Dealing with direct and indirect objects in sentences

Direct Objects in Hebrew Syntax

The Direct Object (DO) is the noun or pronoun that the verb is directly acting upon. The action of the verb is done to the direct object.
In the regular VSO word order, the direct object typically comes after the verb and subject, giving a structure of Verb-Subject-Direct Object.
For example, in “katab yishai sefer”, “sefer” (book) is the direct object. The verb “katab” (wrote) is acted upon the book.
Direct objects can be marked with the direct object marker ‘et’. This is particularly used when the direct object is definite.
- Example: “katab yishai et ha’sefer” (“Jesse wrote the book”).
Direct objects can also be pronominal suffixes attached directly to the verb.
- Example: “katabo” (“he wrote it”).

Indirect Objects in Hebrew Syntax

The Indirect Object (IO) is the noun or pronoun that indirectly receives the action of the verb. The action of the verb is done for or to the indirect object.
Biblical Hebrew does not have a separate construction for indirect objects as in English.
Instead, the indirect object is expressed by using a preposition (often le - ‘to’) before the noun or pronoun.
- Example: “natan David le’Yonatan” (“David gave to Jonathan”).
The given person or thing can also be expressed with a pronominal suffix attached to the verb.
- Example: “natanlo” (“he gave him”).
Indirect objects can sometimes be included in a double-object construction (verb + direct object + indirect object) without any preposition.
- Example: “natan David sefer Yonatan” (“David gave Jonathan a book”).

Linking Objects and Verbs

It’s important to be able to identify the root of a verb and its conjugation, to understand which noun or pronoun is the direct or indirect object.
Transitive verbs are verbs that can take a direct object, while intransitive verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. Knowing the difference can help determine if a sentence contains a direct object.
Remember that in a compound verb, the second part of the verb determines if the verb can have a direct object. For example, in the compound verb “hicil lekhtov” (“caused to write”), the verb “lekhtov” can take a direct object, but “hicil” cannot.
Prepositions are also often used to connect the verb to the indirect object, introducing a subtle distinction in meaning or emphasizing a particular aspect of the sentence.

Recognising and correctly interpreting direct and indirect objects are central to understanding Hebrew syntax. As you read and translate scripture, strive to identify the way sentences are structured and how objects are incorporated into those structures.