The infinitive absolute in Biblical Hebrew is a striking rhetorical device that intensifies verbal action with unmatched clarity and force. By repeating the root of a finite verb—such as in מוֹת תָּמוּת (“you shall surely die”) or בָּרֵךְ אֲבָרְכֶךָ (“I will surely bless you”)—it transforms ordinary statements into emphatic declarations of divine intent, ethical obligation, or prophetic urgency. Whether reinforcing commands, amplifying predictions, or heightening poetic cadence, this form transcends grammar to become a theological and stylistic signature of the Hebrew Scriptures, resonating with solemnity, certainty, and covenantal gravity.
The Power of Repetition: The Infinitive Absolute in Biblical Hebrew
The infinitive absolute is one of the most distinctive and powerful grammatical features in Biblical Hebrew. Unlike the infinitive construct, which functions syntactically within clauses to complete or modify other verbs, the infinitive absolute often operates for rhetorical and semantic effect. It can stand independently, repeat the root of a finite verb, or intensify commands, predictions, and actions. This article explores how the infinitive absolute functions to emphasize or intensify verbal action, including common patterns, canonical usages, and theological implications.
Form and Function of the Infinitive Absolute
The infinitive absolute is a non-finite verb form, often found in the Qal or Piʿel binyanim, though it also appears in others. Its hallmark is independence—it can occur outside typical syntactic roles and is used primarily to:
- Emphasize or intensify a corresponding finite verb
- Stand alone as an imperative or strong exhortation
- Indicate certainty, obligation, or emphatic duration
This form is particularly common in legal, covenantal, and prophetic contexts, where its rhetorical force enhances solemnity or urgency.
Reduplication with Finite Verbs: Certainty and Emphasis
מוֹת תָּמוּת
(Genesis 2:17)
This phrase combines the infinitive absolute מוֹת with the imperfect תָּמוּת, both from the root מות (“to die”), rendering “you shall surely die.” This is a paradigmatic example of intensification in legal or covenantal language.
בָּרֵךְ אֲבָרְכֶךָ
(Genesis 22:17)
The infinitive absolute בָּרֵךְ followed by the imperfect אֲבָרְכֶךָ (“I will bless you”) yields: “I will surely bless you.” This appears in YHWH’s covenantal promise to Avraham.
Infinitive Absolute in Negative Contexts
לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת
(Genesis 2:17)
“You shall not eat from it, for you shall surely die.” The repetition of מוֹת תָּמוּת intensifies the severity of the consequence. Even in prohibitions, the infinitive absolute reinforces certainty and threat.
Standalone Infinitive Absolute as Imperative Equivalent
שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ
(Isaiah 6:9)
In this prophetic utterance, the imperative שִׁמְעוּ is followed by the infinitive absolute שָׁמוֹעַ, meaning “hear, indeed hear.” The phrase sharpens the call to attention and often signals impending judgment.
שְׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ
(Deuteronomy 11:13)
Here, the infinitive absolute שְׁמֹעַ intensifies the following imperfect תִּשְׁמְעוּ: “If you surely listen…” It opens a major covenantal condition in Deuteronomy.
Intensification of Predictive or Judicial Declarations
שָׁמוֹר תִּשְׁמֹרוּ
(Leviticus 19:19)
“You shall surely keep my statutes.” The infinitive absolute שָׁמוֹר intensifies the call to obedience. This construction is common in prescriptive law.
וְגֵרַשְׁתִּי
(Leviticus 20:23)
While the infinitive absolute is not explicitly written, the context implies strong intensification. The verb וְגֵרַשְׁתִּי (“I will drive them out”) echoes an emphatic form akin to the idiom גָּרוֹשׁ תְּגָרֵשׁ.
Infinitive Absolute with a Different Verb: Intensifying Mood or Aspect
הָלוֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ
(2 Kings 4:29)
In this case, the infinitive absolute הָלוֹךְ precedes a finite verb הָלַכְתָּ, creating a form that suggests continuity or immediacy: “Go quickly.” Though both forms share the same root, their pairing intensifies the motion and urgency.
Theological and Discourse-Level Effects
נָתַתִּי לָכֶם
(Numbers 18:7)
“I have given to you…” While the infinitive absolute נָתוֹן is not explicitly present, the formulation implies emphatic giving in covenantal context. This pattern reinforces divine intentionality.
שָׁמוֹר תִּשְׁמֹרוּ
(Leviticus 19:19)
Reiterated here, the construction again illustrates the use of the infinitive absolute to emphasize obligation and fidelity to divine law.
Stylistic Range and Limitations
The infinitive absolute appears most frequently in Qal and Piʿel stems, less so in Hiphil and rarely in passive stems. It typically precedes the verb it intensifies but may follow or stand independently. It never takes a subject but may influence or emphasize a verbal clause. Typical environments include:
- Legal texts and stipulations
- Prophetic proclamations
- Poetic parallelisms and elevated speech
It is not used arbitrarily; its placement and root pairing must conform to fixed semantic and rhetorical functions.
The Infinitive Absolute as Verbal Intensifier Par Excellence
The infinitive absolute serves not only a grammatical but also a theological and rhetorical purpose in Biblical Hebrew. Whether warning of death (מוֹת תָּמוּת), promising blessing (בָּרֵךְ אֲבָרְכֶךָ), or urging obedience (שְׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ), it punctuates action with weight and certainty. It is a form whose sound and structure make divine speech resonate with emphasis, finality, and solemnity—hallmarks of the sacred Hebrew text.
