Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages 33/1 (2007), pp.33-53 Anne Garber Kompaoré (United Bible Societies) THE QATAL VERB FORM AND THE CONJUNCTION אוֹIN BIBLICAL HEBREW 1 ABSTRACT When the disjunctive conjunction אוֹ(or) connects two verbal clauses, the form of the verb in the second clause seems to vary according to its proximity to the conjunction. This article examines all instances of clauses coordinated by אוֹin the Hebrew Scriptures and discusses the observation that, when a verb immediately follows the conjunction, it is almost invariably a qatal form regardless of form of the verb in the preceding coordinating clause. I argue that when a qatal verb immediately follows the אוֹconjunction, it functions as a type of a default verb and that the tense and aspect of the אוֹ+ qatal verb is derived from the tense-aspect of the previous coordinate clause to which it is conjoined. This conclusion naturally leads one to reflect on how אוֹ+ qatal forms should be translated. 1. INTRODUCTION The disjunctive conjunction אוֹ(or) occurs 321 times in the Bible. This is in contrast to the thousands of occurrences of the waw, which in some cases can also be translated ‘or.’ אוֹis found most frequently in the legal texts, in particular in Leviticus – 137x, but also occasionally in narrative and prophetic texts. The conjunction is also found in rabbinic literature, especially in the context of discussions on biblical law. The conjunction אוֹ(or) can be found between adjectives, nouns and noun phrases, adverbial phrases, between verbs in verb phrases, subordinate clauses, and entire sentences. It can be found coordinating two questions, two statements, two quotes, or two or more conditions. Most frequently, it occurs between nouns and noun phrases as well as adverbial phrases. This paper focuses on those instances where the אוֹ conjunction coordinates verbs, clauses and sentences. These account for 60 of the 321 instances of the conjunction in the Hebrew Bible. The אוֹconjunction has been the subject of very little discussion in the literature. Almost all dictionaries and grammars consulted 2 have only a 1 Earlier versions of this paper were originally submitted at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, for an independent study on Leviticus, and later presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Meeting, Toronto, November 23-26, 2002. 2 See the bibliography for a list of grammars and lexicons consulted. 1