Željko Stanojević
Independent Researcher in Hebrew Linguistics and Biblical Philology
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184
Abstract
This study reexamines the function of the wayyiqtol form in Biblical Hebrew, traditionally associated with the so-called waw-consecutive construction. Moving beyond purely morphological and syntactic explanations, the paper adopts a discourse-oriented approach, focusing on the role of wayyiqtol within narrative sequencing and textual structuring.
The analysis evaluates previous scholarship, including classical grammatical interpretations and more recent linguistic models, and argues that wayyiqtol should be understood primarily as a discourse-driven form rather than as a simple tense-conversion mechanism. Particular attention is given to its function in narrative progression, clause linkage, and the organization of foregrounded events.
The study contributes to ongoing discussions in Biblical Hebrew linguistics by proposing a refined functional framework that integrates discourse analysis with traditional philological methodology.
Keywords
wayyiqtol; waw-consecutive; Biblical Hebrew; discourse analysis; Hebrew linguistics; verbal system; narrative structure; syntax
Description
This article presents a critical reassessment of the wayyiqtol construction in Biblical Hebrew, challenging the traditional understanding of the waw-consecutive as a purely grammatical or tense-related phenomenon.
Instead, the study situates wayyiqtol within a broader discourse-functional framework, examining its role in structuring narrative sequences and organizing textual information. The paper engages with both classical Hebrew grammars and contemporary linguistic approaches, offering a synthesis that emphasizes discourse dynamics over formal categorization.
By integrating philological analysis with discourse theory, the study provides a more nuanced interpretation of one of the central features of the Biblical Hebrew verbal system.
Access
Primary version (DOI):
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19352968
HCommons record:
https://works.hcommons.org/records/hym1v-57677
Academia.edu version:
https://www.academia.edu/165417658/The_Function_of_Wayyiqtol_in_Biblical_Hebrew_A_Discourse_Oriented_Reassessment_of_the_Waw_Consecutive_Construction
Citation
Stanojević, Željko. The Function of Wayyiqtol in Biblical Hebrew: A Discourse-Oriented Reassessment of the Waw-Consecutive Construction. Zenodo, 2026. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19352968