Particle Affirmation¶
Summary¶
Affirmation particles express a sense of “addition to” or “affirmation of” something in a text.
Article¶
Biblical Hebrew contains three major particles that, used either individually or in combination, express an “affirmation of” or “addition to” some aspect of the text. These particles can have a scope as narrow as a single word or phrase, or as broad as an entire sentence or paragraph.
אַף¶
This word is flexible in meaning; sometimes it appears to function more like a Conjunction and sometimes more like an Adverb. This word does not have a single translation value, but must be translated with great sensitivity to its context. In English, אַף is often translated with a family of different words, including “also”, “even”, “only”, “truly”, and/or other terms that can convey the general concepts of affirmation or addition. Sometimes it is left untranslated, in instances where there is no satisfactory way to communicate the sense of the word as used in its specific context.
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יִ֝תְרוֹעֲע֗וּ אַף־יָשִֽׁירוּ |
yithro’a’u ‘af-yashiru |
They-shout-for-joy yes_they-sing. |
They shout for joy, and they sing. |
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אַף־אֲנִי֙ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֔י |
wayyomer ‘el-yosef ‘af-‘aniy bahalomi |
and-he-said to_Joseph also_I in-my-dream |
he also said to Joseph, “I also had a dream |
אַף־עַל־זֶ֭ה פָּקַ֣חְתָּ עֵינֶ֑ךָ |
‘af-‘al-zeh paqahta ‘enekha |
Even_on_this you-open your-eyes |
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גַּם¶
Like אַף, this word appears to function sometimes more like a Conjunction and sometimes more like an Adverb. This word does not have a single translation value, but must be translated with great sensitivity to its context. In English, גַּם is often translated with a family of different words, including “also”, “indeed”, “even”, and/or other terms that can convey the general concepts of affirmation or addition.
גַּם־בָּר֖וּךְ יִהְיֶֽה |
gam-barukh yihyeh |
Indeed_blessed he. |
Indeed, he will be blessed. |
מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־גָּ֥בְרוּ חָֽיִל |
maddua’ resha’im yihyu ‘othqu gam-gavru hayil |
Why wicked live become-old yes_become-mighty power? |
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גַּם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ גַּ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ |
gam-‘anahnu gam ‘asher-nimtsa haggavia’ beyado |
both_we and who it-was-found the-cup in-his-hand |
both we and the one in whose sack the cup was found. |
וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ עִמָּ֖הּ וַיֹּאכַֽל׃ |
wattitten gam-le’ishah ‘immah wayyokhal |
And-she-gave also to-her-husband with-her and-he-ate. |
Then she gave some to her husband, and he ate it. |
כִּי¶
Note
כִּי is one of the most flexible words in Biblical Hebrew in terms of its meaning. It can function either as a conjunction or as a particle, with many different potential meanings. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon to confirm how the word is being used in any specific instance.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כִּֽי־אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ |
wayyomer ki-‘eheyeh ‘immakh |
And-he-said yes_I-will-be with-you. |
God replied, “I will certainly be with you.” |
אַף כִּי¶
When paired together, these two particles function as a single unit, expressing a strong sense of affirmation or addition. Again, this compound particle must be translated with extreme sensitivity to the context in order to convey its precise nuance.
אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים |
‘af ki-‘amar ‘elohim |
really_has-said God |
has God really said |
אִם (after oath formulas)¶
When the word אִם follows oath formulas, it functions as an affirmation particle to strengthen the force of the oath, either negatively (as אִם alone) or positively (as אִם־לֹא).
חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה |
he far’oh ‘im-tetse’u mizzeh |
life-of pharaoh if_you-will-go-out from-this |
by the life of Pharaoh, you will not leave here |
חַי־אָ֨נִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֕א |
hay-‘aniy ne’um-yehwah ‘im-lo |
alive_I saying-of_Yahweh if_not |
‘as I live,’ says Yahweh, ‘(…) I will |