(03-20-2019, 07:19 AM)Jason Wrote: ... the first verse of the three loses its independence. An infinitive absolute is necessarily dependent on another verb to complete its sense, since the infinitive absolute generally provides a temporal standpoint from to frame the main verb. ...Thank you, Jason. I have long favored this alternative translation of Gen 1,1-3. My grasp of Hebrew is rudimentary, but I wonder whether there might be an additional grammatical support for this interpretation.
I would take verse 2, which has what we call a qāṭal verb form (as opposed to a wayyiqṭol). Such forms are normally used to provide background information and should not be taken as part of the story line. The story is carried forward with wayyiqṭol forms, which we have starting in verse 3. ...
it seems to me that both verse 1 and verse 2 provide background information for verse 3, which is the real beginning of the story. ...
I have the vague impression that the use of an initial noun or noun phrase preceding the verb (in both 1,1 & 1,2) in a narrative also may indicate that these are subordinate clauses preceding the main verb in 1,3. Is there any truth to this?