Structure and use of Relative clauses in Hebrew

Structure of Relative Clauses in Hebrew

In Biblical Hebrew, the relative word ‘asher’ (אשר) is relied upon to denote a relative clause. This word can be used to reference both people and things.
Unlike English, where the relative pronoun changes depending on its role as a subject or object, ‘asher’ remains the same regardless of the function it serves in the sentence.
The word order within a relative clause remains VSO, following the traditional sentence structure of Biblical Hebrew.

Use of Relative Clauses in Hebrew

Relative clauses in Hebrew are often used for extra detail or clarification, similarly to their use in English.
Typically, the noun that ‘asher’ modifies immediately precedes it in the sentence.
However, advanced Biblical Hebrew can often omit ‘asher’ entirely. Context and word order become crucial for identifying relative clauses in these instances.
In some cases, pronominal suffixes may replace ‘asher’ to denote possession within the relative clause.
When used with a noun in the construct state, ‘asher’ may be used to express the meaning of ‘whose’.

Examples of Relative Clauses

General Structure: ‘halakh ha-ish asher ra-iti oto’ meaning ‘The man whom I saw walked.’ Here, ‘asher’ is introducing the relative clause ‘asher ra-iti oto’.
Omission of ‘asher’: ‘ha-ish ra-iti oto’ could also mean ‘The man whom I saw.’ Here, ‘asher’ is omitted, and the relative clause is understood.
Including Possession: ‘sefer ha-ish asher-yado alav’ translates to ‘The man whose hand it is on him.’ In this case, ‘asher’ is used with a noun in the construct state to create a ‘whose’ meaning.

Understanding relative clauses will greatly improve your comprehension of Biblical Hebrew narratives and poetry. Putting them to practice will also allow greater fluency and versatility in your writing.