Re: Lev 26:3-4 — Conditional
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 6:26 pm
Gesenius §159.c
1. Jos 22:18
וְאַתֶּם֙ תָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַיֹּ֔ום מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה אַתֶּ֞ם תִּמְרְד֤וּ הַיֹּום֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וּמָחָ֕ר אֶֽל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִקְצֹֽף׃
2. Ps 104:28 ff
תִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם יִלְקֹט֑וּן תִּפְתַּ֥ח יָֽ֝דְךָ֗ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּן טֹֽוב׃
תַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנֶיךָ֮ יִֽבָּהֵ֫ל֥וּן תֹּסֵ֣ף ר֭וּחָם יִגְוָע֑וּן וְֽאֶל־עֲפָרָ֥ם יְשׁוּבֽוּן׃
תְּשַׁלַּ֣ח ר֭וּחֲךָ יִבָּרֵא֑וּן וּ֝תְחַדֵּ֗שׁ פְּנֵ֣י אֲדָמָֽה׃
3. Ps 139:18
אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם מֵחֹ֣ול יִרְבּ֑וּן הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִי וְעֹודִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ׃
4. Pr 12:17
יָפִ֣יחַ אֱ֭מוּנָה יַגִּ֣יד צֶ֑דֶק וְעֵ֖ד שְׁקָרִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃
5. Jb 20:24
יִ֭בְרַח מִנֵּ֣שֶׁק בַּרְזֶ֑ל תַּ֝חְלְפֵ֗הוּ קֶ֣שֶׁת נְחוּשָֽׁה׃
6. Ec 1:18
כִּ֛י בְּרֹ֥ב חָכְמָ֖ה רָב־כָּ֑עַס וְיֹוסִ֥יף דַּ֖עַת יֹוסִ֥יף מַכְאֹֽוב׃
7. Neh 1:8
זְכָר־נָא֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֛יתָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדְּךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַתֶּ֣ם תִּמְעָ֔לוּ אֲנִ֕י אָפִ֥יץ אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַמִּֽים׃
8. Ju 13:12
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָנֹ֔וחַ עַתָּ֖ה יָבֹ֣א דְבָרֶ֑יךָ מַה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה מִשְׁפַּט־הַנַּ֖עַר וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃
9. Jb 10:16
וְ֭יִגְאֶה כַּשַּׁ֣חַל תְּצוּדֵ֑נִי וְ֝תָשֹׁ֗ב תִּתְפַּלָּא־בִֽי׃
10. Pr. 1:23
תָּשׁ֗וּבוּ לְֽתֹ֫וכַחְתִּ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה אַבִּ֣יעָה לָכֶ֣ם רוּחִ֑י אֹודִ֖יעָה דְבָרַ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
11. Is 26:10
יֻחַ֤ן רָשָׁע֙ בַּל־לָמַ֣ד צֶ֔דֶק בְּאֶ֥רֶץ נְכֹחֹ֖ות יְעַוֵּ֑ל וּבַל־יִרְאֶ֖ה גֵּא֥וּת יְהוָֽה׃
12. Ho 8:12
אֶ֨כְתָּוב־לֹ֔ו רֻבֵּ֖ו תֹּֽורָתִ֑י כְּמֹו־זָ֖ר נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ׃
13. Gn 47:25
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ הֶחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
14. Ex 33:5
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֱמֹ֤ר אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אַתֶּ֣ם עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֔רֶף רֶ֧גַע אֶחָ֛ד אֶֽעֱלֶ֥ה בְקִרְבְּךָ֖ וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָ וְעַתָּ֗ה הֹורֵ֤ד עֶדְיְךָ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְאֵדְעָ֖ה מָ֥ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃
15. Jb 5:8
אוּלָ֗ם אֲ֭נִי אֶדְרֹ֣שׁ אֶל־אֵ֑ל וְאֶל־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אָשִׂ֥ים דִּבְרָתִֽי׃
In these examples, Gesenius is saying that it is possible in Hebrew to create a conditional by using two imperfects. The modal sense of the imperfect can be translated with “should” in English, in my opinion. Thus, “should you do this, this will happen” or “if you do this, this will happen.” This seems almost like the future more vivid in Greek (ἐὰν τοῦτο ποιήσῃς, καλῶς ποιήσεις). Let’s look at Proverbs 1:23 as an example.
Any comments or questions?
(a) Imperfect (cf. § 107 x) in protasis and apodosis, Jos 22:18, Ps 104:28 ff. תִּתֵּן לָהֶם 2יִלְקֹטוּ֑ן (if) thou givest unto them, they gather, &c.; Ps 139:18, Pr 12:17, Jb 20:24, Ec 1:18, Neh 1:8; with an interrogative imperfect in the apodosis, Ju 13:12; with the jussive, Jb 10:16; with the cohortative, Pr. 1:23; with the perfect, Is 26:10 (yet will he not learn righteousness; the apodosis forcibly denies what the imperfect in the protasis had represented as still conceivable; cf. Ho 8:12); with the perfect consecutive, Gn 47:25, Ex 33:5; with the protasis suppressed, Jb 5:8 (see § 107 x).
2 On the termination -וּן cf. § 47 m. In verse 28 b also יִשְׂבְּעוּן is probably to be explained from its immediately preceding the greater pause. These terminations in verses 28–30 and Ps 139:18 can scarcely have any connexion with the conditional sentence, although it is strange that -וּן in Nu 32:23 appears after אִם־לֹא in the protasis. In Nu 16:29, 32:20 -וּן as before א (as in Jb 31:10 in the apodosis) is to be explained from the dislike of hiatus.
So, there are many verses mentioned here in passing. Let’s start by pulling them from BHS. I will ignore the verse references in the footnote, since it is dealing with the difference between 3mp imperfects with and without the nun.2 On the termination -וּן cf. § 47 m. In verse 28 b also יִשְׂבְּעוּן is probably to be explained from its immediately preceding the greater pause. These terminations in verses 28–30 and Ps 139:18 can scarcely have any connexion with the conditional sentence, although it is strange that -וּן in Nu 32:23 appears after אִם־לֹא in the protasis. In Nu 16:29, 32:20 -וּן as before א (as in Jb 31:10 in the apodosis) is to be explained from the dislike of hiatus.
1. Jos 22:18
וְאַתֶּם֙ תָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַיֹּ֔ום מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה אַתֶּ֞ם תִּמְרְד֤וּ הַיֹּום֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וּמָחָ֕ר אֶֽל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִקְצֹֽף׃
2. Ps 104:28 ff
תִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם יִלְקֹט֑וּן תִּפְתַּ֥ח יָֽ֝דְךָ֗ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּן טֹֽוב׃
תַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנֶיךָ֮ יִֽבָּהֵ֫ל֥וּן תֹּסֵ֣ף ר֭וּחָם יִגְוָע֑וּן וְֽאֶל־עֲפָרָ֥ם יְשׁוּבֽוּן׃
תְּשַׁלַּ֣ח ר֭וּחֲךָ יִבָּרֵא֑וּן וּ֝תְחַדֵּ֗שׁ פְּנֵ֣י אֲדָמָֽה׃
3. Ps 139:18
אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם מֵחֹ֣ול יִרְבּ֑וּן הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִי וְעֹודִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ׃
4. Pr 12:17
יָפִ֣יחַ אֱ֭מוּנָה יַגִּ֣יד צֶ֑דֶק וְעֵ֖ד שְׁקָרִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃
5. Jb 20:24
יִ֭בְרַח מִנֵּ֣שֶׁק בַּרְזֶ֑ל תַּ֝חְלְפֵ֗הוּ קֶ֣שֶׁת נְחוּשָֽׁה׃
6. Ec 1:18
כִּ֛י בְּרֹ֥ב חָכְמָ֖ה רָב־כָּ֑עַס וְיֹוסִ֥יף דַּ֖עַת יֹוסִ֥יף מַכְאֹֽוב׃
7. Neh 1:8
זְכָר־נָא֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֛יתָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדְּךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַתֶּ֣ם תִּמְעָ֔לוּ אֲנִ֕י אָפִ֥יץ אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַמִּֽים׃
8. Ju 13:12
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָנֹ֔וחַ עַתָּ֖ה יָבֹ֣א דְבָרֶ֑יךָ מַה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה מִשְׁפַּט־הַנַּ֖עַר וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃
9. Jb 10:16
וְ֭יִגְאֶה כַּשַּׁ֣חַל תְּצוּדֵ֑נִי וְ֝תָשֹׁ֗ב תִּתְפַּלָּא־בִֽי׃
10. Pr. 1:23
תָּשׁ֗וּבוּ לְֽתֹ֫וכַחְתִּ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה אַבִּ֣יעָה לָכֶ֣ם רוּחִ֑י אֹודִ֖יעָה דְבָרַ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
11. Is 26:10
יֻחַ֤ן רָשָׁע֙ בַּל־לָמַ֣ד צֶ֔דֶק בְּאֶ֥רֶץ נְכֹחֹ֖ות יְעַוֵּ֑ל וּבַל־יִרְאֶ֖ה גֵּא֥וּת יְהוָֽה׃
12. Ho 8:12
אֶ֨כְתָּוב־לֹ֔ו רֻבֵּ֖ו תֹּֽורָתִ֑י כְּמֹו־זָ֖ר נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ׃
13. Gn 47:25
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ הֶחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
14. Ex 33:5
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֱמֹ֤ר אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אַתֶּ֣ם עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֔רֶף רֶ֧גַע אֶחָ֛ד אֶֽעֱלֶ֥ה בְקִרְבְּךָ֖ וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָ וְעַתָּ֗ה הֹורֵ֤ד עֶדְיְךָ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְאֵדְעָ֖ה מָ֥ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃
15. Jb 5:8
אוּלָ֗ם אֲ֭נִי אֶדְרֹ֣שׁ אֶל־אֵ֑ל וְאֶל־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אָשִׂ֥ים דִּבְרָתִֽי׃
In these examples, Gesenius is saying that it is possible in Hebrew to create a conditional by using two imperfects. The modal sense of the imperfect can be translated with “should” in English, in my opinion. Thus, “should you do this, this will happen” or “if you do this, this will happen.” This seems almost like the future more vivid in Greek (ἐὰν τοῦτο ποιήσῃς, καλῶς ποιήσεις). Let’s look at Proverbs 1:23 as an example.
Proverbs 1:23
תָּשׁ֗וּבוּ לְֽתֹ֫וכַחְתִּ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה אַבִּ֣יעָה לָכֶ֣ם רוּחִ֑י אֹודִ֖יעָה דְבָרַ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
[you(pl)-shall-return to-my-correction, behold, I-will-express to-you(pl) my-spirit, I-will-make-known my-words with-you(pl)]
If you respond to my correction, behold, I will express my spirit to you and make my words known to you.
The literal expression is clearly “this will happen, and this will happen,” but the latter phrase is dependent on the fulfillment of the first one. It is acting like a result clause (an apodosis), and the former is acting like a conditional clause (a protasis). It is a conditional without the words “if” and “then.” It is wisdom personified speaking to those in the streets that if they will perform repentance or heed her reproof, then she would teach them words of wisdom. It is a conditional that is built only out of imperfects. Conditionals do not have to contain the words “if” and “then.” It is about the relationship between the clauses—one in which the apodosis is dependent on the protasis for its truth.תָּשׁ֗וּבוּ לְֽתֹ֫וכַחְתִּ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה אַבִּ֣יעָה לָכֶ֣ם רוּחִ֑י אֹודִ֖יעָה דְבָרַ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
[you(pl)-shall-return to-my-correction, behold, I-will-express to-you(pl) my-spirit, I-will-make-known my-words with-you(pl)]
If you respond to my correction, behold, I will express my spirit to you and make my words known to you.
Any comments or questions?