:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/pronoun_indefinite.rst

.. _pronoun_indefinite:

Pronoun Indefinite
==================

Summary
-------

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person(s) or thing(s) in general but not to any specific person or thing in
particular.  In English, they are usually translated as "whoever” (in reference to persons) or "whatever" (when referring to
things).

Article
-------

Biblical Hebrew contains two indefinite pronouns, the pronoun מִי (in reference to persons) and the pronoun מָה
(in reference to things). These pronouns can also as :ref:`interrogative pronoun<pronoun_interrogative>`, especially when they
appear at the beginning of a clause/sentence. However, this is not a universal rule; the specific use of these pronouns must
always be determined from the context. Indefinite pronouns function in a sentence almost exactly like a
:ref:`relative pronoun<pronoun_relative>` (see examples below).

Form
----

Indefinite pronouns do not change their form based on number, gender, or person. However, the vowels can change depending on the
vocalization of the word immediately following the pronoun.

Examples
--------

Personal indefinite pronoun (מִי)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 7:3

  מִֽי־יָרֵ֣א
  **mi**-yare
  **Who**\ \_fears
  **Whoever** is afraid

.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 32:26

  מִ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י
  **mi** layhwah 'elay
  **Who** to-Yahweh to-me.
  "**Whoever** is on Yahweh's side, come to me"

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 21:26

  לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי **מִ֥י** עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה
  lo yada'ti **mi** 'asah 'eth-haddavar hazzeh
  Not I-know **who** did [dir.obj]\_the-thing the-this.
  I do not know **who** has done this thing.

.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 32:33

  מִ֚י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטָא־לִ֔י
  **mi** 'asher hata-li
  **Who** which sinned\_to-me
  **Whoever** has sinned against me

.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 10:18

  מִ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָחֵ֔ל לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן
  **mi** ha'ish 'asher yahel lehillahem bivne 'ammon
  **Who** the-man which begins to-fight with-sons-of Ammon?
  **Who** is the man who will begin to fight the Ammonites?

Impersonal indefinite pronoun (מָה)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 20:4

  מַה־תֹּאמַ֥ר נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ
  **mah**-ttomar nafshekha we'e'eseh-llakh
  **What**\ \_you-say my-soul and-I-will-do\_for-you.
  "**Whatever** you say, I will do for you."

.. csv-table:: Example: NUM 23:3

  מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ
  **mah**-yyar'eni wehiggadti lakh
  **What**\ \_he-shows-me and-I-will-tell to-you.
  **Whatever** he shows me I will tell you.

.. csv-table:: Example: ECC 3:15

  מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא
  **mah**-shehayah kevar hu
  **What**\ \_which-exists already it
  **Whatever** exists has already existed