Lesson 4 | Types of Offline Clauses
[1] Finding Offline Clauses
Now that you know the difference between mainline and offline clauses and can identify mainline clauses in narrative, it is time to dive into the particulars of offline clauses. The water is deep, but you have all the necessary equipment to swim safely!
There are three basic types of offline clauses: those that begin with asyndeton, those that begin with a non-prefix connecting word, and those that begin with a vav. (And remember, to be an offline clause, the vav may be attached to anything except a mainline verb.)
Here are several examples. This isn’t a complete or exhaustive list, but it will help familiarize you with common offline clauses. And fret not: you don’t need to memorize these categories.
Asyndeton
Verb
In the text hierarchy below, the imperative begins a new paragraph in Moses’ commands to the people of Israel. Note that a verb without vav doesn’t have to be a finite verb as it is here; it could be a participle or an infinitive-construct or infinitive-absolute.
Noun
The second and third clauses unpack the command in 3a, the first of which is clearly offline since it begins with a simple noun. (We know the second is offline as it fits in the third category below.)
Non-Prefix Connecting Word
Conjunction
This could be any conjunction besides vav, but כִּי is the most common.
Relative Pronoun
The relative pronoun introduces a clause that explains something in the previous clause. Here, it refers back to הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ.
ל + Infinitive
There are two major uses of a ל + infinitive-construct: a complementary infinitive, where the infinitive is completing the idea of a verb that precedes it, and a purpose infinitive. The former should not be divided, and the latter should.
In the verse below, the first infinitive, לְיִרְאָ֖ה, is completing a single verbal idea begun with וְלָ֣מְד֔וּ. The second infinitive, לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ, is giving the purpose of the participle עֹבְרִ֧ים.
Vav (Plus Anything Except a Mainline Verb)
Verb
The ו + imperfect and sequential-perfect verbs in 4c and d continue the instruction that began with the asyndeton + participle in the first clause of the direct speech.
Interjection
God doesn’t just describe his people as “hard of neck”; he introduces this description with וְהִנֵּ֥ה, drawing attention to this characteristic.
Negative Adverb Before a Verb
The וְלֹֽא at the beginning of 6b shows that 6a and b aren’t two steps forward in the narrative, but that the second is a clarification of the event in the first.
Personal Pronoun
31a contains a fourth imperative verb, but attention is drawn to it compared with the previous three by its beginning with וְאַתָּ֗ה. In contrast with the children of Israel, who are to go to their tents, Moses is to remain in God’s presence.
Noun
Deuteronomy 11:11a indicates contrast, much like וְאַתָּ֗ה in 5:31a above, by beginning with the vav + noun וְהָאָ֗רֶץ.