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

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”


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”


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”


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”


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”


Often imperfects with a vav consecutive occur without a governing perfect

Especially with imperfect forms of ה י� ”he was“ ה�


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”


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”


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


“And God said, ‘Let there be…”



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


“and let them be”



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”



oך׃ Xינ NובQal Weqatal 3MS


“and let it be”



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”



Qal Weqatal 3MP

”to turn, return, repent“ שוב

“and return”



“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


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”


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”


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.


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”


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”


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


ה־טובסור Nש ע� ע ו� ר� Nמ

Qal Imperative 2MS

to change direction, to“ סורturn aside”

“Turn away”


ע סור ר� Nה מ Nש ע� ־טובו�

Vav Conjunction

Qal Imperative 2MS

ה ש� ”to do, make“ ע�

“and do”


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”


לוך ת� ה� ר# ב� ד2 דו# ו2 ל־ד� Xא Piel Weqatal 2MS

”to speak“ [דבר]

“And say”


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”


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”


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�

Documents

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