emphasis

Classical Hebrew employs several differing means to emphasise particular elements of discourse.

In order to suggest that an action is complete, thorough, total, certain etc. often the finite verb will be preceded by the infinitive of the same verb, giving a construction that might have a literal rendering something like: "doing he did". This form of emphasis is found 5 times in Amos three times probably emphasising the certainty of the action גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה "surely be exiled" (Am 5:5; 7:11, 17), both the others are negative, but in different ways:

9:8 לֹא הַשְׁמֵיד אַשְׁמִיד "not destroying I will destroy" (I will not completely destroy), but

3:5 וְלָכוֹד לֹא יִלְכּוֹד "catching not it caught" (it caught nothing).

This page is part of the Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos , if you have reached it as a standalone page, to view it in context, go to www.bible.gen.nz
© Tim Bulkeley, 1996-2005, Tim Bulkeley. All rights reserved.