23.8 Disjunctive Vav

In this course, we have talked about the CONjunctive Vav. This is a Vav that is prefixed to a verb and serves to link the narrative and move it forward in some fashion.

When a Vav is prefixed to a non-verb, it is called a DISjunctive Vav. As the name implies, it indicates some kind of break or tangent in the narrative. There are four primary ways a disjunctive Vav is used, as illustrated by the verses below.

• Parenthetical use: וְהֵם
  • וְהֵם לֹא יָדְעוּ כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינֹתָם
  • (Now) They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them (Gen 42:23)
  • A parenthetical comment to explain why Joseph’s brothers believed they could speak freely
• Circumstantial use: וְאֵין
  • וַיְהִי כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתּוֹ וְאֵין אִישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת שָׁם בַּבָּיִת
  • Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside (Gen 39:11)
  • Here we have a break in the narrative, in this case, to provide vital information to set up the circumstances of the attempted seduction and subsequent imprisonment of Joseph
• Contrastive use: וְאֶל
  • וַיִּשַׁע יְהוָה אֶל־הֶבֶל וְאֶל־מִנְחָתוֹ׃ וְאֶל־קַיִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה
  • And Adonai had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (Gen 4:4b-5a)
  • Often translated “but”
  • This contrasts Adonai’s reponse to the two men’s offerings
• Introductory use: וְהַנָּחָשׁ
  • וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים
  • Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made (Gen 3:1)
  • A new theme or idea; sometimes an entirely new narrative
  • In this example, we move from the creation narrative to the temptation narrative

As you read, when you see a ו attached to a non-verb, pay attention! The author is trying to tell you something important.