וַיֵּצְא֣וּ הָעָם֮ וַיָּבִיאוּ֒ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ לָהֶ֨ם סֻכֹּ֜ות אִ֤ישׁ עַל־גַּגֹּו֙ וּבְחַצְרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְחַצְרֹ֖ות בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבִרְחֹוב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הַמַּ֔יִם וּבִרְחֹ֖וב שַׁ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
(Nehemiah 8:16)
And the people went out and brought and made for themselves booths, each on his roof and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God and in the square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Gate of Ephrayim.
The verse from Nehemiah 8:16 offers us a vivid description of Israel’s observance of the Festival of Booths. What stands out is the triple chain of waw-consecutive (wayyiqtol) verbs — וַיֵּצְאוּ, וַיָּבִיאוּ, and וַיַּעֲשׂוּ. This narrative sequence provides us with an excellent opportunity to explore how Biblical Hebrew uses verbal chains to structure historical narration.
Wayyiqtol as Narrative Backbone
The form known as wayyiqtol (from the prefix וַ + imperfect form) is the principal tense used in biblical prose to advance a story. Unlike the perfect, which often introduces states or completed actions, the wayyiqtol drives the plot forward step by step.
In our verse:
– וַיֵּצְאוּ (“and they went out”) initiates the action.
– וַיָּבִיאוּ (“and they brought”) continues the sequence.
– וַיַּעֲשׂוּ (“and they made”) completes the progression.
Each verb moves the narrative to the next stage, creating a rhythm of cause and effect that the reader or listener can easily follow.
The Rhythm of Communal Obedience
The threefold chain is not merely stylistic. The repetition underscores the unity of the people: they did not only go out, they also brought materials, and they actually constructed booths. The grammar here emphasizes that obedience to the Torah was not partial but complete.
Masoretic Note
The Masoretes mark this verse with a series of conjunctive accents that reflect the flowing rhythm of action. The verbs are tied together musically just as they are grammatically, reinforcing the sense of an unbroken sequence of activity.
Table of Narrative Verbs
| Verb | Root | Form | Meaning | Function in Sequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּצְאוּ | יצא | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3mp | “and they went out” | Initiates the communal action |
| וַיָּבִיאוּ | בוא | Wayyiqtol, Hiphil, 3mp | “and they brought” | Progresses the narrative, preparation |
| וַיַּעֲשׂוּ | עשה | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3mp | “and they made” | Completes the cycle of obedience |
Syntactic Insights
The succession of wayyiqtol verbs exemplifies how Hebrew storytelling flows without subordination. Rather than using conjunctions like “then” or “afterwards,” the Hebrew narrator employs repeated wayyiqtol forms to let the actions unfold naturally. This technique mirrors oral storytelling, keeping the listener engaged with each successive verb.
The Living Flow of the Text
By observing the waw-consecutive in this verse, we see more than grammar — we witness the heartbeat of biblical narration. The language does not describe events abstractly; it propels us through the story in real time, immersing us in the communal obedience of the people who, step by step, enacted the command of Torah during the festival.