Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/129

 ''5. Construction of the Passive''

§ 79. When one obj. is governed by the act. this may become subj. of the pass., as in other languages. But frequently the pass. is used, as we say, impersonally (3 sing. mas.), and governs in the same way as the act. — the idea being that the pass. expresses an action of which the agent is unknown, or, not named. 1 K. 2:21 יֻתַּן אֶת־אֲבִישַׁגִ  let Abishag be given; Jer. 35:14 הוּקַם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי יְהוֹנָדָב  the commands of Jon. are performed; Gen. 40:20 יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת אֶת־פַּרְעֹה  the day Ph. was born (inf.). Ex. 21:28 לא יֵאָֽכֵל אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ  its flesh shall not be eaten. Gen. 4:18; 27:42, Ex. 10:8, Deu. 12:22, Jos. 9:24, 2 S. 21:6, 11, 1 K. 18:13, 2 K. 5:17, Hos. 10:6, Am. 4:2, Jer. 38:4.

§ 80. When two obj. are governed in the act. the nearer of the two usually becomes subj. of the pass., and the more remote is retained in accus. Is. 6:4 וְהַבַּיִת יִמָּלֵא עָשָׁן  and the house was filled with smoke; Ex. 1:7, Is. 2:7, 8; 38:10. Gen. 31:15 הֲלוֹא נָכְרִיּוֹת נֶתְשַׁבְנוּ לוֹ  are we not counted for strangers by him? Cf. 15:6, Is. 40:17. Mic. 3:12 צִיּוֹן שָׂדֶה תֵֽחרֵשׁ  Zion shall be ploughed into a field; Is. 6:11; 24:12. 1 K. 6:7 the house אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה נִבְנָה  was built of unhewn stones, Ezr. 5:8, cf. Deu. 27:6. — Gen. 17:11, Ex. 13:7; 25:31, Lev. 6:9, Jud. 18:11, 1 K. 7:14; 14:6 (cf. Ex. 4:28); 22:10, Ps. 80:11, Pr. 24:31. So cog. acc. Jer. 14:17.

§ 81. The connexion between the real personal agent and pass. vb. is usually expressed by prep. ל. Gen. 14:19 בָּרוּךְ לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן  blessed by God; 31:15 נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ לוֹ   we are counted by him; Is. 65:1 נִמְצֵאתִי לְלֹא בִקְשֻׁנִי  I was to be found by those who sought me not. Gen. 25:21, Ex. 12:16, Jos. 17:16, 1 S. 15:13, Jer. 8:3, Neh. 6:1. More rarely by מִן  (from, of source), Hos. 7:4 תַּנּוּר בֹּעֵרָה מֵֽאֹפֶה  an oven heated by a baker (text doubtful), Lev. 21:7; cf. Jud. 14:4,