Hebrew Form Guide

בָּאָ֣ה (bā·’āh) in Jonah 1:3: Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular

בָּאָ֣ה (bā·’āh) in Jonah 1:3

Source Word

בָּאָ֣הbā·’āhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular

At Jonah 1:3, the source token בָּאָ֣ה is H935, V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

Bound expresses the participle's contextual travel direction more naturally than a wooden coming ship. Jonah finds a ship whose route appears perfectly suited to his plan, yet providential convenience is not evidence of divine approval.

How To Communicate It

Show how feminine agreement identifies the ship and caution readers against equating available opportunity with guidance.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not read bound as divine endorsement of Jonah's destination or make the participle a promise of safe arrival.
  • The verb broadly means come or go; the ship and Tarshish phrase yield the English destination sense.
  • Read bound within Jonah 1:3 as this H935 occurrence; broader theology requires the passage.

What Does The Label Mean?

Profile

Hebrew-verb

Part of Speech

Verb

Form Label

Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular

Stem

Qal

Aspect

Prtcpl

Person

Not applicable

Gender

Not applicable

Number

Not applicable

State

Not applicable

Suffix

None

Aspect Note

The participle presents the vessel in an available, destination-oriented condition when Jonah finds it.

Verse Role

Feminine singular agreement points to the ship, while the destination phrase gives coming a travel-bound sense.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

The ship as the feminine singular vessel headed toward Tarshish

Governed By

Jonah's discovery of transport that serves his attempted flight

Role In The Phrase

The feminine singular Qal participle modifies ship and describes it as coming or bound in the Tarshish direction.

What It Is Not Doing

The participle does not describe Jonah boarding yet or guarantee that the vessel will complete its voyage.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

Moderate: Jonah finds a ship whose route appears perfectly suited to his plan, yet providential convenience is not evidence of divine approval.

Syntax Profile

Feminine singular agreement points to the ship, while the destination phrase gives coming a travel-bound sense.. The feminine singular Qal participle modifies ship and describes it as coming or bound in the Tarshish direction.. Attached to the ship as the feminine singular vessel headed toward Tarshish. Governed by Jonah's discovery of transport that serves his attempted flight. The participle does not describe Jonah boarding yet or guarantee that the vessel will complete its voyage.

Reader Question

What is described as bound for Tarshish? The feminine participle agrees with the ship Jonah finds, characterizing its route rather than Jonah's action.

Translation Effect

Direct: Bound expresses the participle's contextual travel direction more naturally than a wooden coming ship.

Where Caution Is Needed

The verb broadly means come or go; the ship and Tarshish phrase yield the English destination sense. Participial description gives current orientation, not certainty that the voyage will reach port.

Fallacies To Avoid

Convenient transport proves providential approval: The Lord's prior command already judges Jonah's chosen direction. participle guarantees completed travel: The form describes the ship when found; the storm prevents the planned journey.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

At Jonah 1:3, the source token בָּאָ֣ה is H935, V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.

Lexical Identity

בּוֹא is the lemma behind bound here. Within Jonah 1:3, H935 retains this exact lexical identity.

Grammar In Context

Feminine singular agreement points to the ship, while the destination phrase gives coming a travel-bound sense.

Passage Meaning

Jonah finds a ship whose route appears perfectly suited to his plan, yet providential convenience is not evidence of divine approval.

Canonical Fit

An open path can still serve disobedience, so circumstances must be tested by God's revealed command.

Communication Use

Show how feminine agreement identifies the ship and caution readers against equating available opportunity with guidance.

Do Not Derive

Do not read bound as divine endorsement of Jonah's destination or make the participle a promise of safe arrival.