראה | III-ה IA | "surely seen" | ה retained; contrast IC רְאוֹת
עָשׂ֑וֹה | עשה | III-ה IA | "surely do" | ה retained or dropped (עָשׂ֥וֹ)
הָי֧וֹ | היה | III-ה IA | "surely be" | ה retained
שׁ֣וֹב | שוב | Biconsonantal IA | "returning" | Manner use; paired IA
פָּקֹ֨ד | פקד | Strong A IA | "surely visit/punish" | Legal/prophetic contexts
גָּאֹ֖ל | גאל | Strong A IA | "surely redeem" | Leviticus legal formulas