Verb Imperative

Summary

An imperative verb is used to express direct commands, instructions, and other similar actions with varying degrees of desirability as determined by the context.

Article

In Biblical Hebrew, the Imperative form is used to express positive commands or instructions directed to another person(s). Thus, Imperative verbs always appear only in the second person. (Similarly, Cohortative verbs appear only in the first person, and Jussive verbs usually appear in the third person.) Imperative verbs can express actions with varying degrees of desirability, including instructions, requests, permissions, invitations, assurances, wishes, etc. The context must determine the nuanced meaning of each instance of an Imperative verb.

Biblical Hebrew does not use the Imperative form to express negative commands. Rather, prohibitions are expressed either with the Imperfect (with לֹא) or with a Jussive verb in the 2nd person (with אַל). Occasionally, the Imperative form will appear with a paragogic ה suffix; in these cases, the meaning of the ה suffix is unknown but probably functions to strengthen the force of the verb in some way.

Form

Qal Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	כְּבַד	kevad	you must be heavy
feminine singular	כִּבְדִי	kivdi	you must be heavy
masculine plural	כִּבְדוּ	kivdu	you must be heavy
feminine plural	כְּבַדְנָה	kevadnah	you must be heavy

Niphal Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	הִקָּטֵל	hiqqatel	you must be killed
feminine singular	הִקָּטְלִי	hiqqatli	you must be killed
masculine plural	הִקָּטְלוּ	hiqqatlu	you must be killed
feminine plural	הִקָּטַלְנָה	hiqqatalnah	you must be killed

Hiphil Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	הַקְטֵל	haqtel	you must cause to kill
feminine singular	הַקְטִילִי	haqtili	you must cause to kill
masculine plural	הַקְטִילוּ	haqtilu	you must cause to kill
feminine plural	הַקְטֵלְנָה	haqtelenah	you must cause to kill

Piel Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	קַטֵּל	qattel	you must slaughter
feminine singular	קַטְּלִי	qatteli	you must slaughter
masculine plural	קַטְּלוּ	qattelu	you must slaughter
feminine plural	קַטֵּלְנָה	qattelnah	you must slaughter

Hithpael Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	הִתְקַטֵּל	hitqattel	he must kill himself
feminine singular	הִתְקַטְּלִי	hitqatteli	she must kill herself
masculine plural	הִתְקַטְּלוּ	hitqattelu	they must kill themselves
feminine plural	הִתְקַטֵּלְנָה	hitqattelnah	they must kill themselves

Function

The Imperative form can indicate any of the following kinds of actions:

Direct commands or instructions

Example: JER 43:9

קַ֣ח בְּיָדְךָ֞ אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֗וֹת

qah beyodkha ‘avanim gedoloth

Take in-your-hand stones large

Take some large stones in your hand

Example: ISA 60:1

ק֥וּמִי א֖וֹרִי כִּ֣י בָ֣א אוֹרֵ֑ךְ
qumiy ‘oriy kiy ba’ ‘orekh
Arise shine for it-has-come your-light
**Arise	shine;** for your light has come

Example: JON 1:2

ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה
qum lekh ‘el-niyneveh
Rise go to_Nineveh
Get up	go to Nineveh

Actions of greater or lesser desirability

Example: GEN 12:13

אִמְרִי־נָ֖א אֲחֹ֣תִי אָ֑תְּ

‘imri-na ‘ahothi ‘at

Say_oh my-sister you

Say that you are my sister

Example: 2SA 18:23

וִיהִי־מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ

wihi-mah ‘aruts wayyomer lo ruts

And-it-will-be_whatever I-will-run and-he-said to-him run

“Whatever happens,” said Ahimaaz, “I will run.” So Joab answered him, “Run”.

Example: ISA 8:10

עֻ֥צוּ עֵצָ֖ה וְתֻפָ֑ר
‘utsu ‘etsah wethufar
Advise counsel and-it-will-be-made-ineffectual
Form a plan	but it will not be carried out

Example: 1KI 2:22

וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־לוֹ֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה

wesha’ali-lo ‘eth-hammelukhah

And-ask_for-him [dir.obj]_the-kingdom

Why do you not ask the kingdom for him also?