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Dependent Clauses Before we can discuss dependent clauses, we need to

review some English grammar.

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Dependent Clauses A sentence is composed of a subject and a predicate.

A subject can be a modified or unmodified noun, proper noun, or pronoun; it’s what the sentence is about.

A predicate is basically the rest of the sentence; it may be a description of the subject and/or the action of the subject. At minimum, it’s a verb.

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Dependent Clauses Example:

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The ball is red, white, and blue.

Subject Predicate

He rode his bicycle around the block.

Dependent Clauses An independent clause is also known as a main clause

or a superordinate clause.

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it has a subject and a predicate.

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Dependent Clauses A dependent clause is a group of words that can not

stand alone as a complete sentence even though it has a subject and a verb.

A dependent clause may be a(n):

Adverbial clause;

Adjectival clause;

Noun clause.

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Dependent Clauses In this lesson, we will be focusing on adverbial and

adjectival dependent clauses.

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Dependent Clauses Adjectival dependent clauses begin with a relative

pronoun such as:

Which

That

Who

Whom

Whose

These are signaled by the Hebrew relative pronouns: רש א or the prefix ש .

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Dependent Clauses Example of adjectival dependent clause:

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The bicycle that she bought from her cousin is blue.

Subject Predicate

Relative Clause

Dependent Clauses The adverbial dependent clause begins with a

subordinating conjunction such as: If When Because

Hebrew subordinating conjunctions include:

יכ when, because םא if רש כ א like, as, according to, when ע רש אןי because

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Dependent Clauses Sometimes you will see םאיכ

used together; it is usually translated a few ways:

But

Yes, if

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Dependent Clauses Example of adverbial dependent clause:

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When you finish your homework, you can play.

Adverbial clause

Dependent Clauses When a dependent clause is used with a qatal (perfect

verb), it is giving relative past background information.

Often these verbs can be translated with a past perfect form (had + past participle); however, there are times when a present perfect form (have/has + past participle) is more appropriate because although the action took place in the past, it still has an affect in the present.

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Dependent Clauses There are also times when a qatal in a dependent

clause can be considered a “prophetic perfect.”

It’s as if God is showing His intention of something being completed, but it’s manifestation will take place in the future.

It may be appropriate to translate these as a present perfect.

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Dependent Clauses When a dependent clause is used with a yiqtol

(imperfect verb), it is giving non-past background information. Use context to determine if the translation should be present or future tense.

Until you learn verbs in more detail, retain this information for

future reference.

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Dependent Clauses The following are examples of dependent clauses:

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Dependent Clauses Ecclesiastes 1:3

עמלש ש מש הת חת י

which he toils under the sun

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Dependent Clauses Ecclesiastes 1:9

הש א ו הה י ה ש ־מה י הי

That which has been (it) is what will be

־מהו הש י ע ש א ו ההש ענ ש

That which is done (it) is what will be done

ש מש הת חת ש ד ח ־כ לןואי

And there is nothing new under the sun

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Dependent Clauses Genesis 1:7

ל ןב יוי בד קת חמת ר ש אםהמ י עיל ר

And divided (between; asunder) the waters which were under the firmament

ןיב ו ק למע ר ש אםהמ י עיל ר

From the waters which were above the firmament

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Dependent Clauses Genesis 2:3

ומלאכת ־מכ לבתש וביכ

because in/on it he had rested from all His work

א־רש א תוש לעיםאלהב ר

which God had created and made

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Dependent Clauses Genesis 15:17

ה א ל היםהג ז רןב יע בררש א

that passed between those pieces

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Dependent Clauses Ezekiel 45:13

ו מית ר ר ש אה מ ו הת רזאת

This is the offering that you shall offer…

Ezekiel 48:29

ש לה ל חמנ ו לית פ ־רש אץרה א זאת י ב א ש י לר

This is the land which you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel

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Dependent Clauses Genesis 1:25

וויכ יםאלהראוי

and God saw that (it was) good

Leviticus 10:12

ה ואיםש ק ד ש דק יכ

For it (fs; referring to the grain offering) is most holy (holy of holies)

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Dependent Clauses Leviticus 14:34

עץרא אלו ת באיכ ןכ נ

When you come into the land of Canaan

ר ש א הז חלאםל כןנתיאנ

Which I give you as a possession

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Dependent Clauses Genesis 8:21

תייש ע ר ש כ אי ח־כ ל־אתת ולהכ ד ועףאסולא

Nor will I again any more destroy every living thing asI have done.

Exodus 12:28

׃ו ש ע ןכ ןואהר ה ש מ־אתהיהו ה ו צרש כ א

As Yehovah commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

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Dependent Clauses Proverbs 1:11

ו נאת לכ הו יאמר־םא

If they say, “Come with us...”

Ecclesiastes 10:4

ך ע ליהת על ל ש והמ חו ר־םא

If the spirit of the ruler rises against you

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Dependent Clauses Esther 2:15

ריאמ ר ש א־אתםא יכ

but what was advised

Proverbs 2:3

אה נ ילב םא יכ ןת ת נ ה ו לת בתקר

Yes, if for knowledge you cry out and for discernment call aloud

Sometimes your translations need to allow for a bit of latitude to make sense in English

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Dependent Clauses Biblical Hebrew A Compact Guide, Miles Van Pelt,

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 2012.

Biblical Hebrew An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 1992.

Learning Biblical Hebrew A New Approach Using Discourse Analysis, B.M. Rocine, Smyth & HelwysPublishing, Inc., Macon, Georgia, copyright 2000.

Hebrew lessons compiled by: Beth C. Mehaffey

https://holyhiway.wordpress.com

Contact: betmeh2 at gmail.com

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