1 Definition: A clause contains a subject and predicate and functions within a compound or complex sentence. A clause can be participial, adverbial, adjectival, conditional, etc. depending on its function in a sentence.
2 Indicators:
2.1 Hebrew accents:
2.2 Coordinating conjunctives: and, or, nor, for, neither...nor, either...or, both...and, not only...but also.
2.4 Note that Hebrew liberally uses “waw-conversive” or “waw-consecutive” syntax.
3 Classification:
3.1 Noun clause - is a subordinate clause that functions as a noun.
3.2 Relative clause - is usually marked by the use or a relative pronoun or relative adverb and is used in the predicate in place of a substantive or to modify a previously used substantive. [e.g., The rabble who were among them had greedy desires.}
3.3 Adverbial clause - functions as an adverb. [e.g., God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.]
3.3.1 Circumstantial - describes the circumstances under which the action of the main clause occurs. [e.g., Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?]
3.3.2 Temporal - introduces an aspect of time or concessive action into the sentence. [e.g., When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king...]
3.3.3 Conditional - is one of the two clauses, the protasis, or apodosis, that make up a conditional sentence. [e.g., I will not let you go unless you bless me.]
3.3.4 Purpose - indicates the purpose of the action of the main clause. [e.g., And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.]
3.3.5 Result - is formed with the subjunctive to indicate the result of the action of main clause. [e.g., their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together]
3.3.6 Concessive - is a conditional clause that concedes the notion of a previous point. [e.g., But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him].
3.3.7 Causal - gives the reason or cause for the action expressed by the verb in the main clause of the sentence. Words like "because" or "since" are typically used to introduce a causal clause. [e.g., Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.]
3.3.8 Restrictive - limits the clause it modifies. [e.g., the people who followed Omri prevailed.]
3.4 Miscellaneous clauses
3.4.1 Adversative clause - expresses opposition or contrast [e.g., I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved]
3.4.2 Equational clause - expresses a feature of its subject (usually contains a subject complement and copula) [e.g., he is a prophet]
3.4.3 Existential clause - expresses the real or imagined existence of something/one [e.g., there was a prophet]
4 Identify and classify the constituent phrases (e.g., prepositional, participial, infinitival)
5 Map the author’s development of thought by setting off each proposition, clause, or phrase on its own line. Keep each unit in the order in which it appears in the text. Note that the target language may present in a different order. (E.g. Judg 6:15– He said to Him, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? NASB; compare “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel?” TNIV)
5.1 Set the main (topic) independent clause to the margin;
5.2 Indent clauses and phrases which modify the main clause, highlighting the indicator;
5.3 Indent clauses and phrases which modify subordinate clauses, highlighting the indicator;
