Job 31:1 in Hebrew
בְּ֭רִית כָּרַ֣תִּי לְעֵינָ֑י וּמָ֥ה אֶ֝תְבֹּונֵ֗ן עַל־בְּתוּלָֽה׃
Introduction to the Verse
Job 31:1 contains an example of a cohortative verb, which expresses desire, intention, or resolve. The key verb to examine is אֶתְבֹּונֵן (ʾetbōnēn), which appears in the cohortative form.
Understanding the Cohortative Form
1. Definition of the Cohortative
– The cohortative is a first-person verb form used to express intent, desire, determination, or self-motivation.
– It is common in prayers, personal declarations, and resolutions in the Hebrew Bible.
2. אֶתְבֹּונֵן (ʾetbōnēn) – “Shall I consider?”
– The verb אֶתְבֹּונֵן comes from the root בִּין (bīn), meaning “to understand, consider, pay attention to.”
– The form אֶתְבֹּונֵן is a hitpaʿel (reflexive) cohortative, indicating self-reflection or internal contemplation.
– The prefixed אֶ- (ʾe-) indicates the first-person singular (I).
3. How the Cohortative Functions in This Verse
– The use of the cohortative suggests a rhetorical question:
– “Why should I even consider looking?”
– Job is not merely stating a fact but expressing a strong resolve against doing so.
The Cohortative in Biblical Hebrew Syntax
1. Common Uses of the Cohortative
– Used in self-imposed resolutions (e.g., Genesis 18:27 – “Let me speak”).
– Appears in prayers and requests (e.g., Psalm 55:7 – “Oh, that I might wander far away!”).
– Expresses deliberate personal decisions (e.g., Isaiah 1:18 – “Let us reason together”).
2. Comparison with Other Verb Forms
– Cohortative (אֶתְבֹּונֵן): Expresses self-motivation or intent.
– Yiqtol (אֶתְבּוֹנֵן): Would express a general or habitual action (e.g., “I consider”).
– Imperative (הִתְבּוֹנֵן): Would be a command (“Consider!”).
The Role of the Cohortative in Job 31:1
The verb אֶתְבֹּונֵן in Job 31:1 is a first-person cohortative form, meaning Job is making a personal commitment not to engage in a particular action. The cohortative mood strengthens the rhetorical force of his statement, making it a deliberate moral resolution rather than a simple observation.
This grammatical feature adds depth to the verse, showing that Job is actively restraining himself rather than merely describing a rule he follows.
