Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/477

 2. The noun-clause connected by to a verbal-clause, or its equivalent, always describes a state contemporaneous with the principal action, or (when the predicate is a transitive participle) an action represented in constant duration (cf., as well as  and o), e.g.  and the two angels came to Sodom at even, , &c.; 18:1, 8, 16, 22, 25:26, , , ,  (always with a participle); with an adjectival predicate, ; with a substantival predicate, 18:27; with an adverbial predicate, 9:23. Not infrequently such a circumstantial clause indicates at the same time some contradictory fact, so that is equivalent to whereas, whilst, although, e.g., , ,  (although he was the younger);  how canst thou say, I love thee, ? , whilst mischief is in their hearts. These clauses describing a state are, however, only a subdivision of the large class of circumstantial clauses, on which see § 156.

3. As the examples given under a and b show, the syntactical relation existing between the subject and predicate of a noun-clause is as a rule expressed by simple juxtaposition, without a copula of any kind. To what period of time the statement applies must be inferred from the context; e.g.  is the true God; ;  ; ; on the other hand,   (=while) Lot was sitting; ; , i.e. I will rain. Sometimes even a jussive or optative is to be supplied as predicate, upon me be thy curse;, ,. Cf. , note.

Not infrequently, however, a connexion is established between subject and predicate (a) by adding the separate pronoun of the 3rd person singular or plural, expressly resuming and therefore strengthening the subject, or (b) (especially for the sake of a more exact specification of time) by the help of the verb. The first of these will be a compound sentence, since the predicate to the main subject consists of an independent clause.

Examples of (a): the seven good kine  are seven years;, ;  —it is a gift of God;  ; in a question,. Sometimes is used in this way to strengthen a pronominal subject of the first or second person, and at the same time to connect it with the predicate which follows, e.g.   I, even I, am he that blotteth out, &c.; 51:12; , , , , 7; in an interrogative sentence, ; in   in a -clause strengthens.