וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־יֹואָ֔שׁ הֹוצֵ֥א אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ וְיָמֹ֑ת כִּ֤י נָתַץ֙ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל וְכִ֥י כָרַ֖ת הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָֽיו׃
(Judges 6:30)
And the men of the city said to Yoʾash, “Bring out your son so that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of the Baʿal and because he has cut down the ʾAsherah that was on it.”
Introduction: A City Confronts Its Own
In this climactic moment from the narrative of Gideon (Yerubaʿal), the townspeople demand his death for religious transgression. The verse features two standout grammatical constructions: a sequential imperative + waw-consecutive imperfect pair and a double causal כִּי clause chain. These structures reveal how Hebrew expresses demands, reasons, and logical consequence with sharp rhetorical effect.
Imperative + Wayyiqtol Pairing: הֹוצֵ֥א… וְיָמֹ֑ת
The first verbal pairing—הֹוצֵ֥א (“bring out”) and וְיָמֹ֑ת (“and he will die”)—features a common Biblical Hebrew pattern where a command is followed by an expected result.
- הֹוצֵ֥א – Hifil imperative, 2ms, from יָצָא (“to go out”); causative: “cause to go out,” i.e., “bring out.”
- וְיָמֹ֑ת – Qal imperfect 3ms from מוּת (“to die”), here with a waw-consecutive linking it to the imperative as a consequential result: “so that he may die.”
Verb Chain Table
| Verb | Root | Stem | Form | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֹוצֵא | י־צ־א | Hifil | Imperative 2ms | “Bring out [your son]” |
| וְיָמֹת | מ־ו־ת | Qal | Imperfect 3ms with waw | “and he will die” / “so that he may die” |
Double כִּי Clauses: Justifying the Sentence
The townspeople give two reasons for their call to execution, each introduced by the conjunction כִּי (“because”):
- כִּ֤י נָתַץ֙ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֣ח הַבַּ֔עַל – “because he has torn down the altar of the Baʿal”
- וְכִ֥י כָרַ֖ת הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָלָֽיו – “and because he has cut down the Asherah that was on it”
This is a strong example of parallel causal construction. The second clause is introduced with וְכִ֥י, preserving the causal force while adding rhythm and gravity.
Syntax and Emphasis: Why It Matters
The force of the verse arises not just from content, but from form:
- The imperative + wayyiqtol shows action and expected consequence in one breath.
- The double כִּי clauses build a layered accusation.
Together, the syntax mirrors the escalating tone of mob justice: swift demand, unhesitating cause-effect logic, and theological certainty.
The Structure of Zealotry
Grammatically, Judges 6:30 models how command, judgment, and rationale are structured in Hebrew speech acts. This verse is a perfect example of how Biblical Hebrew builds legal or religious arguments through:
- Imperatives to demand action
- Sequential verbs for consequences
- Layered reasoning with repeated causal clauses
It’s not just grammar—it’s persuasive rhetoric encoded in syntax. And in the world of the Judges, that grammar can get you killed.
