Infinitives

The infinitive is a verbal noun. On the one hand the infinitive construct is much like our infinitive and expresses “to go,” “to eat,” etc. However, the infinitive absolute may be translated as a gerund with an “-ing” attached to the end of a word.

1. Infinitive Construct
   1. Without Prefixes or Suffixes
      1. “…Behold, I do not know how to speak (דַּבֵּר – (dabbēr)” (Jeremiah 1:6).
      2. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man הֱיוֹת – (hĕyôt) – to be alone;...’” (Genesis 2:18).
   2. With Prepositions
      1. When used with בּ, the translation given may be “when,” or “while”: “ בִּֽהְיוֹת (bihəyôt – Gesenius Hebrew Grammar, #16 f) while he was in Jericho, that is Joshua” (Joshua 5:13).
      2. When used with כְּ (kə) the translation may be “when,” “as,” “just as,” or “as soon as”: “כְּדַבֵּרְ (kədabbēr) when he had spoken the man of God to the king” (2 Kings 7:18).
      3. לְ (lə) is the preposition most often prefixed to the infinitive construct, and its translation is “to”: “…for it is time לִדְרוֹשְׁ (lidrôš) to seek the Lord…” (Hosea 10:12).
      4. When a pronominal suffix is attached to the infinitive construct, it can function as either the subject or object of the infinitive respectively:
         1. “…בְּֽשָׁכְבְּךָ (bəšokbəkā – kā being the pronominal suffix, “you”) when you sleep, she will watch over you” (Proverbs 6:22).
         2. “…לִשְׁמָרְךָָ (lišmorkā – kā being the pronominal suffix, “you”) – to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
2. Infinitive Absolutes
   1. As a Gerund

      “Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, killing הָרֹג – (hārōg) of cattle and slaughtering וְשָׁחֹט – (wəšāḥōṭ) of sheep…” (Isaiah 22:13).

   2. For Emphasis

      (In this usage, the infinitive absolute stands immediately before the same finite verb of which it is an infinitive) “And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will surely take care (פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד – pāqōd yipqōd) of you,…(Genesis 50:24).

   3. For Duration

      (In this instance, the infinitive absolute immediately proceeds the finite verb of which it is an infinitive) “And He said, ‘Go and tell this people; keep on listening(שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ – šim‘û šāmôa‘) but do not perceive,…’” (Isaiah 6:9).

   4. As a Finite Verb Form

      (In particular the imperative) Remember (זָכוֹר – zākôr) the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).