לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr) in Genesis 15:1: Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Hebrew-verb

Verb

Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Lamed preposition

Qal

Infinitive construct

Not marked

Not marked

Not marked

The infinitive form expresses the verbal idea inside its phrase; the surrounding clause supplies its role.

This form carries the BSB rendering ". . ." within Genesis 15:1. Genesis 15 anchors God's covenant promise to Abram, moving from promise and faith to assurance and covenant sign.

The divine speech introduction in Genesis 15:1, where the word of the Lord comes to Abram and says, "Do not be afraid"

The prefixed lamed on a Qal infinitive construct used as a speech-introduction formula

It introduces the content of the Lord's speech rather than adding a separate theological claim of its own.

It does not create a standalone doctrine of revelation or speech; the words introduced by the formula carry the verse's message.

Moderate: The form does not carry the main promise content, but it helps readers follow the transition into direct divine speech.

Lamed-prefixed Qal infinitive construct formula. introduces the content of the Lord's speech. Attached to the word of the Lord coming to Abram. Governed by the speech frame before the direct address. The form is important for orientation but the theological emphasis rests in the speech it introduces.

What does this form help introduce? It points from the arrival of the Lord's word to the direct speech: "Do not be afraid."

Quiet: The form may not appear as a separate English word here because the translation handles it as a speech-introduction formula.

The BSB+ gloss ". . ." should be explained as a translation-display issue, not as an empty Hebrew form. Speech formulas orient readers to quoted content; they do not supply the whole meaning by themselves. The lamed infinitive formula should be interpreted with the direct speech that follows.

No English gloss means no meaning: The Hebrew formula introduces direct speech even when English does not render it separately. infinitive formula proves a doctrine of revelation: The formula frames speech; the passage and canon govern doctrine. Qal settles the nature of divine speech: The stem label identifies the form but does not carry the theological claim.

The BSB+ row for Genesis 15:1 links the English rendering ". . ." with לֵאמֹ֑ר, Strong's H559, and the morphology label Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf.

H559 is represented here by the lemma אָמַר. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering ". . ." rather than every possible gloss of the entry.

The form introduces direct speech. The BSB+ row leaves the English slot as ". . ." because the Hebrew formula may not require a separate English word in this rendering.

Genesis 15 anchors God's covenant promise to Abram, moving from promise and faith to assurance and covenant sign.

The form fits Scripture's covenant pattern in which God speaks, promises, judges, gives, and keeps his word.

When teaching Genesis 15:1, use this form to show how the Hebrew formula points into the Lord's direct address: "Do not be afraid."

Do not derive a doctrine of revelation or speech from Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf alone. The form introduces the speech that must be interpreted in context.