The rhetorical question is a sentence whose meaning is that of a question, but which is used to indirectly express an assertion. This paper examines content ("WH") rhetorical questions in classical biblical prose, classifying them according to implications and communicative goals. Rhetorical questions have one of three types of implications: negative, specific, and extreme scalar implications. The content rhetorical question is found to be a versatile conversational device in the Bible, serving a variety of distinct communicative functions which operate on multiple levels. It is directly or indirectly connected to persuasion in most of its uses. The rhetorical question is in essence an intensifier, deriving its force on the higher-level of function from the implication of obviousness. In some cases, however, the choice of a persuasive form of communication rather than a more direct strategy has the effect of mitigation on the superordinate function level.

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The Biblical Hebrew clausal adverb הֲלֹא is synchronically distinct from the combination of interrogative הֲ and negative לֹא. Syntactic and pragmatic evidence confirms that הֲלֹא in some of its occurrences is non-interrogative in meaning, and exhibits the syntactic traits of a clausal adverb, rather than those characteristic of the combination of the interrogative and negative particles. The clausal adverb הֲלֹא occurs in various pragmatic contexts, including answers to questions, announcements, predictions, and, most commonly, justifications. In most of these uses, the clausal adverb הֲלֹא has a parallel in the presentational clausal adverb הִנֵּה. The present study examines the use of הֲלֹא as a discourse marker of justification in Biblical Hebrew. The justificational use of הֲלֹא is found in both poetic and prose texts, and in the classical as well as the late strata of Biblical Hebrew. Altogether, seventy-four occurrences of justificational הֲלֹא were identified. הֲלֹא can justify a preceding or a following claim. The claims justified by הֲלֹא are of various types, including direct assertions, presuppositions, and implications of rhetorical questions, directives, and oaths. In its justification of all of these types of claims, הֲלֹא can be compared to הִנֵּה. A characteristic of justificational הֲלֹא which distinguishes it from הִנֵּה is its occurrence in the middle of a three-part argument structure in which the claim is repeated for persuasive effect.

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The question-response interchange in biblical dialogue is of great linguistic as well as literary interest. In order to successfully serve purposes such as characterization and plot development, question-response interactions in a literary composition must authentically reflect the linguistic forms and conversational practices characterizing natural spoken language. The present study analyzes the linguistic characteristics and patterns of use of responses to questions in Biblical Hebrew dialogue. Its findings show that the semantics and syntax of answers to yes/no questions are closely related to the affiliation or misaffiliation of the answer with the question’s accompanying assumptions, expectations, and agendas. These associations between semantic/syntactic types and social cooperativeness, which closely resemble those found in modern spoken conversation, contribute to the authenticity of the style of biblical dialogue, and enable the question-response interaction to function effectively on the literary level.