The infinitive construct in Biblical Hebrew—especially לֵאמֹר (“to say”)—functions as a syntactic bridge between verbs of speaking and reported content, offering elegant economy in narrative and legal prose. Following finite verbs like אָמַר, צִוָּה, or דִּבֵּר, לֵאמֹר introduces indirect speech without quotation marks, allowing seamless transitions and layered command hierarchies. It often appears with indirect object suffixes (e.g., לֵאמֹר לוֹ, “to say to him”) and can compress multi-tiered discourse into compact grammatical units. Beyond speech, infinitive constructs also express intention, perception, or volition (e.g., לַעֲשׂוֹת), demonstrating their versatility across cognitive and communicative domains. This construction exemplifies Biblical Hebrew’s paratactic subtlety—where voice, agency, and rhetorical flow hinge not on subordination, but on syntactic precision and morphological efficiency.
Infinitive Construct: A Core Non-Finite Verbal Form in Biblical Hebrew
The infinitive construct (infinitivus constructus) is one of two primary infinitival forms in Biblical Hebrew, alongside the infinitive absolute. Unlike the infinitive absolute, which often functions adverbially or emphatically, the infinitive construct serves a more syntactic role. It behaves much like a verbal noun and is frequently attached to pronominal suffixes or followed by prepositions. Among its many syntactic functions, one of the most significant is its use in indirect speech, particularly in narrative prose.
This usage allows Hebrew to express a speech act without quoting the speaker directly. Instead of switching to a new clause with a finite verb (e.g., “and he said”), Biblical Hebrew can compress the act of speaking into a succinct expression like לֵאמֹר אֵלָיו — “saying to him.”
Infinitive Construct Following Verbs of Speaking
The most characteristic function of the infinitive construct in indirect speech is as a complement to verbs of communication. The infinitive construct לֵאמֹר (“to say”) is nearly formulaic in Biblical Hebrew, occurring immediately after verbs like אָמַר (“to say”), דִּבֶּר (“to speak”), צִוָּה (“to command”), or שָׁאַל (“to ask”).
The basic pattern is:
- Finite verb of speaking (e.g., וַיֹּאמֶר)
- + Infinitive construct לֵאמֹר
- + Indirect object (e.g., אֵלָיו – “to him”)
This structure replaces what would otherwise be a direct quotation with a syntactically embedded clause, maintaining the focus on the speech act rather than the content.
Syntax of the Infinitive Construct with לֵאמֹר
When used in indirect speech, the infinitive construct is introduced by the preposition לְ and typically functions as the object of the main verb. The pronoun or object receiving the speech is attached to the infinitive or follows it.
Examples:
- וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־הָעָם לֵאמֹר – “Then Moshe spoke to the people, saying”
- צִוָּה יְהוָה לֵאמֹר אֵלֶיךָ – “YHWH commanded, saying to you”
This construction bridges between narrative introduction and quoted speech, and its flexibility allows a seamless flow between discourse reporting and content delivery.
Semantic Nuances: Reported vs. Direct Discourse
The use of the infinitive construct with verbs of communication often signals a shift from direct to indirect speech. This distinction is important for understanding how Biblical Hebrew manages narration and point of view.
| Construction | Function | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה + quote | Direct speech | “And YHWH said, ‘…’” |
| וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה לֵאמֹר | Indirect speech intro | “And YHWH said, saying…” |
| צִוָּה לֵאמֹר | Reported command | “Commanded to say…” |
While English often distinguishes these with quotation marks or subordinate clauses, Hebrew prefers parataxis and infinitival complements. The infinitive construct permits Hebrew to nest quotations and shift narrative voices without syntactic interruption.
Infinitive Construct with Indirect Object Pronouns
The infinitive construct may be directly followed by pronominal suffixes to express the object of the speech act. For example:
- לֵאמֹר לוֹ – “to say to him”
- לֵאמֹר לָךְ – “to say to you (fem.)”
- לֵאמֹר לָהֶם – “to say to them”
These suffixes follow the infinitive in standard order and must match the number, gender, and person of the referent. This enables Hebrew to build speech sequences economically, even when embedding multiple clauses.
Verbs That Commonly Precede לֵאמֹר
While many verbs of communication can be followed by לֵאמֹר, some are more frequent than others. Below is a summary of high-frequency constructions.
| Verb | Meaning | Usage with לֵאמֹר |
|---|---|---|
| אָמַר | to say | Very frequent |
| דִּבֶּר | to speak | Common, especially with אֶל |
| צִוָּה | to command | Frequently with indirect speech |
| שָׁאַל | to ask | Used when reporting questions |
These verbs form the grammatical backbone of speech and dialogue in Biblical Hebrew narratives, law codes, and prophecy.
Stylistic and Narrative Impact of לֵאמֹר
The use of לֵאמֹר in indirect speech serves not only syntactic purposes but also literary and stylistic ones. It allows authors to:
- Delay or introduce embedded speech smoothly
- Transition between narrative and direct speech without breaking continuity
- Attribute commands or quotations without repeating finite verbs
Moreover, its frequent use gives Hebrew narrative a rhythm and structure that supports oral transmission. The repetition of “X said, saying…” becomes a mnemonic formula for both writer and audience.
Non-Speech Uses of the Infinitive Construct
Although לֵאמֹר is the most recognizable infinitive construct in indirect speech, it’s not the only one. Other infinitive constructs may be used after verbs of perception or intention to convey purpose or reported mental content:
- וַיִּירָא מֵעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר – “And he feared to do a thing”
- חָשַׁב לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע – “He intended to do evil”
These examples demonstrate the flexibility of the infinitive construct beyond verbal speech, extending to cognitive and volitional domains.
Embedded Quotation and Syntactic Economy
One of the most powerful functions of the infinitive construct in indirect speech is its ability to embed complex discourse in a compact form. Instead of switching fully into a quotation, Hebrew can introduce a saying or command syntactically without reintroducing a subject or tense. This reduces redundancy and enhances stylistic flow.
For instance:
צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – “YHWH commanded Moshe to say to the children of Yisraʾel”
This structure allows for an elegant nesting of multiple grammatical objects (commanded → to say → to whom) within a single clause framework.
Grammatical Summary of לֵאמֹר in Indirect Speech
| Component | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive Construct | לֵאמֹר | Marks indirect speech content |
| Indirect Object | אֵלָיו, לָךְ, etc. | Recipient of speech |
| Preceding Verb | אָמַר, דִּבֶּר, צִוָּה | Initiates speech act |
| Quotation or Clause | Follows the construction | Content of speech |
Speech without Quotation Marks: Precision in the Infinitive
The genius of Biblical Hebrew’s use of the infinitive construct in indirect speech lies in its economy and clarity. With a single infinitive (לֵאמֹר), the language manages to encode reported speech, embedded dialogue, hierarchical command structures, and cognitive intention—all without relying on punctuation or modern syntactic markers.
It exemplifies Biblical Hebrew’s ability to compress meaning and facilitate seamless narrative flow, while also preserving theological, legal, and rhetorical nuance.
