Overview
This in-depth Biblical Hebrew lesson is based solely on the Hebrew of Genesis 2:7. It explores two key grammatical features foundational to Biblical Hebrew: the wayyiqtol verb form, which expresses narrative past tense, and the construct chain, which binds nouns into possessive or descriptive relationships. These structures are essential for students advancing from beginner to intermediate levels of Biblical Hebrew grammar.
Hebrew Verse
וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה
Literal Translation
And YHWH God formed the man from dust of the ground.
Morphological Analysis
- וַיִּיצֶר (vayyitser) – Root: י־צ־ר; Form: Wayyiqtol (converted Imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular, Qal stem; Meaning: “and he formed”.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Tetragrammaton; the personal name of God in Biblical Hebrew; unpointed out of reverence in some traditions.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: א־ל־ה; Form: Plural form used with singular meaning and verb; Meaning: “God”.
- אֶת (et) – Direct object marker, no English equivalent; marks “the man” as the object of the verb.
- הָאָדָם (ha-adam) – Root: א־ד־ם; Form: Definite article + masculine singular noun; Meaning: “the man” or “the human”.
- עָפָר (afar) – Root: ע־פ־ר; Form: Masculine singular noun in construct relationship; Meaning: “dust”.
- מִן (min) – Preposition meaning “from”.
- הָאֲדָמָה (ha-adamah) – Root: א־ד־ם; Form: Definite article + feminine singular noun; Meaning: “the ground”.
Syntax and Word Order
Biblical Hebrew typically follows a Verb–Subject–Object (VSO) word order. In this verse:
- וַיִּיצֶר – Verb: “And (he) formed”
- יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים – Subject: “YHWH God”
- אֶת־הָאָדָם – Object: “the man”
The prepositional phrase עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה (“dust from the ground”) explains the material from which the man was formed.
The Wayyiqtol Verb Form
The first word וַיִּיצֶר is a textbook example of the wayyiqtol verb form—a hallmark of Hebrew narrative prose. It is formed by prefixing the vav-consecutive וַ to a yiqtol (imperfect) verb, transforming it into a past tense, sequential action.
This form is used throughout Genesis to move the narrative forward, showing consecutive events:
- וַיֹּאמֶר – “And he said”
- וַיִּקְרָא – “And he called”
- וַיִּשְׁלַח – “And he sent”
Syntax Note: The subject follows the wayyiqtol verb, a pattern repeated hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible, especially in narrative texts like Genesis, Exodus, and the Historical Books.
Construct Chains and Word Pairs
The phrase עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה illustrates a form of construct relationship, albeit interrupted by a preposition. In other verses, Hebrew regularly uses construct chains to express possession or specification, e.g., “the servant of the king” would be עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ.
In Genesis 2:7, although not a formal construct chain, we can note:
- עָפָר (“dust”) is semantically dependent on הָאֲדָמָה (“the ground”).
- The structure “dust from the ground” reflects possession or origin.
Theological and Linguistic Insights
There is a deliberate wordplay between אָדָם (“man”) and אֲדָמָה (“ground”), both from the same root א־ד־ם. This etymological relationship underscores humanity’s earthy origin, an important concept in Biblical anthropology.
Furthermore, the use of the divine name יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים at this point emphasizes the intimate, creative role of God in the formation of man, compared to the more general term אֱלֹהִים used in Genesis 1.
Exercises
- Parse and translate the following verbs from Genesis 2:8–2:9: וַיִּטַּע, וַיַּצְמַח.
- Create your own Hebrew sentence using the wayyiqtol form and a subject + object structure.
- Identify 3 examples of construct chains in Genesis chapter 2.
- Compare the wayyiqtol form to the Qatal (perfect) and Yiqtol (imperfect) forms using verbs from this verse.
- Translate this sentence into Biblical Hebrew: “And God formed a man from the dust.”
Summary
Genesis 2:7 offers a rich tapestry of grammatical features in Biblical Hebrew, including:
- The use of wayyiqtol to narrate past sequential actions.
- Construct chains and prepositional phrases to express origin and material.
- Creative wordplay with theological significance.
Mastery of these features is essential for progressing to an intermediate level in Biblical Hebrew, especially for reading narrative prose.
