# Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar/165. Final Clauses

Layout 2
a 1. Like most of the dependent clauses hitherto treated, the final clause may also be joined by a simple wāw copulative to the main clause, unless the final clause is directly subordinated to the governing verb.
Examples of the connexion: (α) of a final imperfect (or jussive?) with a perfect by means of וְ, La 1, see § 107 q; with an interrogative sentence, 2 S 9, 3, Jb 38; with an optative, ψ 51; with an imperative, 1 K 11; (β) of a cohortative with an imperative by וְ, Gn 29, 1 S 15, or a jussive, Neh 2 (§ 108 d); (γ) of a jussive with an imperative by וְ, Ex 9, 2 S 16, 1 K 5, ψ 59, 86; with a jussive, Jb 21, or cohortative, § 109 f, g (cf. also 2 S 24 the infinitive with לְ, Jon 1 מָה with the 1st plur. imperf., and 2 Ch 29 עִם־לְבָבִי, which are equivalent to cohortatives); (δ) of an imperative with a jussive, cohortative, or interrogative sentence by וְ, § 110 i; (ε) of a perfect consecutive after another perfect consecutive, Lv 14; after an imperfect, § 112 m and p; similarly after a jussive, § 112 q; after an imperative, § 112 r.—On negative final clauses joined by וְלֹא to the imperfect (so Ex 28, 30; and 2 S 13 after אַל־נָא with a jussive in the main clause) see the Rem. on § 109 g. In Ex 28, 39 the negative final clause is simply connected by לֹא.—On the use of an historical statement after verbs of command​ing, where we should expect a final clause (e.g. Neh 13 then I commanded, and they cleansed, equivalent to that they should cleanse, and they cleansed; in Jb 9 a negative final clause is connected in this way by וְלאֹ), cf. § 120 f.
For examples of the direct subordination of the final imperfect (without וְ) see § 120 c.
b 2. Final conjunctions are לְמַ֫עַן אֲשֶׁר to the end that; also simply לְמַ֫עַן Gn 12, 27, Ex 4, ψ 51, &c.; בַּֽעֲבוּר אֲשֶׁר prop. for the purpose that, Gn 27, and simply בַּֽעֲבוּר Gn 27, Ex 9, 20; also the simple אֲשֶׁר Dt 4, 40, 6:3, 32:46, Jos 3, Neh 8 f.; negatively, אֲשֶׁר לֹא Gn 11, 24, 1 K 22; or שֶׁ ּ Ec 3; also negatively, עַל־דִּבְרַת שֶׁלֹּא for the matter (purpose) that ... not, Ec 7; לְבִלְתִּי with imperfect, Ex 20, 2 S 14 that ... not.—Quite exceptional is the use of מִן־ (if the text be right) in Dt 33 מִן־יְקוּמוּן, with the imperfect, equivalent to that ... not [in prose, מִקּוּם].
c Rem. All the conjunctions here mentioned are naturally always used with the imperfect, see § 107 q (on the apparent exception in Jos 4, see § 74 g).—On the negative conjunctions אַל and פֶּן that not, lest, see § 152 f and w. On the infinitive with לְ (also לְמַ֫עַן Gn 18, 37, &c.) as the equivalent of a final clause (Gn 11, 28, &c.), see § 114 f, h, p. On the continuation of such infinitival constructions by means of the finite verb, see § 114 r. On the negation of the final infinitive by לְבִלְתִּי, § 114 s. On the preposition מִן with a substantive or infinitive as the equivalent of a negative final clause (Gn 31, 1 S 15, &c.), see § 119 x and y.
* ↑ Cf. H. G. T. Mitchell, Final Constructions of Biblical Hebrew, Leipzig, 1879.
* ↑ In Ez 36 a final clause is introduced by אֵת אֲשֶׁר, thus at the same time taking the form of an object-clause.
* ↑ On לְ as a supposed conjunction (equivalent to the Arabic li) 1 K 6, see § 66 i.