Post on 19-Jan-2016
Hebrew Modes
Hebrew Modes
Traditional: PerfectLinguistic: qatalForm: ל ט� ק�Example: ט פ� he judged :ש�
Hebrew Modes
Traditional: waw + PerfectLinguistic: waw + qatalForm: ל ט� ק� ו#Example: ט פ� ש� and he :ו#
judged
Hebrew Modes
Traditional: ImperfectLinguistic: yiqtolForm: ט&ל יק#Example: ישפ&ט: he will judge
Hebrew Modes
Traditional: waw + ImperfectLinguistic: waw + yiqtolForm: ט&ל יק# ו#Example: פ&ט יש# and he will :ו#
judge
Hebrew ModesTraditional: converted perfectLinguistic: weqatalAlternate name: modalForm: ל ט� ק� ו#Example: ט פ� ש� and he will judge :ו#Futurity determined by genre and
context
Hebrew ModesTraditional: converted imperfect/ vav
consecutive/vav conversiveLinguistic: wayyiqtolAlternate form: Past Narrative
(describes the function of the form)Form: ט&ל ק# י2 ו�Example: פ&ט ש# י2 and he judged :ו�
The Pointing of Vav Conjunction with Verb Forms
Vav Consecutive ו�Terminology
Vav ConsecutiveVav ConversiveWayyiqtol: ט&ל יק# ו�
Imperfect: yiqtol: ט&ל יק#Past Narrative
Vav Consecutive ו�Attached to the front of Imperfects
Expresses:The narrated pastNarrates consecutive events in past timeMay be sequential or Consequential
Vav ConjunctionA vav conjunction may be used on all
verb forms, including imperfectsThe rules for point the vav conjunction
before verb forms are the same as those for pointing it before nouns and other parts of speech
Vav Conjunction before consonants with full ו#vowelsUnless these consonants are
ב or ,פ, מOr unless they belong to the
tone syllable of the word
Vav Conjunction
ת� ב# ת� כ� ו#Qal Weqatal 2FS ב ת� כ�
“he wrote”
“and write”
Jer. 36:2
Vav Conjunction
ו before מ ,ב, or פ
Vav Conjunction
ל# אוומ2Qal Imperative 2MP
א Nל מ�
“he was full”
“fill”
Genesis 9:1
Vav Conjunction
ו before all consonants with simple shevas (except , #י , (ח# orה#
Vav ConjunctionNית מ2 םונ#
Hifil Imperfect 1CP
מות
“to die”
3MP Suffix
“and we may put them to death”
1 Samuel 11:12
Vav Conjunction
, before ו2 , ה# ח# י#
Vav Conjunction
Xיית ה# םו2Qal Weqatal 2MP
ה י� ה�
“he was, became”
“and you will be”
Zechariah 8:13
Vav Conjunction
sometimes found ו�before the tone syllable, especially in monosyllabic words
Vav Conjunction
ב& או�conjunction ו#
Qal Infinitive Construct
בוא“to come, go”
“or to come in”
1 Kings 3:7
Vav Conjunction
, וXו� before consonant supported by hatef-patah or hatef-segol
Vav Conjunction
םו� Xת ל# כ� # א�Qal Weqatal 2MP
ל “אכ�
“he ate”
“and you shall eat”
Ezekiel 39:17
Coordinate RelationshipConsists 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 imperfectPerfect + Perfect SequencePerfect + Imperfect Sequence
Perfect + Perfect Sequence The simplest form of the coordinate
relationshipThe 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
ץ א XרX אה ר# הי� ט� ק� ש� ו#Qal Perfect 3FS
א Nר י�
“he feared”
“the earth feared”
Perfect + Perfect Sequence
ץ א XרX אה ר# הי� ט� ק� ש� ו#Vav Conjunction
Qal Perfect 3FS
ט ק� ש�
“he was quiet, undisturbed”
“and was still”
Perfect + Perfect Sequence
ץ א XרX אה ר# י�ה ט� ק� ש� ו#
“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 ( ו�), the special form of the
conjunction linking the imperfect to its governing imperfect. The vav consecutive ( ו�) 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 ( (ו#
Imperfect prefixed with a ו�An imperfect prefixed with a vav consecutive (
will customarily be translated in past time (ו�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 ו�
ה ב� Nק ר ונ# כ� אםז� ר� ך ב# Xר g ב� י# םו� ת� א&Qal Perfect 3MS
3MP Suffix
א ר� ”he created“ ב�
“he created them”
Imperfect prefixed with a ו�
ה ב� Nק ר ונ# כ� אםז� ר� ך ב# Xר g ב� י# םו� א&ת�
Qal Vav Consecutive 3MS
”he blessed“ [ברך]
“he blessed them”
Imperfect prefixed with a ו�
ה ב� Nק ר ונ# כ� אםז� ר� ך ב# Xר g ב� י# םו� ת� א&
“Male and female he created them, and he
blessed them”
Imperfect prefixed with a ו�
Often imperfects with a vav consecutive occur without a governing perfect
Especially with imperfect forms of ה י� ”he was“ ה�
Imperfect prefixed with a ו�
י ה2 י# ה ו� הו� ר־י# ב� הד# ל־יונ� XאQal Vav Consecutive 3MS
ה י� ”he was, became“ ה�
“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 SequenceJussive Imperfect + Perfect SequenceCohortative Imperfect + Perfect SequenceSubjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence The conjunction will be in the
ordinary formThe 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
ך כ# Xר ב� ה י# הו� י#ך o Xר מ# יש# ו#
Piel Jussive 3MS”he blessed“ [ברך]
2MS Suffix
“ May the Lord bless you”
Imperfect + Imperfect Sequence
ך כ# Xר ב� ה י# הו� ך י# o Xר מ# יש# ו#Vav Conjuction
Qal Jussive 3MS
ר מ� ”he kept“ ש�
“May the Lord bless you and keep you”
Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
The conjunction will be in the ordinary formThis 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
ת� ר# אמ� ת� ר# מ� o א� ו#
י ת2 כ# ל� ה� י ת2 כ# ל� ה� ו#
י ית2 נ2 ב� י ית2 נ2 וב�
Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ח הוא ל� י יש# נ2 ב# ה ל2 ש� ת� א2 ח# ק� ל� יך ו# q Xנ פ� אכו ל# ל# מ�ם׃ ש� מ2
Qal Imperfect 3MS
ח ל� ”he sent“ ש�
“he will send”
Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ח הוא ל� יך יש# q Xנ פ� אכו ל# ל# ת�מ� ח# ק� ל� י ו# נ2 ב# ה ל2 ש� א2ם׃ ש� מ2
Qal weqatal 2MS
ח ק� ”he took“ ל�
“and you will take”
Indicative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ח הוא ל� יך יש# q Xנ פ� אכו ל# ל# ת�מ� ח# ק� ל� י ו# נ2 ב# ה ל2 ש� א2ם׃ ש� מ2
“He will send his angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son
from there”
Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ים 14 s2לה uר א Xאמ g&י יו� v ה2 gיע� י# ק2 ר# ר&תx ב2 א& מ#ה ל� י# y ל� ין ה� g Nום וב י| ין ה� } Nיל ב ~ ד2 ב# ה� ים ל# q מ� ש� ה�
ו vי ה� oים׃ו# נ2 ש� ים ו# | מ2 י� ים ול# q ד2 וע� gמ תx ול# ת& א& ל#
Qal Jussive 3MS
ה י� ”he was, became“ ה�
“And God said, ‘Let there be…”
Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ים 14 s2לה uר א Xאמ g&י יו� v ה2 gיע� י# ק2 ר# ר&תx ב2 א& מ#ה ל� י# y ל� ין ה� g Nום וב י| ין ה� } Nיל ב ~ ד2 ב# ה� ים ל# q מ� ש� ה�
ו vי ה� oים׃ו# נ2 ש� ים ו# | מ2 י� ים ול# q ד2 וע� gמ תx ול# ת& א& ל#
Qal Weqatal 3CP
ה י� ”he was, became“ ה�
“and let them be”
Jussive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ים 14 s2לה uר א Xאמ g&י יו� v ה2 gיע� י# ק2 ר# ר&תx ב2 א& מ#ה ל� י# y ל� ין ה� g Nום וב י| ין ה� } Nיל ב ~ ד2 ב# ה� ים ל# q מ� ש� ה�
ו vי ה� oים׃ו# נ2 ש� ים ו# | מ2 י� ים ול# q ד2 וע� gמ תx ול# ת& א& ל#“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
ה כ� ה ל# ת� ע� הו# ת� ר# כ# ית נ2 ר2 ב#ה ת� א� י ו� נ2 הא� י� ה� י ו# ינ2 Nד ב Nע ל#
oך׃ Xינ NובQal Cohortative 1CP
ת ר� ”he cut“ כ�
“let us cut”
Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ה כ� ה ל# ת� ע� הו# ת� ר# כ# ית נ2 ר2 ב#ה ת� א� י ו� נ2 הא� י� ה� י ו# ינ2 Nד ב Nע ל#
oך׃ Xינ NובQal Weqatal 3MS
ה י� ”he was, became“ ה�
“and let it be”
Cohortative Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ה כ� ה ל# ת� ע� הו# ת� ר# כ# ית נ2 ר2 ב#ה ת� א� י ו� נ2 הא� י� ה� י ו# ינ2 Nד ב Nע ל#
oך׃ Xינ Nוב“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
ן־ Xםפ Nח ם ינ� ת� א& ר# ם ב2 ע� ה�ה מ� ח� ל# בומ2 } ש� ה׃ו# מ� י# o ר� צ# מ2
Nifal Imperfect 3MS
,he was sorry, had compassion“ [נחם]repented”
“Lest the people repent”
Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ן־ Xםפ Nח ם ינ� ת� א& ר# ם ב2 ע� ה�ה מ� ח� ל# בומ2 } ש� ה׃ו# מ� י# o ר� צ# מ2
Qal Weqatal 3MP
”to turn, return, repent“ שוב
“and return”
Subjunctive Imperfect + Perfect Sequence
ן־ Xםפ Nח ם ינ� ת� א& ר# ם ב2 ע� ה�ה מ� ח� ל# בומ2 } ש� ה׃ו# מ� י# o ר� צ# מ2
“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
ם שובו Xכ ת# Xח א ל� ר־ש� Xש ך א� Xל g Xמ ל־ה� Xא יו ל� Nם א g Xת ר# ב� ד2 ו#
Qal Imperative 2MP
”to turn, return, repent“ שוב
“Return”
Imperative + Perfect Sequence
ך שובו Xל g Xמ ל־ה� Xח א ל� ר־ש� Xש ם א� Xכ ת# Xאם g Xת ר# ב� ד2 יוו# ל� Nא
Piel Perfect 3MP
”he said“[דבר]
“and speak”
Imperative + Perfect Sequence
ך שובו Xל g Xמ ל־ה� Xח א ל� ר־ש� Xש א�ם Xכ ת# Xםא g Xת ר# ב� ד2 יוו# ל� Nא
“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
כו םל# q2 ל� רוש� ת י# g ת־חומ� Xה א Xנ ב# נ2 ו#
Qal Imperative 2MP
ך ל� ”he went, he walked“ ה�
“Come”
Imperative + Imperfect Sequence
כו ה ל# Xנ ב# נ2 םו# q2 ל� רוש� ת י# g ת־חומ� Xא
Vav Conjunction
Qal Imperfect 1CP
ה נ� ”he built“ ב�
“and let us build”
Imperative + Imperfect Sequence
כו ה ל# Xנ ב# נ2 ת ו# g ת־חומ� Xא ם q2 ל� רוש� י#
“Come, and let us build the wall of Jerusalem”
Imperative + Imperative Sequence
The second imperative often expresses purpose of result
Imperative + Imperative Sequence
ה־טובסור Nש ע� ע ו� ר� Nמ
Qal Imperative 2MS
to change direction, to“ סורturn aside”
“Turn away”
Imperative + Imperative Sequence
ע סור ר� Nה מ Nש ע� ־טובו�
Vav Conjunction
Qal Imperative 2MS
ה ש� ”to do, make“ ע�
“and do”
Imperative + Imperative Sequence
ע סור ר� Nה מ Nש ע� ־טובו�
“Turn away from evil and do good”
Infinitive Absolute + Perfect SequenceMay 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
לוך דה� ו2 ל־ד� Xת� א ר# ב� ד2 ו#Qal Infinitive Absolute
ך ל� ”he went, he walked“ ה�
“Go”
Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence
לוך ת� ה� ר# ב� ד2 דו# ו2 ל־ד� Xא Piel Weqatal 2MS
”to speak“ [דבר]
“And say”
Infinitive Absolute + Perfect Sequence
לוך ת� ה� ר# ב� ד2 דו# ו2 ל־ד� Xא “Go and say to David”
Participle + Perfect SequenceThe 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 ה Nנ ה2
When a perfect is placed in sequence with such a participle, it too is translated in future time.
Participle + Perfect Sequence
י נ2 נ# ח� ה2 Nך ש&ל Xר Xה־ד נ� י ופ2 אכ2 ל# מ�י נ� פ� ל#
Qal Participle M S Abs.
ח ל� ”he sent“ ש�
“Behold, I will send”
Participle + Perfect Sequence
י נ2 נ# ח� ה2 Nי ש&ל אכ2 ל# ה מ� נ� ך ופ2 Xר X־די נ� פ� ל#
Piel Weqatal 3MS
ה נ� ,he turned towards, faced“ פ�prepared”
“and he will prepare”
Participle + Perfect Sequence
י נ2 נ# ח� ה2 Nי ש&ל אכ2 ל# ה מ� נ� ך ופ2 Xר X־די נ� פ� ל#
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare a
way before me”
Introduction to Weak Verbs
Basic Classifications of Hebrew VerbsStrong Verb
All three consonants comprise the verbs root
ת פ� ש�123
Basic Classifications of Hebrew Verbs
All consonants of the root are strong lettersNot 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 Verb1. Three consonants may comprise the
verbal root, but a weak verb characteristically exhibits only two consonants of the root
a) Because one of the original three root consonants has disappeared and/or assimilated
b) Because the original verbal (lexical) root is comprised of only two consonants.
Weak Verb2. One or more consonants of the root
are weak letters
Weak Verb3. Specific factors that make a verb
weak:a) Guttural consonants comprising the root
b) Assimilation of the root consonants
c) Disappearance of the root consonants
d) Identical second and third root consonants
e) Only two consonants comprising the original root
f) Any combination of the above
Frame of ReferenceWeak verbs are identified and
classified by the position in the root in which the weak letter is found
The root letters of ל ע� ”to do“ פ�are used to locate the weak letters
Frame of Reference
III II I = root letter position marked by Roman numeral
ל ע ל root letter position marked by = פ ע� root פ�
The verb פעל “to do” is used to indicate binyan
פ# לנ2 ע� Niphal
ל Nע פ2 Piel
ל ע� פ� Pual
יל ע2 פ# ה2 Hiphil
ל ע� פ# ה� Hophal
ל Nע פ� ת# ה2 Hithpael
The verb פעל “to do” is used to indicate verb typeThe 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
Guttural = I- Guttural -פGuttural as the 1st root letter
פא” = I-Aleph נ”פ = I- Nunי”פ = I=Yod
Guttural = II- Guttural -עGuttural as the 2nd root letter
י/ו”ע= II-Vav/Yod ע”ע= Geminate (2nd and 3rd roots are the same)
Guttural = III- Guttural -לGuttural as the 3rd root letter
”לא = III-Alephה”ל = III-He
Survey of the Various Types of Weak Verbs
1. Distinctively Guttural Verbs1. Verbs with a guttural letter,
viz., [ר] ע ח ה א, in the first, second, or third root letter position
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 הפך אבל
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
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
Pe Aleph Verbs
Characterization:Verbs with an א in the 1st root
letter positionExamples:
אבד אפה אכל אבה אמר
Lamed Aleph Verbs
Characterization:Verbs with an א in the 3rd
root letter positionExamples:
מצא כלא
The Losers
Verbs which ‘lose’ one of the three root consonants, or verbs which have only two consonants in the lexical form
Lamed He Verbs
Characterization:Verbs with an ה in the 3rd
root letter positionExamples:
קנה צוה גלה בזה
Pe Nun Verbs
Characterization:Verbs with a נ in the 1st root
letter positionExamples:
נפל נגש
Pe Yod VerbsOriginal Pe YodCharacterization:
Verbs with a י originally in the 1st root letter position
Examples:
ישר יקץ ינק ימן ילל
Hollow VerbsVerbs 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.
‘Ayin Vav Verbs Characterization:
Verbs with only two root letters. These verbs have a ו (shureq) theme vowel in place of the second root letter
Verbs with only two root letters. These verbs have a ו (holem-vav) theme vowel in place of the second root letter
Examples:
צום מול כון בוש
‘Ayin Yod VerbsCharacterization:
Verbs with only two root letters.
These verbs have a 2י (hireq yod) theme vowel in place of the second root letter
Examples:
ין ין ב2 ים ד2 יר ש2 ש2
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
גלל שכך שמם
Other TypesMultiply Weak
Doubly Weak VerbsCharacterization:
Verbs in which two weak consonants (or features) are found
Examplesאנש Pe Nun/Lamed Aleph
עשה 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
Other Types
Triply Weak VerbsCharacterization:
Verbs in which three weak consonants (or features) are found
Examples
אהר Pe Guttural/ Ayin Guttural/ Lamed He
נחהPe Nun/Ayin Guttural/Lamed He
Defective VerbsCharacterization
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
Examples
(a Lamed Guttural Verb) לקחExhibits characteristics of the Pe Nun verb,
resulting in the loss of the ל in some forms
(a Pe Guttural Verb) הלךExhibits characteristics of the Pe Yod verb,
resulting in the loss of the ה in some forms
Irregular Verbs
CharacterizationVerbs which appear as two
different weak verb types
Examples
”Ayin Vav/Hollow “be good טוב
ב ט� ”Pe Yod “be good י�
”Ayin Vav/Hollow “be ashamed בוש
ש Nב ”Pe Yodh “be ashamed י�