A summary of Wolfgang Schneider's "Grammatik," section 44.

1. Schneider, Section 44

3.  Verbal Clause (A does B)
 ‫וַ יאמר אֹלהים‬
ִ ֱ ֶ ֹּ
 Nominal Clause (A is B)
 ‫וְ חֹּשְך ףל־פנֵ֣י תהֹום‬
֑ ְ ְ ַ ֶ ֹ֖
 Note that Schneider also speaks of a
“subordinate clause”

4. This first formal delimitation of the types of
clauses is incomplete under the point of
view of text-grammar. How the first
position of a clause is occupied is
important for the weight of the clauses in
the text and for the structuring of a text.

5.  Makes a statement “A does B”
 Begins with a finite form of the verb
 The focus lies on the verb, which describes a narrated
event.

6.  Makes a statement “A is B”
 Begins with something other than a finite verb
 The focus lies on the nominal standing at the front,
about which a statement is made.
 When the predicate of the nominal clause is a whole
clause, we call it a compound nominal clause.

7. ‫בראשית ב ָרא אֹלהים את השמיִ ם וְ את הא ֶרץ׃‬
‫ֵ֥ ָ ָ ָֽ‬ ‫ֵ֥ ַ ָ ַ ֹ֖‬ ‫ָ ֵ֣ ֱ ִ ֑‬ ‫ִ ֹ֖‬ ‫ְ‬
‫וְ הא ֶרץ היְ ֵָ֥תה ת ֹּהו וָ בֹּהו‬
‫ֹ֙ ֹ֙ ֹ֔‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ָ ָָ֗‬
‫וְ חֹּשְך ףל־פנֵ֣י תהֹום‬
‫ֹ֖ ֶ ַ ְ ְ ֑‬
‫וְ ֵ֣רוח אֹלהים מ ַר ֶחפת ףל־פנֵ֥י המיִ ם׃‬
‫ְ ֹ֖ ֶ ַ ְ ַ ָ ָֽ‬ ‫ַ ֱ ִֹ֔‬
‫וְ לחֹּשְך ָק ָרא ָל֑יְ לה‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ַ ֹ֖ ֶ ֵ֣‬

9.  Verbal clauses form the foreground of the narration.
 Distinguish narration from discourse.
 Nominal clauses deliver the background of the
narration (preconditions, description, situation,
notes). [see footnote #5]
 “Subordinate clauses” belong to the background of the
narrative.

10. ‫לְך־לךָ֛ מא ְרצךֵ֥ וממֹול ְדתךֹ֖ ומבֵ֣ית א ִ֑ביך‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ִ ָֽ ַ ְ‬ ‫ַ ְ‬ ‫ֶ ְ‬ ‫1 וַ ֹּ֤יאמר יְ הוָ ה אל־אב ָֹ֔רם‬
‫ֹ֙ ֶ ַ ְ‬ ‫ֹּ ֶ‬
‫אל־הא ֶרץ אשר א ְראךָ ׃ 2 וְ אףשך לגֵ֣ ֹוי גָ דֹול וַ א ָב ֶרכך וַ אגַ ְד ָלֹ֖ה שמך וֶ היֹ֖ה‬
‫ְ ֶ֑ ְ‬ ‫ֲ ֵ֣ ְ ֹ֔ ֲ‬ ‫ֹ֔‬ ‫ֶ ָֽ ֶ ְ ֹ֙ ְ‬ ‫ֲ ֶ ֵ֥ ַ ֶ ָֽ‬ ‫ֶ ָ ָ ֹ֖‬
‫ב ָר ָָֽכה׃ 3 וַ א ָָֽב ֲרכה מ ָב ְרכיך ומקללךֹ֖ אאר וְ נִ ב ְרכו בך כֹּל משפחֹּת הא ָדמה׃‬
‫ְ ֵ֣ ְ ֹ֔ ֹ֖ ִ ְ ְ ֵ֥ ָ ֲ ָ ָֽ‬ ‫ְ ַ ֶ ְ ָ ֑ ֹּ‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙ ְ ֵ֣ ֶֹ֔‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ְ‬
‫4 וַ י ֵ֣לְך אב ָָ֗רם כאשר ִד ֶבר אליו יְ הוה וַ יֵ֥לְך אתֹו ל֑ ֹוט‬
‫ֶ ִ ֹ֖‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙ ָֹ֔‬ ‫ֹּ֤‬ ‫ַ ֲ ֶֹ֙‬ ‫ֶ ַ ְ‬
‫וְ אב ָָ֗רם בן־חמש שנִ ים וְ שב ִֵ֣ףים ש ֹ֔ ָנה בצאתֹו מח ָָֽרן׃‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ֹ֖‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ֶ ָ ֹּ֤ ָ ֹ֙ ִ ְ‬ ‫ַ ְ‬
‫5 וַ יִ ַקח אב ָרם את־ש ַֹ֙רי אשתֹו וְ את־לֵ֣ ֹוט בן־אחיו‬
‫ֶ ָ ִָ֗‬ ‫ִ ְ ּ֜ ֶ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ֵ֣ ַ ְ ֩ ֶ‬
‫וְ את־כל־רכושם אשר ָרכשו וְ את־ה ֶנֹ֖פש אשר־ףשו בח ָרן‬
‫ֶ ַ ֶ ֲ ֶ ָ ֵ֣ ְ ָ ֑‬ ‫ָֹ֔‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙ ֲ ֶ ֵ֣‬ ‫ֶ ָ ְ‬
‫וַ יצאו ללֹ֙כת ַא ְרצה כ ֹ֔ ַנףן וַ יָ בֹּאו ֵַ֥א ְרצה כ ָנָֽףן׃‬
‫ָ ְ ַ‬ ‫ֹ֖‬ ‫ְ ָ֗ ָ ֶ ֶ ֹ֙ ֵ֣ ָ ְ ַ‬

11.  NC are more frequent.
 In discourse texts, no event is described in NC.
 When actions are described in discourse texts, VC
stand in the foreground, and NC/CNC offer
background information. (see next slide)
 Otherwise, NC generally cannot be allocated to
background comments.

12. ‫1 וַ יִ קח שמואל את־פְך השמן וַ יִ צֹּק ףל־ראשֹו וַ יִ שָּׁקהו וַ ֹּ֕יאמר . . .‬
‫ֹּ ֶ‬ ‫ָ ֑‬ ‫ֹּ ֹ֖‬ ‫ֵ֥ ַ‬ ‫ַ ֹ֙ ְ ּ֜ ֶ ַ ֵ֥ ַ ֶ ָ֛ ֶ‬
‫3 וְ חלפת משם וָ הלאה‬
‫ָָ֗ ְ ָ‬ ‫ָ ַ ְ ָֹ֙ ִ ָּ֜‬
‫ובאת ףד־אלֵ֣ ֹון תבֹור‬
‫ָ ֹ֔‬ ‫ָֹ֙ ָֹ֙ ַ‬
‫ומצאוך שם שֹלשה אנָ שים ע ִֵֹּ֥לים אל־האֹלהים בית־אל‬
‫֑‬ ‫ָֽ‬ ‫ֶ ָ ֱ ִ ֹ֖‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙ ְ ָ ֵ֣ ֲ ִֹ֔‬ ‫ְ ָ ֹּ֤‬
‫אחד נֹּשא׀ שֹלשה גְ ָד ִָ֗יים‬
‫ְ ָ ֵ֣‬ ‫ֵ֣‬ ‫ֶ ָָ֞‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫ְ ֹ֙ ֶ ֹ֙ ִ ְ‬
‫וְ אחד נֹּשא שֹלשת ככ ֵ֣רֹות ֶֹ֔לחם‬ ‫ֶ ָ ֹ֙ ָ֗‬
‫וְ א ֵָ֥חד נֹּשא נָֽבל־יָָֽֽיִ ן׃‬
‫ֶ ָ‬ ‫ֹ֖‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫4 וְ שאלֵ֥ ו לךֹ֖ לשל֑ ֹום‬
‫ְ ְ ָ‬ ‫ָ ֲ‬

13.  When alternating partners contrast their points of
view, the NC controls the speech. (see Gen 42 ex.)
 The CNC ‫“ אתה יָ ַדףת‬you know” is used to show the
ָ ְ ָ ַ
priority of the orientation of the speaker.

14. ‫וַ יִ שלח מֹּשה מלא ִָ֛כים מקדש אל־מלְך א ֑דֹום‬
‫ִ ָ ֹ֖ ֶ ֶ ֵ֣ ֶ ֱ‬ ‫ֶ ֶׁ֧ ַ ְ ָ‬ ‫ְ ַ ֹ֙‬
‫כֹּה אמר א ִֵ֣חיך יִ ש ָראל א ָתה יָ ַֹ֔דףת את‬
‫ְ ָ ֵ֥‬ ‫ְ ֹ֔ ַ ֵ֣‬ ‫ֹּ֤ ָ ַ ֹ֙ ָ‬
‫כל־התלאה אשר מצאתנו׃‬
‫ָ ַ ְ ָ ָ ֹ֖ ֲ ֶ ֵ֥ ְ ָ ָ ָֽ ְ‬

15.  NC describe the situation in the oath.
 NC contain the leading statements to the threat.

16. ‫2 שמףו שמיִ ם וְ הא ִזֵ֣ינִ י א ֶרץ ִֵ֥כי יְ הוֹ֖ה ִדבר‬
‫֑‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ֶֹ֔‬ ‫ִ ְ ֹּ֤ ָ ַֹ֙ ֹ֙ ַ ֲ‬
‫בנִ ים גִ ַדלתי וְ רֹוממתי‬
‫ַֹ֔ ְ ִ‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙ ֵ֣ ְ ִ‬
‫וְ הם ֵָ֥פשעו ִָֽבי׃‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ֹ֖‬
‫3 יָ ֵַ֥דע שֹור ק ֹֹּ֔נהו‬
‫ֹ֙‬
‫וַ חמֹור אבוס בף ָל֑יו‬
‫ְ ָ‬ ‫ֵ֣‬ ‫ֲ ֹ֖‬
‫יִ ש ָראלֹ֙ לא יָ ַֹ֔דע‬
‫ֵ֣ ֹּ‬ ‫ְ‬
‫ףמי לא התבֹונָָֽֽן׃‬
‫ַ ִ ֹ֖ ֵ֥ ֹּ ִ ְ ָ‬

17. ‫כי֩ ה ֹ֙נה האדֹון יְ הוֵ֣ה צבאֹות מ ִֹּ֤סיר‬
‫ָ ְ ָ ָ֗‬ ‫ָ ָ ּ֜‬ ‫ִ ִ‬
‫מירושלם ומיהודה משףן ומשף ָנ֑ה‬
‫ָֹ֙ ַ ֹ֙ ִ ֵ֣ ָ ֹ֔ ַ ְ ֹ֖ ַ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬

18.  NC are typical in psalms, particularly praise songs.
 Care must be taken in clarifying the relationship
between NC and VC.
 Rhetorical figures must also be taken into account.

19. ‫ִֹּ֤כי אל גָ ֵ֣דֹול יְ הו֑ה‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ֵ֣‬
‫ומלְך ּ֜ ָגדֹול ףל־כל־אֹלהים׃‬
‫ָ֗ ַ ָ ֱ ִ ָֽ‬ ‫ֶ ֵ֥ ֶ‬
‫אשר ביָ דֹו מחקרי־א ֶרץ‬
‫ָ֑‬ ‫ֶ ְ ְ‬ ‫ֲ ֶ ֵ֣ ְ ְּ֭‬
‫וְ תֹוףפֹות ה ִֵ֣רים לֹו׃‬
‫ָֽ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ֲ ֹ֖‬
‫אשר־לֹו היָ ם וְ הוא ףשהו‬
‫ָ ָ֑‬ ‫ֵ֣‬ ‫ֲ ֶ ֵ֣ ַ ְּ֭‬
‫ְּ֜ויַבשת יָ ֵָ֥דיו יָ ָָֽצרו׃‬ ‫ֶָ֗ ֶ‬

21.  The subject is the known element.
 The predicate is the new element.
 Typically, the predicate stands without an
article or other means of determination (i.e.
suffix, proper name, in construct with
numbers from 1 to 3).

22. tp,x,r:m. ~yhil{a/ x:Wr

23. `~yIm'h; ynEP.-l[; tp,x,r:m. ~yhil{a/ xWrw>
• Subject first – new information given
about something known
hT'a; rp'['-yKi
• Predicate first – focus lies on new
information applied to something
known

24. ykinOa' ~h'r"b.a; db,[,
• Both have determination, so new
information is the identification of the
two known elements
yl;ae rmeaoh' hw"hy>
• Both have determination, so new
information is the identification of the
two known elements

26.  The distinguishing factor is that the predicate of a
CNC is a whole clause.
 This clause may be either a NC or VC.
 The subject is often referred back to through a suffix or
independent pronoun in the predicate clause.

27. Aas.Ki ~ym;V'B; hw"hy>
• The predicate is a NC.
• The subject of the clause in the predicate
is not the same as the overall subject. Thus
the suffix.
Wzx/y< wyn"y[e
• The predicate is a VC.

29.  An explicitly-given subject is unnecessary with a finite
form of the verb. If there, it is a type of apposition.
(e.g. Gn 25:34)

30. ‫וַ ֵ֣יאכל‬
‫ֹּ ַ‬
‫וַ ֹ֔ישת‬
‫ְ ְ‬
‫וַ ָֹ֖יָֽקם‬
‫ָ‬
‫וַ י ַלְ֑ך‬
‫וַ ִיֵ֥בז ףשו את־הבכ ָָֹּֽרה׃‬
‫ָ ֹ֖ ֶ ַ ְ‬ ‫ֶ‬

31.  An explicitly-given subject is unnecessary with a finite
form of the verb. If there, it is a type of apposition.
 If a pronoun is provided as subject, it serves to bring it
into focus despite not being in initial position. (e.g. Gn
20:6)

32. ‫וַ יאמר֩ אליו ָָֽהאֹלהים בח ָֹ֗לם‬
‫ַ ֲ‬ ‫ֱ ִּ֜‬ ‫ָ ֹ֙‬ ‫ֹּ ֶ‬
‫ַגֵ֣ם אנֹּכי יָ ַֹ֙דףתי‬
‫ְ ִ ֹ֙‬ ‫ָ ִ ֹּ֤‬
‫ִֹּ֤כי בתם־לבבך ףשית ֹ֔זאת‬
‫ְ ָ ְ ָ ְ ֹ֙ ָ ִ ֵ֣ ָ ֹּ‬
‫וָ אחש ְֹּך גַ ם־אנֹּכי אֹותךֹ֖ מחטֹו־לי‬
‫ִ֑‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ָ ִ ָ֛ ָֽ ְ‬ ‫ֶ ְ ֶׁ֧‬

34.  Principle: Generally applies that things agree in
person, number, and gender.
 Deviations from Rule of Congruence
 Collectively used singulars take a plural verbal predicate.
 The noun ~yhil{a/ takes the singular when referring to the
true God.

35.  Deviations from Rule of Congruence (cont’d)
 Verbal predicate at beginning that applies to every
individual in a series of subjects.
 Simpler masculine form with feminine nominal or series
of nominals of different genders and numbers.
 A predicate may agree with the last word in a construct
connection, even though it applies to the first word.

36. ‫וְ יָֽדעו כל־הק ָהל ה ֶֹ֔זה ִָֽכי־לא‬
‫ָ֛ ֹּ‬ ‫ָֽ ְ ֹ֙ ָ ַ ָ ֵ֣ ַ‬
‫ב ֵֶ֥ח ֶרב ובח ִנֹ֖ית יְ הֹושיע יְ הו֑ה‬
‫ִ ֵ֣ ַ ָ‬ ‫ַ ֲ‬ ‫ְ‬

37. ‫וַ יִ קח אב ֶָׁ֧רם וְ נָ חֹור ל ֶהם נָ שים‬
‫ִ֑‬ ‫ָ ֹ֖‬ ‫ָ֛‬ ‫ַ ֹ֙ ַ ְ‬

38. ‫וַ יַ ְרא מלְך מֹואב ִָֽכי־ח ַזֵ֥ק ממנו המלחמה‬
֑ ָ ָ ְ ִ ַ ֹ֖ ֶ ִ ָ ָֹ֔ ֶ ֵ֣ ֶ ֹ֙
Then the king of Moab saw that (the
struggle [fem.] was stronger [masc.] than
him) he did not withstand the attack.

39. ‫ולאב ֵָ֥רם היטיב בףבורּה‬
‫ִ ֹ֖ ַ ֲ ָ ֑‬ ‫ְ ַ ְ‬
‫ַ ָֽוָֽיְ הי־לֹו צאן־ובקר וַ חמ ִֹֹּ֔רים וַ ףב ִדים‬
‫ֲ ָ ֹ֙‬ ‫ִ ֹּ֤ ֹּ ָ ָ ֹ֙ ֲ‬
‫ושפחֹּת וַ את ֹֹּ֖נת וגְ מ ִָֽלים׃‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ֲ ֹּ‬ ‫ְ ָ ֹ֔‬

40. ‫ֵֶ֥קשת גִ ב ִֹֹּ֖רים ח ִ֑תים‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ֶ‬