A Cognitive Linguistic Perspective on הִנֵּה in The Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth

Abstract

In a recent study, the haphazard way in which הִנֵּה is interpreted and translated has been amply illustrated. This state of affairs is considered to be symptomatic of the lack of a holistic and comprehensive description of the particle. The primary aim of this investigation is to construct a model that could be used to motivate all uses of הִנֵּה in terms of extensions from a physical gesture to concrete entities to "less concrete" uses—with some conventionalized uses associated with specific constructions. For these purposes, current descriptions of הִנֵּה are reviewed in terms of some basic insights of cognitive linguistics. The perspectives gained are then used as points of departure for constructing a model for describing instances of the particles that occur in a specific corpus of predominantly narrative texts. In the process, the following picture emerged: הִנֵּה is indeed a deictic particle. Its most generic function is to point to an entity or entities x in the immediate proximity of an observing entity or entities y. The entities x can be persons or thing. The entities, however, may also be an action, event(s), or state(s) of affairs, or the propositional content of one or more clauses. The proximity involved with concrete entities (i.e., persons and things) is typically proximity in space. With actions, events, and state of affairs proximity in time (hence the frequent use of the participle) is involved. In the case of propositional context mental proximity is involved.