Hebrew Modes

Example: שָׁפַט: he judged Hebrew Modes Traditional: Perfect Linguistic: qatal Form: קָטַל Example: שָׁפַט: he judged

Hebrew Modes Traditional: waw + Perfect Linguistic: waw + qatal Form: וְקָטַל Example: וְשָׁפַט: and he judged

Hebrew Modes Traditional: Imperfect Linguistic: yiqtol Form: יִקְטֹל Example: יִשׁפֹּט: he will judge

Hebrew Modes Traditional: waw + Imperfect Linguistic: waw + yiqtol Form: וְיִקְטֹל Example: וְיִשְׁפֹּט: and he will judge

Hebrew Modes Traditional: converted perfect Linguistic: weqatal Alternate name: modal Form: וְקָטַל Example: וְשָׁפַט: and he will judge Futurity determined by genre and context

Hebrew Modes Traditional: converted imperfect/ vav consecutive/vav conversive Linguistic: wayyiqtol Alternate form: Past Narrative (describes the function of the form) Form: וַיִּקְטֹל Example: וַיִּשְׁפֹּט: and he judged

The Pointing of Vav Conjunction with Verb Forms

Vav Consecutiveּ וַ Terminology Vav Consecutive Vav Conversive Wayyiqtol: וַיּקְטֹל Imperfect: yiqtol: יִקְטֹל Past Narrative

Vav Consecutiveּ וַ Attached to the front of Imperfects Expresses: The narrated past Narrates consecutive events in past time May be sequential or Consequential

Vav Conjunction A vav conjunction may be used on all verb forms, including imperfects The rules for point the vav conjunction before verb forms are the same as those for pointing it before nouns and other parts of speech

וְ before consonants with full vowels Vav Conjunction וְ before consonants with full vowels Unless these consonants are פּ, מ, or בּ Or unless they belong to the tone syllable of the word

וְכָתַבְתָּ Vav Conjunction Qal Weqatal 2FS כָתַב “he wrote” “and write” Jer. 36:2

Vav Conjunction וּ before מ ,בּ, or פּ

וּמִלְאוּ Vav Conjunction Qal Imperative 2MP מָלֵא “he was full” “fill” Genesis 9:1

וּ before all consonants with simple shevas (except , הְ, יְor חְ) Vav Conjunction וּ before all consonants with simple shevas (except , הְ, יְor חְ)

“and we may put them to death” Vav Conjunction וּנְמִיתֵם Hifil Imperfect 1CP מות “to die” 3MP Suffix “and we may put them to death” 1 Samuel 11:12

Vav Conjunction וִ before חְ, הְ, יְ

וִהְיִיתֶם Vav Conjunction Qal Weqatal 2MP הָיָה “he was, became” “and you will be” Zechariah 8:13

Vav Conjunction וָ sometimes found before the tone syllable, especially in monosyllabic words

Qal Infinitive Construct Vav Conjunction וָבֹא וְ conjunction Qal Infinitive Construct בּוֹא “to come, go” “or to come in” 1 Kings 3:7

וַ, וֶ before consonant supported by hatef-patah or hatef-segol Vav Conjunction וַ, וֶ before consonant supported by hatef-patah or hatef-segol

וַאְַכַלְתֶּם Vav Conjunction Qal Weqatal 2MP אָכַל“ “he ate” “and you shall eat” Ezekiel 39:17

Coordinate Relationship Consists of two or more verb forms linked together by means of a vav conjunction or vav consecutive The verb that stands first in such a sequence functions as the governing verb and determines both the time (past, present, or future) and the mode (indicative, subjunctive, or imperative) of the verbs linked to it.

Coordinate Relationship: A perfect as the governing verb A perfect may serve as the governing verb when it stands in sequence with another perfect or with an imperfect Perfect + Perfect Sequence Perfect + Imperfect Sequence

Perfect + Perfect Sequence The simplest form of the coordinate relationship The first perfect does not alter the time and mode of the second, since the two are already essentially alike A rare sequence

Perfect + Perfect Sequence אֶרֶץ יָרְאָה וְשָׁקָטָה Qal Perfect 3FS יָרֵא “he feared” “the earth feared”

Perfect + Perfect Sequence אֶרֶץ יָרְאָה וְשָׁקָטָה Vav Conjunction Qal Perfect 3FS שָׁקַט “he was quiet, undisturbed” “and was still”

Perfect + Perfect Sequence אֶרֶץ יָרְאָה וְשָׁקָטָה “The earth feared and was still”

Perfect + Imperfect Sequence One of the most frequently occurring verb sequences in the Hebrew Bible. A true narrative sequence Marked by the vav consecutive (ּ וַ), the special form of the conjunction linking the imperfect to its governing imperfect. The vav consecutive (ּ וַ) is used nowhere else in the Hebrew verb system except here, not even on imperfects placed in sequence with other verb forms. One rarely encounters an imperfect prefixed with a vav conjunction (וְ)

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ An imperfect prefixed with a vav consecutive (ּ וַ) will customarily be translated in past time and in the indicative mode. It may describe an action resulting from a previous action (consequence) or an action subsequent to a previous action (sequence)

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם Qal Perfect 3MS 3MP Suffix בָּרָא  “he created” “he created them”

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם Qal Vav Consecutive 3MS [בּרך] “he blessed” “he blessed them”

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם “Male and female he created them, and he blessed them”

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ Often imperfects with a vav consecutive occur without a governing perfect Especially with imperfect forms of הָיָה “he was”

Imperfect prefixed with a ּ וַ וַיְהִי דְּבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יוֹנָה Qal Vav Consecutive 3MS הָיָה “he was, became” “And the word of the Lord came/was to Jonah”

Relationships Involving an Imperfect as the Governing Verb Imperfects may serve as governing verbs when they are placed in sequence with imperfects or with perfects Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence Imperfect + Perfect Sequence Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence

Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence The conjunction will be in the ordinary form The second verb in this sequence sometimes expresses the outcome or purpose of the action of the first verb No objective criteria for determining when this is the case

Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence  יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ Piel Jussive 3MS [בּרך] “he blessed” 2MS Suffix “ May the Lord bless you”

Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence  יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ Vav Conjuction Qal Jussive 3MS שָׁמַר “he kept” “May the Lord bless you and keep you”

Imperfect + Perfect Sequence The conjunction will be in the ordinary form This sequence is used with all the various meanings and in all the various modes of the imperfect When perfects are prefixed with vav conjunction the accent shifts to the final syllable in the 2MS and 1CS forms, except in the case of Lamed He verbs

Imperfect + Perfect Sequence אָמַרְתָּ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ הָלַכְתִּי וְהָלַכְתִּי בָּנִיתִי וּבָנִיתִי

Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence הוּא יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ אִשָּׁה לִבְנִי מִשָּׁם׃ Qal Imperfect 3MS שָׁלַח “he sent” “he will send”

Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence הוּא יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ אִשָּׁה לִבְנִי מִשָּׁם׃ Qal weqatal 2MS לָקַח “he took” “and you will take”

Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence הוּא יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ אִשָּׁה לִבְנִי מִשָּׁם׃ “He will send his angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there”

Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence 14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃ Qal Jussive 3MS הָיָה “he was, became” “And God said, ‘Let there be…”

Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence 14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃ Qal Weqatal 3CP הָיָה “he was, became” “and let them be”

Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence 14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃ “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years”

Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence  וְעַתָּה לְכָה נִכְרְתָה בְרִית אֲנִי וָאָתָּה וְהָיָה לְעֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃ Qal Cohortative 1CP כָרַת “he cut” “let us cut”

Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence  וְעַתָּה לְכָה נִכְרְתָה בְרִית אֲנִי וָאָתָּה וְהָיָה לְעֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃ Qal Weqatal 3MS הָיָה “he was, became” “and let it be”

Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence  וְעַתָּה לְכָה נִכְרְתָה בְרִית אֲנִי וָאָתָּה וְהָיָה לְעֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃ “And now, come, let us make/cut a covenant, I and you, and let it be for a witness between me and you.”

Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃ Nifal Imperfect 3MS [נחם] “he was sorry, had compassion, repented” “Lest the people repent”

Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃ Qal Weqatal 3MP שׁוּב “to turn, return, repent” “and return”

Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃ “Lest the people repent when they see war, and (lest) they return to Egypt”

Relationships Involving an Imperative as the Governing Verb An imperative may serve as a governing verb when it is placed in sequence with a perfect, an imperfect, or another imperative A vav conjunction will be used in this sequence When an imperative functions as a governing verb, the verb that follows it sometimes express the notion of purpose or result, but it is not always clear Imperative + Perfect Sequence Imperative + Imperfect Sequence Imperative + Imperative Sequence

Imperative + Perfect Sequence The perfect in this coordinate relationship must be translated as an imperative

Imperative + Perfect Sequence שׁוּבוּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח אֶתְכֶם וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָיו Qal Imperative 2MP שׁוּב “to turn, return, repent” “Return”

Imperative + Perfect Sequence שׁוּבוּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח אֶתְכֶם וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָיו Piel Perfect 3MP [דּבר]“he said” “and speak”

Imperative + Perfect Sequence שׁוּבוּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח אֶתְכֶם וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָיו “Return to the king who sent you, and say to him”

Imperative + Imperfect Sequence An imperfect in coordinate relationship with an imperative sometimes expresses purpose or result.

Imperative + Imperfect Sequence לְכוּ וְנִבְנֶה אֶת־חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם Qal Imperative 2MP הָלַךְ “he went, he walked” “Come”

Imperative + Imperfect Sequence לְכוּ וְנִבְנֶה אֶת־חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם Vav Conjunction Qal Imperfect 1CP בָּנָה “he built” “and let us build”

Imperative + Imperfect Sequence לְכוּ וְנִבְנֶה אֶת־חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם “Come, and let us build the wall of Jerusalem”

Imperative + Imperative Sequence The second imperative often expresses purpose of result

Imperative + Imperative Sequence סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב Qal Imperative 2MS סוּר “to change direction, to turn aside” “Turn away”

Imperative + Imperative Sequence סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב Vav Conjunction Qal Imperative 2MS עָשַׂה “to do, make” “and do”

Imperative + Imperative Sequence סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב “Turn away from evil and do good”

Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence May sometimes be used with the force of an imperative. A perfect may be placed in sequence with an infinitive absolute used in this manner, in which case the perfect must be translated as an imperative

Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence  הָלוֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֶל־דָּוִד Qal Infinitive Absolute הָלַךְ “he went, he walked” “Go”

Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence  הָלוֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֶל־דָּוִד Piel Weqatal 2MS [דּבר] “to speak” “And say”

Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence  הָלוֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֶל־דָּוִד “Go and say to David”

Participle + Perfect Sequence The participle is often used to describe and impending action, something destined to take place in the near future. Especially when the participle is introduced by הִנֵּה When a perfect is placed in sequence with such a participle, it too is translated in future time.

Participle + Perfect Sequence הִנְנִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָכִי וּפִנָּה־דֶרֶךְ לְפָנָי Qal Participle M S Abs. שָׁלַח “he sent” “Behold, I will send”

Participle + Perfect Sequence  הִנְנִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָכִי וּפִנָּה־דֶרֶךְ לְפָנָי Piel Weqatal 3MS פָּנָה “he turned towards, faced, prepared” “and he will prepare”

Participle + Perfect Sequence  הִנְנִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָכִי וּפִנָּה־דֶרֶךְ לְפָנָי “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare a way before me”

Introduction to Weak Verbs

Basic Classifications of Hebrew Verbs Strong Verb All three consonants comprise the verbs root שָׁפַת 3 2 1

Basic Classifications of Hebrew Verbs All consonants of the root are strong letters Not a guttural letter: [ר] ע ח ה א Not a quiescent letter: ו י ה א Not a matres lectionis: ו י ה Not a weak letter: נ

Weak Verb Three consonants may comprise the verbal root, but a weak verb characteristically exhibits only two consonants of the root Because one of the original three root consonants has disappeared and/or assimilated Because the original verbal (lexical) root is comprised of only two consonants.

Weak Verb One or more consonants of the root are weak letters

Weak Verb Specific factors that make a verb weak: Guttural consonants comprising the root Assimilation of the root consonants Disappearance of the root consonants Identical second and third root consonants Only two consonants comprising the original root Any combination of the above

Frame of Reference Weak verbs are identified and classified by the position in the root in which the weak letter is found The root letters of פָּעַל “to do” are used to locate the weak letters

Frame of Reference III II I = root letter position marked by Roman numeral ל ע פ = root letter position marked by פָּעַל root

The verb פּעל “to do” is used to indicate binyan נִפְעַל Niphal פִּעֵל Piel פֻּעַל Pual הִפְעִיל Hiphil הָפְעַל Hophal הִתְפַּעֵל Hithpael

The verb פּעל “to do” is used to indicate verb type The פ, ע, ל are used to indicate the position (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) in which the weak letter is found. פ, ע, ל do not represent פ, ע, ל as actual consonants found in the root

פ- Guttural = I- Guttural Guttural as the 1st root letter א”פ = I-Aleph נ”פ = I- Nun י”פ = I=Yod

ע- Guttural = II- Guttural Guttural as the 2nd root letter י/ו”ע= II-Vav/Yod ע”ע= Geminate (2nd and 3rd roots are the same)

ל- Guttural = III- Guttural Guttural as the 3rd root letter א”ל = III-Aleph ה”ל = III-He

Survey of the Various Types of Weak Verbs Distinctively Guttural Verbs Verbs with a guttural letter, viz., [ר] ע ח ה א, in the first, second, or third root letter position

רדף עבד חלף הפךְ אבל Pe Guttural Verbs Characterization Verbs with a guttural letter, viz., [ר] ע ח ה א, in the first root letter position Examples רדף עבד חלף הפךְ אבל

צעק לחם מהר גאל Ayin Guttural Verbs Characterization Verbs with a guttural letter, viz., [ר] ע ח ה א, in the second root letter position Examples צעק לחם מהר גאל

בקע בטח גבה Lamed Guttural Verbs Characterization Verbs with the guttural letters ה , or ע , or ח in the third root letter position Examples בקע בטח גבה

Verbs with a Distinctive Aleph Verbs with an א in the 1st or 3rd root letter position

אבד אפה אכל אבה אמר Pe Aleph Verbs Characterization: Examples: Verbs with an א in the 1st root letter position Examples: אבד אפה אכל אבה אמר

מצא כּלא Lamed Aleph Verbs Characterization: Examples: Verbs with an א in the 3rd root letter position Examples: מצא כּלא

The Losers Verbs which ‘lose’ one of the three root consonants, or verbs which have only two consonants in the lexical form

קנה צוה גלה בזה Lamed He Verbs Characterization: Examples: Verbs with an ה in the 3rd root letter position Examples: קנה צוה גלה בזה

נפל נגשׁ Pe Nun Verbs Characterization: Examples: Verbs with a נ in the 1st root letter position Examples: נפל נגשׁ

ישׁר יקץ ינק ימן ילל Pe Yod Verbs Original Pe Yod Characterization: Verbs with a י originally in the 1st root letter position Examples: ישׁר יקץ ינק ימן ילל

Hollow Verbs Verbs with only two root letters in the lexical form. These verbs have a ו or י matres lectiones theme vowel in place of the second root letter.

צוּם מוּל כּוּן בּוֹשׁ ‘Ayin Vav Verbs Characterization: Verbs with only two root letters. These verbs have a וּ (shureq) theme vowel in place of the second root letter Verbs with only two root letters. These verbs have a וֹ (holem-vav) theme vowel in place of the second root letter Examples: צוּם מוּל כּוּן בּוֹשׁ

שִׁיר שִׂים דִּין בִּין ‘Ayin Yod Verbs Characterization: Verbs with only two root letters. These verbs have a ִי (hireq yod) theme vowel in place of the second root letter Examples: שִׁיר שִׂים דִּין בִּין

Ayin Ayin (or Geminate Verbs) Characterization Verbs in which the second and third root consonants are identical. The consonant in the ע/II root letter position is repeated in the ל/III root letter position Examples גּלל שׁכך שׁמם

Other Types Multiply Weak Doubly Weak Verbs Characterization: Verbs in which two weak consonants (or features) are found

Examples נשׂא Pe Nun/Lamed Aleph עשׂה Pe Guttural/Lamed He ידה Pe Yod/Lamed He נכה Pe Nun/Lamed He עלה Pe Guttural/Lamed He נחל Pe Nun/Ayin Guttural הרג Pe Guttural/Ayin Guttural הנה Pe Guttural/Lamed He נדח Pe Nun/Lamed Guttural

Triply Weak Verbs Characterization: Other Types Triply Weak Verbs Characterization: Verbs in which three weak consonants (or features) are found

נחה ראה Examples Pe Nun/Ayin Guttural/Lamed He Pe Guttural/ Ayin Guttural/ Lamed He נחה Pe Nun/Ayin Guttural/Lamed He

Defective Verbs Characterization A verb which exhibits characteristics of another weak verb of which it is not a type, resulting in the loss of a consonant where it would normally be lost

לקח (a Lamed Guttural Verb) הלךְ (a Pe Guttural Verb) Examples לקח (a Lamed Guttural Verb) Exhibits characteristics of the Pe Nun verb, resulting in the loss of the ל in some forms הלךְ (a Pe Guttural Verb) Exhibits characteristics of the Pe Yod verb, resulting in the loss of the ה in some forms

Characterization Irregular Verbs Verbs which appear as two different weak verb types

Examples טוֹב Ayin Vav/Hollow “be good” יָטַב Pe Yod “be good” בּוֹשׁ Ayin Vav/Hollow “be ashamed” יָבֵשׁ Pe Yodh “be ashamed”