וּלְדָבְקָה־ (ū·lə·ḏā·ḇə·qāh-) in Deuteronomy 30:20: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
וּלְדָבְקָה־ (ū·lə·ḏā·ḇə·qāh-) in Deuteronomy 30:20
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Deuteronomy 30:20 links the English rendering "and hold fast" with וּלְדָבְקָה־, Strong's H1692, and the parsing label Conj-w, Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3fs.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The compact prefixed infinitive binds holding fast to love and obedience, so the covenant response is heard as one joined movement toward life with the Lord.
How To Communicate It
When teaching Deuteronomy 30:20, use this form to show how Hebrew joins connector, preposition, and verb into one compact form that English renders as 'and hold fast.'
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not turn the suffix label into a separate doctrine apart from the clause.
- Do not detach holding fast from love, obedience, and the Lord as Israel's life.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Qal
Infinitive construct
Third
Feminine
Singular
Conjunctive waw, preposition-l
Third feminine singular
Conjunctive waw and lamed with Qal infinitive construct and third feminine singular suffix
The infinitive form belongs to a chain of covenant response: to love, to listen, and to hold fast.
This form adds clinging loyalty to the sequence of loving the Lord and obeying his voice.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The covenant response sequence
The form belongs with the infinitive sequence after the call to love the Lord and obey his voice.
It adds the idea of clinging or holding fast to the Lord as part of covenant life. The attached conjunction and preposition explain why English reads it as another coordinated response.
The suffix label should not be turned into a separate theological claim. Context should guide interpretation and not be overridden by a grammar label.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form joins holding fast to the covenant-response chain of love, obedience, and life with the Lord.
Prefixed infinitive construct continuing a covenant-response sequence. adds clinging or holding fast as a coordinated response within the sequence. Attached to the love, listen, and hold-fast sequence. Governed by the exhortation to choose life by covenant loyalty to the Lord. The waw and lamed help English read the form as and hold fast; the covenant context supplies the theological force.
What response is added to loving and listening? Israel is called to hold fast to the Lord as part of the same covenant response.
Direct: The attached elements directly support an English rendering like and hold fast.
The attached suffix label should not be isolated from the covenant exhortation. The infinitive construct contributes to the response sequence; it is not a stand-alone doctrine of perseverance by itself. The prefixed waw and lamed are compact in Hebrew and often require smoother English wording.
Qal or infinitive form proves the whole theology of covenant perseverance: The form contributes the hold-fast action; the verse and covenant context carry the theological claim.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Deuteronomy 30:20 links the English rendering "and hold fast" with וּלְדָבְקָה־, Strong's H1692, and the parsing label Conj-w, Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3fs.
H1692 can mean to cling, adhere, cleave, or hold fast, with covenant loyalty in view when directed toward the Lord.
The prefixed waw and lamed place the infinitive in the sequence of loving, listening, and clinging.
The verse calls Israel to love the Lord, obey his voice, and hold fast to him because he is their life.
Holding fast language in Deuteronomy is part of covenant loyalty and persevering attachment to the Lord.
Teachers can show that English smooths several attached Hebrew pieces into the phrase 'and hold fast.'
Do not make the suffix label carry the theology of union or perseverance by itself. The whole covenant exhortation carries the claim.