Hebrew Form Guide

לְשַׁלְּחָ֣ם (lə·šal·lə·ḥām) in Exodus 12:33: Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

לְשַׁלְּחָ֣ם (lə·šal·lə·ḥām) in Exodus 12:33

Source Word

לְשַׁלְּחָ֣םlə·šal·lə·ḥāmPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Exodus 12:33 row 1 aligns the lamed-prefixed H7971 infinitive and plural suffix with in order to send them out at the head of the verse.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

In order to send them out exposes the purpose behind the pressure and shows Egypt moving from refusal to urgent expulsion. In order to reflects the lamed purpose construction, send out captures the contextual departure, and them directly represents the suffix referring to Israel.

How To Communicate It

Treat the infinitive as the purpose of urged, resolve them as Israel, and let the Egyptians' quoted fear explain the extraordinary urgency.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not confuse grammatical purpose with benevolent motive or overlook how judgment and fear produce the hurried release.
  • The lamed gives purpose force within the fronted phrase, while the main finite action is the Egyptians urging the people.
  • The form does not portray the release as generous, make the Israelites the agents of sending, or turn Egyptian panic into saving faith.

What Does The Label Mean?

Profile

Hebrew-verb

Part of Speech

Verb

Form Label

Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Stem

Piel

Aspect

Inf

Person

Not applicable

Gender

Not applicable

Number

Not applicable

State

Not applicable

Attached Prefixes

Lamed preposition

Suffix

Third person masculine plural

Aspect Note

The lamed-prefixed Piel infinitive construct forms a purpose expression for the Egyptians' urging, and its third-person masculine plural suffix identifies the Israelites as those to be sent out. The infinitive itself does not encode a finite subject; the surrounding clause supplies the Egyptians as agents.

Verse Role

The purpose form explains why the Egyptians press the people: they want the suffix-marked Israelites removed from the land quickly.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

The Egyptians' urgent pressure on the people after the death of the firstborn

Governed By

The rapid departure scene in which fear of further death overturns Egypt's long resistance to releasing Israel

Role In The Phrase

The purpose form explains why the Egyptians press the people: they want the suffix-marked Israelites removed from the land quickly.

What It Is Not Doing

The form does not portray the release as generous, make the Israelites the agents of sending, or turn Egyptian panic into saving faith.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The compact purpose form captures Egypt's abrupt reversal and keeps Israel as the direct object of the demanded departure.

Syntax Profile

The lamed-prefixed Piel infinitive construct forms a purpose expression for the Egyptians' urging, and its third-person masculine plural suffix identifies the Israelites as those to be sent out. The infinitive itself does not encode a finite subject; the surrounding clause supplies the Egyptians as agents.. The purpose form explains why the Egyptians press the people: they want the suffix-marked Israelites removed from the land quickly.. Attached to the Egyptians' urgent pressure on the people after the death of the firstborn. Governed by the rapid departure scene in which fear of further death overturns Egypt's long resistance to releasing Israel. The form does not portray the release as generous, make the Israelites the agents of sending, or turn Egyptian panic into saving faith.

Reader Question

Why do the Egyptians urge the people in Exodus 12:33? Their purpose is to send Israel out of the land quickly because they fear that otherwise all Egypt will die.

Translation Effect

Direct: In order to reflects the lamed purpose construction, send out captures the contextual departure, and them directly represents the suffix referring to Israel.

Where Caution Is Needed

The lamed gives purpose force within the fronted phrase, while the main finite action is the Egyptians urging the people. The suffix marks those expelled; it does not identify the Egyptians who initiate the pressure.

Fallacies To Avoid

The infinitive assigned a grammatical subject of its own when the agent must be recovered from the urging clause: Do not confuse grammatical purpose with benevolent motive or overlook how judgment and fear produce the hurried release. send them out softened into a voluntary act of hospitality or detached from the plague-driven fear stated by the Egyptians: Keep "And in order to send them" connected to לְשַׁלְּחָ֣ם, row 1, and the full Exodus 12:33 clause.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

Exodus 12:33 row 1 aligns the lamed-prefixed H7971 infinitive and plural suffix with in order to send them out at the head of the verse.

Lexical Identity

This row 1 H7971 witness describes Egypt's urgent expulsion of Israel, distinct from David's manipulative promise to send Uriah back in 2 Samuel 11:12.

Grammar In Context

The lamed-prefixed Piel infinitive construct forms a purpose expression for the Egyptians' urging, and its third-person masculine plural suffix identifies the Israelites as those to be sent out. The infinitive itself does not encode a finite subject; the surrounding clause supplies the Egyptians as agents.

Passage Meaning

Exodus 12:31-36 depicts Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently driving Israel out after judgment, while the people depart with the provisions and articles they requested.

Canonical Fit

This sending belongs to the climactic exodus from slavery and the collapse of Pharaoh's resistance; other departures must be interpreted within their own narratives.

Communication Use

Treat the infinitive as the purpose of urged, resolve them as Israel, and let the Egyptians' quoted fear explain the extraordinary urgency.

Do Not Derive

Do not confuse grammatical purpose with benevolent motive or overlook how judgment and fear produce the hurried release.