The לְ + infinitive construct in Biblical Hebrew is a grammatical engine of purpose, distilling intent, direction, and divine teleology into compact verbal expressions. Whether following verbs of motion (“Moshe returned to plead”), volition (“they wanted to return”), or covenantal declarations (“to be My people”), this construction articulates the “why” behind actions with clarity and elegance. It even adapts to negative contexts through בִּלְתִּי, marking prohibited outcomes. Ubiquitous across genres, the לְ + infinitive form is not just syntactic—it’s theological shorthand for divine intention and human response, anchoring biblical narrative in purpose-driven grammar.
Defining the Construction: לְ + Infinitive Construct
In Biblical Hebrew, the preposition לְ prefixed to the infinitive construct serves to express purpose, aim, or intended result. This syntactic pairing is one of the most common uses of the infinitive in the Hebrew Bible and serves as a key feature of teleological expression in biblical narratives, commands, prayers, and covenantal language.
The לְ + infinitive construct may follow verbs, nouns, or stand independently, but always retains a core semantic function: indicating why an action is performed or what outcome is intended.
Purpose Following Verbs of Motion
The most frequent environment for this construction is after verbs of movement, where the infinitive with לְ expresses the goal of the motion.
וַיָּשָׁב מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לְהִתְחַנֵּן (Deuteronomy 3:23)
“Then Moshe returned to YHWH to plead.”
The infinitive לְהִתְחַנֵּן identifies the purpose of Moshe’s return. This usage is structurally simple and semantically precise, emphasizing deliberate action.
Stated Purpose in Legal and Ethical Contexts
In legislative passages, the infinitive with לְ serves to clarify the rationale behind commandments.
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי… לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָם (Leviticus 18:4)
“And you shall keep My statutes… to do them.”
Here, לַעֲשֹׂת functions to underscore obedience not just in memory but in performance. The infinitive is the semantic complement of covenantal loyalty.
Infinitive with לְ after Nouns of Purpose
Occasionally, the infinitive follows a noun with inherent purpose (e.g., “call,” “mission”), forming a non-verbal clause.
וַיְהִי קוֹל לַעֲנֹות (Isaiah 30:29)
“And there was a sound to sing.”
The infinitive expresses the content or purpose of the sound, showing how לְ + infinitive can describe goal even outside of verbal predicates.
Volition and Mental Intention
The infinitive with לְ often follows verbs of volition or mental activity, expressing the speaker’s or actor’s goal.
אָנֹכִי הָלַכְתִּי לִקְרָאתְךָ (Numbers 22:32)
“I came out to meet you.”
Although simple, the infinitive לִקְרָאתְךָ defines the purpose of motion and implies volitional directionality.
Infinitive with לְ in Preventive or Negative Purpose
When combined with negative particles (especially בִּלְתִּי), the לְ + infinitive construct expresses prevented outcomes or prohibited intentions.
שָׁמֹר פֶּן־תִשְׁכַּח אֶת־יְהוָה (Deuteronomy 6:12)
While the infinitive is not explicit in this case, elsewhere it may occur in similar warnings:
בִּלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה (Genesis 39:9)
“How could I do this great evil and not do this thing against God?”
Here, בִּלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת marks a negative purpose — the avoidance of a sinful act. The לְ is latent within בִּלְתִּי as part of the construction.
Stylistic Register and Frequency
The לְ + infinitive appears in nearly every genre of Biblical Hebrew: narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic. It is among the most grammatically versatile tools for indicating purpose.
| Function | Typical Verb Environment | Infinitive Example |
|---|---|---|
| Goal of Motion | שׁוּב, בּוֹא, יָצָא | לָבוֹא, לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת |
| Result of Command | שָׁמַר, עָשָׂה | לַעֲשׂוֹת, לִשְׁמֹר |
| Expressing Intention | רָצָה, אָמַר, זָכַר | לַעֲנוֹת, לִשְׁאֹל |
| Prevention or Prohibition | בִּלְתִּי + Infinitive | בִּלְתִּי דַבֵּר |
Theological Use in Covenant Promises
Infinitives with לְ express divine intention, particularly in covenantal passages where YHWH declares His purpose toward Israel.
וְהָיִיתֶם לִי לְעָם… לִהְיוֹת לִי לֵאלֹהִים (Jeremiah 11:4)
“And you shall be My people… to be a God to them.”
The infinitives לִהְיוֹת and לְעָם encapsulate divine purpose. This structure is the theological bedrock of biblical teleology: YHWH acts in order to shape a people for Himself.
Teleology and Grammatical Economy
The לְ + infinitive construct achieves much with little. It succinctly expresses cause, intent, and forward momentum. This syntactic economy allows biblical prose and poetry to remain terse yet teleologically rich.
Its prominence in divine speech underscores its role in theological discourse: YHWH speaks not only what is to happen but why. The infinitive with לְ encodes that “why” with clarity, power, and formal elegance.
