Interrogative Sentence

Interrogative Sentence
§ 121. The interrog. sent. may be nominal or verbal. See exx. below.—The interrogation may be made without any particle, by the mere tone of voice. 2 Samuel 18:29 ‏שָׁלוֹם לַנַּעַר‎ is the child well? 2 Samuel 11:11 ‏וַֽאְַנִי אָבוֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִי‎ and shall
I go to my house? 1 Samuel 21:15 ‏חְַסַר מְשֻׁגָּעִים אָֽנִי‎ am I in want of madmen? Genesis 18:12; Genesis 27:24, Judges 14:16, 1 Samuel 16:4; 1 Samuel 22:7, 1 Samuel 22:15; 1 Samuel 25:11, 2 Samuel 9:6; 2 Samuel 16:17; 2 Samuel 19:23; 2 Samuel 23:5, 1 Kings 1:24; 1 Kings 21:7, Jonah 4:11, Son_3:3. Less frequently in neg. sent., 1 Samuel 20:9, 2 Kings 5:26, Job 2:10. Omission of the particle is most common in animated speech, as when any idea is repudiated, and particularly when pron. is expressed; cf. Judges 14:16, 2 Samuel 11:11, 2 Kings 19:11, Jeremiah 25:29, Ezekiel 20:31, Jonah 4:11.
§ 122. When a particle is used it is generally put at the head of the clause, Genesis 3:11. The simple question is oftenest made by ‏הְַ‎ (Gr. § 49). Genesis 4:9 ‏הְַשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹֽכִי‎ am I my brother's keeper? Genesis 24:58 ‏הְַתֵֽלְכִי עִם הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה‎ wilt thou go with this man? Genesis 18:17; Genesis 43:27, Genesis 43:29; Genesis 45:3, 2 Samuel 7:5.—So before ‏יֵשׁ‎ and ‏אַיִן‎; Genesis 24:23 ‏הְַיֵשׁ בֵּית אָבִיךְ מָקוֹם לָנוּ לָלִין‎ is there room for us to lodge in the house of thy father? Judges 14:3 ‏הַאֵין בִּבְנוֹת אַחֶיךָ אִשָּׁה‎ is there not a woman among the daughters of thy brethren? Genesis 43:7; Genesis 44:19, Exodus 17:7, Judges 4:20, 1 Samuel 9:11, 2 Kings 4:13; 2 Kings 10:15.—1 Kings 22:7, 2 Kings 3:11, Jeremiah 7:17.
Sometimes ‏אִם‎ ( = num) is used as a lively denial, or when the idea in the question is repudiated or disapproved, Judges 5:8, 1 Kings 1:27, Isaiah 29:16, Lamentations 2:20, Job 6:12, Job 6:28; Job 39:13; though in some cases the first half of a disjunctive question may be unexpressed, Amos 3:6.
§ 123. The neg. question is put by ‏הְַלֹא‎, Genesis 13:9
‏הְַלֹא כָל־הָאָרֶץ לְפָנֶיךָ‎ is not all the land before thee? Genesis 4:7; Genesis 20:5; Genesis 44:5, Exodus 14:12, Numbers 23:26, Deuteronomy 31:17. Or by ‏הַאֵין‎ when the existence of the subj, is questioned, or when the pred. is a ptcp. (§ 100d). 1 Kings 22:7, Judges 14:3 (§ 122 above), Amos 2:11, Jeremiah 7:17. Occasionally the elements of ‏הלא‎ are separated for the sake of emphasis, Genesis 18:25.
Rem. 1. The interrog. particle, pos. or neg., may be strengthened by other particles, as ‏אַף‎ Genesis 18:13, Genesis 18:24, Amos 2:11, Job 40:8, or ‏גַּם‎ Genesis 16:13.
Rem. 2. The part. ‏הְַלֹא‎ implying an affirmative answer is often = ‏הִנֵּה‎, Genesis 37:13, Deuteronomy 3:11 and often. In Chr. ‏הנה‎ is sometimes used for ‏הלא‎ of earlier Books, comp. 2 Chronicles 16:11 with 1 Kings 15:23. See 1 Chronicles 29:29, 2 Chronicles 27:7; 2 Chronicles 32:32, and Sep. ἰδού for ‏הלא‎, Deuteronomy 3:11, Joshua 1:9, Judges 6:14, Esther 10:2, cf. 2 Kings 15:21. So Ar. 'alà, which may be used with imper. Judges 14:15 is hardly to be read ‏הְַלוֹם‎ here (Targ.).
§ 124. The disjunctive or alternative question is put by ‏הְַ‎ in first clause, and ‏אִם‎ or ‏וְאִם‎ in second. Joshua 5:13 ‏הְַלָנוּ אַתָּה אִם לְצָרֵינוּ‎ art thou for us or for our enemies? 1 Kings 22:15 ‏הְַנֵלֵךְ אִם נֶחְדַּל‎ shall we go or forbear? Or if neg. by ‏אִם לֹא‎ in second clause (or ‏אִם אַיִן‎ if ‏יִשׁ‎ be in the first), Genesis 27:21 ‏הַֽאַתָּה זֶה בְּנִי אִם־לֹא‎ art thou my son or not? (cf. § 7c). Exodus 17:7 ‏הְַיֵשׁ י׳ בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ אִם־אָיִן‎ is Je. in our midst or not? Numbers 13:20.—Genesis 17:17, Judges 9:2; Judges 20:28, 1 Kings 22:6, 1 Kings 22:15, 2 Kings 20:9 (§ 41c), Amos 6:2, Isaiah 10:9, Jeremiah 2:14; Jeremiah 18:14, Job 7:12.—2 Samuel 24:13, John 1:2, Job 11:2; Job 21:4; Job 22:3, cf. Proverbs 27:24. The second half of the alternative is often merely the first in a varied form. Numbers 11:12, Job 8:3; Job 22:3. Genesis 37:8, Judges 11:25, 2 Samuel 19:35.
§ 125. The indirect interrogation is made just as the direct, with no effect upon the tense. Genesis 8:8 ‏לִרְאֹת הְַקַלּוּ הַמַּיִם‎ to see whether the waters were abated. Genesis 21:26 ‏לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מִי עָשָׂה‎ I do not know who did it. Deuteronomy 13:4 ‏לָדַעַת הְַיִשְׁכֶם אֹֽהְַבִים‎ to know whether ye love. Genesis 24:21 ‏לָדַעַת הַֽהִצְלִיהַ י׳ דַּרְכּוֹ אִם לֹא‎ to know whether Je. had prospered his way or not. Genesis 42:16; Genesis 43:7, Genesis 43:22, Judges 3:4; Judges 13:6, 1 Samuel 14:17, 1 Kings 1:20. Exx. of disjunctive sent. Genesis 37:32, Exodus 16:4, Numbers 11:23, Deuteronomy 8:2, Judges 2:22.—In the simple indirect sent. ‏אִם‎ occurs (after to see, inquire, &c.), 2 Kings 1:2, Jeremiah 5:1; Jeremiah 30:6, Malachi 3:10, Lamentations 1:12, Ezra 2:59, Son_7:13.
§ 126. The answer is usually made by repeating part of the question, or by the use of some word suggested by it. Genesis 29:6 ‏שָׁלוֹם‎... ‏הְַשָׁלוֹם לוֹ‎ is he well?... well. Genesis 24:58 ‏אֵלֵךְ‎... ‏הְַתֵֽלְכִי‎ wilt thou go?... I will go. 1 Samuel 26:17 ‏קוֹלִי‎... ‏הְַקֽוֹלְךָ זֶה בְּנִי‎ is it thy voice, my son? it is my voice. Genesis 27:24 ‏אָֽנִי‎... ‏אַתָּה זֶה בְּנִי‎ art thou my son?
I am! 2 Samuel 9:2 ‏עַבְדְּךָ‎... ‏הַֽאַתָּה צִיבָא‎ art thou Ziba? thy servant! Judges 13:11, 1 Samuel 17:58; 1 Samuel 23:11-12, 2 Samuel 2:20; 2 Samuel 9:6; 2 Samuel 12:19, 1 Kings 21:20.
To ‏הְַיֵשׁ‎ is there? &c., the pos. reply is ‏יֵשׁ‎, 2 Kings 10:15 (‏וָישׁ‎ begins the next clause, § 132, R. 2), Jeremiah 37:17; and the neg. ‏אַיִן‎, Judges 4:20. The neg. reply to ‏הַעוֹד‎ is there any more? is ‏אֶפֶס‎ no more, Amos 6:10, cf. 2 Samuel 9:3. The neg. reply to a simple question may be ‏לא‎ no, Judges 12:5, Haggai 2:12, Haggai 2:13. In Joshua 2:4 ‏כֵּן‎ = yes, and Genesis 30:34 ‏הֵן‎ = well, yes (cf. Ar. 'inna in the story Kos. Aghani, pp. 13, 14). In the reply the word that takes up the point of the question usually stands first, being emphatic. Genesis 24:23; Genesis 27:19, Genesis 27:32; Genesis 29:4, 1 Samuel 17:58.
Interrog. sentences are made also by interr. pron. (§ 7, and the exx.), and by various particles. See Rem. 6.
Rem. 1. The disjunctive question very rarely has ‏הְַ‎ in second clause, Numbers 13:1-33, Numbers 18:1-32; sometimes ‏אוֹ‎ Job 16:3; Job 38:28, Job 38:31, Malachi 1:8, Ecclesiastes 2:19; and sometimes simple ‏וְ‎ Job 13:7; Job 38:32.
Rem. 2. In animated questions particles of interr. are sometimes accumulated, Genesis 17:17 or shall Sarah—shall one 90 years old bear? Judges 14:15, Psalms 94:9; or repeated 1 Samuel 14:37; 1 Samuel 23:11; 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 5:19.
In Job 6:13, Numbers 17:13 the double ‏הַאִם‎ seems = nonne? In Nu. ‏תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹעַ‎ means we are finished dying = are all dead (Joshua 4:11, 1 Samuel 16:11, 2 Samuel 15:24), therefore: are we not dead to a man? (cf. 2 Samuel 15:27). If ‏האם‎ were a stronger form of ‏ה‎, the sense would be: are we to die (have died) to a man? but such a meaning of ‏האם‎ does not suit Job 6:13.
Rem. 3. In the forms ‏הְַכִי‎ is it that? ‏הְַלֹא כִי‎ is it not that? ‏כי‎ adds force to the question. 2 Samuel 9:1; 2 Samuel 13:28, Job 6:22, cf. Deuteronomy 32:30. Sometimes ‏הְַכִי‎ vividly posits a fact as ground for a real or supposed inference. Genesis 27:36 is it that they called his name Jacob? = well has he been called, &c.; Genesis 29:15, cf. 1 Samuel 2:27, 1 Kings 22:3.
Rem. 4. The interrogation often co-ordinates clauses when other languages would subordinate; Isaiah 50:2 why am I come and there is no man? = why, when I am come, is there, &c. 2 Samuel 12:18, 2 Kings 5:12, Isaiah 5:4, Amos 9:7, Job 4:2, Job 4:21; Job 38:35.
Rem. 5. The form of question is much used as a strong expression of declinature, repudiation of an idea, or deprecation of a consequence. Genesis 27:45, 1 Samuel 19:17, 2 Samuel 2:22; 2 Samuel 20:19, 1 Kings 16:31, 2 Chronicles 25:16, Ecclesiastes 5:5.
Rem. 6. Some other interrog. particles:
(a) Why? wherefore? ‏לָֽמָּה‎, ‏וְלָֽמָּה‎, ‏לָמָֽה‎; ‏מַדּוּעַ‎, ‏וּמדוע‎; why not? ‏לָמָּה לא‎, ‏מַדּוּעַ לא‎.—1 Samuel 19:17 ‏לָמָּה כָּכָה רִמִּיתִנִי‎ why hast thou cheated me thus? Genesis 12:18 ‏למה לא הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי‎ why didst thou not tell me? 1 Samuel 26:15, 2 Samuel 16:17; 2 Samuel 19:26. Ex. of ‏מדוע‎ Genesis 26:27; Genesis 40:7, Exodus 2:18, 1 Samuel 20:2; with neg. 2 Samuel 18:11, Job 21:4.—Ex. of ‏לָמָֽה‎ why? Genesis 27:45, Exodus 32:11 Numbers 20:4, Judges 12:3, 1 Kings 2:22. See Rem. 7.
Like the pronouns, ‏לָמָּה‎ is often strengthened by ‏זֶה‎ (but not ‏מדוע‎). Genesis 18:13 ‏לָמָּה זֶּה צָֽחְַקָה שׂ׳‎ wherefore did Sarah laugh? Genesis 25:22, Genesis 25:32, Exodus 5:22, 2 Samuel 18:22; 2 Samuel 19:43, Job 27:12, cf. Judges 18:24, 1 Kings 21:5, 2 Kings 1:5. See Rem. 8.—The simple ‏מה‎ or ‏עַל מה‎ and the like are often used in the same sense, Numbers 22:32, Isaiah 1:5, Jeremiah 9:12, Job 13:14, and all these interr. particles are used as words of remonstrance, surprise, &c., and as interjections.
(b) Where? ‏אֵי‎ (cons. of ‏אַי‎), ‏אַיֵּה‎, ‏אֵי זֶה‎, ‏אֵיפֹה‎, &c.; whither? ‏אָֽנָה‎, ‏אֵי זֶה‎; whence? ‏מֵאַיִן‎, ‏אֵי מִזֶּה‎. Genesis 4:9 ‏אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ‎ where is Abel? Deuteronomy 32:37, 1 Samuel 26:16. With suff. Exodus 2:20 ‏אַיּוֹ‎ where is he? &c. Genesis 3:9, Isaiah 19:12, Micah 7:10, Nahum 3:17.—Genesis 19:5 ‏אַיֵּה האנשׁים‎ where are the men? Genesis 18:9; Genesis 22:7; Genesis 38:21, Judges 9:38, 2 Samuel 17:20, 2 Kings 2:14.—Ex. of ‏אֵיפֹה‎ where? Genesis 37:16, 2 Samuel 9:4, Isaiah 49:21.—Ex. of ‏מֵאַיִן‎ whence? Genesis 42:7; Genesis 29:4, Numbers 11:13, Joshua 2:4, Judges 17:9, Isaiah 39:3, Job 1:7, Psalms 121:1-8.—Ex. of ‏אֵי מִזֶּה‎ whence? Genesis 16:8, Judges 13:6, 1 Samuel 25:11, 2 Samuel 1:3, 2 Samuel 1:13.—Ex. of ‏אָֽנָה‎ whither? Genesis 16:8; Genesis 37:30, 2 Samuel 2:1, Isaiah 10:3; cf. 1 Kings 22:24.
(c) How? ‏אֵיךְ‎, ‏אֵיכָה‎; ‏בַּמָּה‎ (by what? Genesis 15:8); how not? ‏אֵיךְ לֹא‎, 2 Samuel 1:5 ‏אֵיךְ יָדַעְתָּ כּי־מֵת שׁ׳‎ how dost thou know that Saul is dead? 2 Samuel 1:14 how not? Deuteronomy 18:21, Judges 20:3, 1 Kings 12:6, 2 Kings 17:28, Rth_3:18. These particles are used in remonstrance, Genesis 26:9, Jeremiah 2:23; repudiation or refusal, Genesis 39:9; Genesis 44:8, Genesis 44:34, Joshua 9:7; the expression of hopelessness, &c., Isaiah 20:6. The form ‏איכה‎ how! usually raises the elegy, Isaiah 1:21, Lamentations 2:1; Lamentations 4:1; but also ‏איך‎, 2 Samuel 1:19, 2 Samuel 1:25, 2 Samuel 1:27.
(d) How many? ‏כַּמָּה‎. 2 Samuel 19:34 ‏כמה יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיַּי‎. Genesis 47:8, 1 Kings 22:16, Zechariah 7:3, Job 13:23. Also how much? Zechariah 2:2; how long? Job 7:19, Psalms 35:17; how often? Job 21:17, Psalms 78:40, 2 Chronicles 18:15.
Rem. 7. The form ‏לָמָֽה‎ is generally used before words beginning with any of the letters ‏אהע‎, in order to avoid the hiatus, see the ex. Rem. 6a. There are some exceptions, e.g. 1 Samuel 28:15, 2 Samuel 2:22; 2 Samuel 14:31, Jeremiah 15:18, Psalms 49:5.
Rem. 8. The particle ‏אֵיפֹא‎ is likewise used to strengthen the question who? or where? &c. Genesis 27:33, Exodus 33:16, Judges 9:38, Hosea 13:10, Isaiah 19:12; Isaiah 22:1, Job 17:15; Job 19:23.