[l] 3. The infinitive absolute occurs most frequently in immediate connexion with the finite verb of the same stem, in order in various ways to define more accurately or to strengthen the idea of the verb.[1]
[m] These infinitives absolute joined immediately to the finite verb belong in a sense to the schema etymologicum treated in § 117 p, i.e. they are objects of the finite verb in question, except that the infinitive absolute (as a nomen abstractum) lays stress rather on the actual occurrence or the energy of the action (see the examples below), while the noun proper emphasizes the result or extent of the action; cf. e.g. Ex 22 אִם־צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי if it actually happens that he cries to me, with Gn 27 (as it were, he cried, so that a great cry was heard).
We must further distinguish—
[n] (a) The infinitive absolute used before the verb to strengthen the verbal idea, i.e. to emphasize in this way either the certainty (especially in the case of threats) or the forcibleness and completeness of an occurrence. In English, such an infinitive is mostly expressed by a corresponding adverb, but sometimes merely by putting greater stress on the verb; e.g. Gn 2 מוֹת תָּמוּת thou shalt surely die, cf. 18:10, 18, 22:17, 28:22, 1 S 9 (cometh surely to pass); 24:21, Am 5, 7, Hb 2, Zc 11; with the infinitive strengthened by אַךְ Gn 44 (but 27:30 and Jacob was yet scarce gone out, &c.); Gn 43 הָעֵד הֵעִד בָּ֫נוּ he did solemnly protest unto us; 1 S 20 נִשְׁאֹל נִשְׁאַל David earnestly asked leave of me; Jos 17, Ju 1 וְהוֹרֵישׁ לֹא הֽוֹרִישׁוֹ and did not utterly drive them out; especially typical instances are Am 9 I will destroy it from off the face of the earth אֶ֫פֶס כִּי לֹא הַשְׁמֵיד אַשְׁמִיד וג׳ saving that I will not utterly destroy, &c.; Jer 30 and will in no wise leave thee unpunished; cf. further Gn 20, 1 K 3, Jo 1, Jb 13.
[o] The infinitive absolute is used before the verb with less emphasis:
(1) Frequently at the beginning of the statement; cf. Driver on 1 S 20. However, in these cases a special emphasis on the following verb is sometimes intended; cf. above, n, on Gn 43, 1 S 20; also Gn 3, 26, 32, 1 S 14, 20. Elsewhere the infinitive absolute is evidently used only as possessing a certain fullness of sound (hence for rhythmical reasons, like some uses of the separate pronoun, § 135 a), as in Gn 15, 43, 20, Ju 9, 1 S 10, 23, 2 S 1, 20.
(2) Very frequently in conditional sentences after אִם, &c. The infinitive absolute in this case emphasizes the importance of the con-
- ↑ Cf. A. Rieder, Die Verbindung des Inf. abs. mit dem Verb. fin ... im Hebr., Lpz., 1872; also his Quae ad syntaxin Hebraicam ... planiorem faciendam ex lingua Graeca et Latina afferantur, Gumbinnen (Programm des Gymnasiums), 1884. G. R. Hauschild, Die Verbindung finiter und infiniter Verbalformen desselben Stammes in einigen Bibelsprachen, Frankfurt a. M., 1893, discussing especially the rendering of such constructions in the Greek and Latin versions.
