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Interrogative Syntax and Hypothetical Conditional Structures in Wisdom Poetry
הַֽיְסֻפַּר־֭לֹו כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אִֽם־אָ֥מַר אִ֝֗ישׁ כִּ֣י יְבֻלָּֽע׃
(Job 37:20)
Shall it be told to him that I would speak? If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up.
Introduction to Job 37:20
This verse is part of Elihu’s speech, highlighting humanity’s unworthiness to speak before or about God. It consists of rhetorical and conditional clauses, structured to express fear and silence. The verse uses interrogative particles and hypothetical conditional syntax with particles such as אִם (“if”) and כִּי (“when, that, for”), illustrating the layered, poetic style of Job.… Learn Hebrew