The cohortative mood in Biblical Hebrew, marked by the -ָה ending on first-person imperfect forms, conveys volition, desire, prayer, and communal exhortation, often appearing with the conjunction וְ. It operates across genres to express personal resolve (e.g., Moses at the burning bush), communal invitation (e.g., Isaiah’s call to ascend the mountain), and divine determination (e.g., Genesis 11:7). Unlike imperatives or jussives, cohortatives uniquely voice first-person agency and emotion—especially in psalms and prophetic discourse. Their placement and coordination reinforce discourse flow and theological intimacy. Misidentifying cohortatives risks flattening their emotive and modal force, obscuring the dynamic interplay of will and worship they encapsulate.
Introduction
The Biblical Hebrew verbal system is known for its subtle modes of expression that distinguish between tense, aspect, mood, and modality. One such nuanced verbal form is the cohortative, a mood that primarily expresses the speaker’s volition, desire, or determination. Frequently used in first-person contexts, especially in prayer, resolution, or exhortation, the cohortative plays a crucial role in both narrative and poetic texts. This article explores the morphology, semantics, syntactic behavior, and theological weight of the cohortative mood, especially as it functions in expressions of volition and prayer.
Definition and Morphology of the Cohortative
The cohortative mood in Biblical Hebrew is typically a first-person singular or plural form of the imperfect (yiqtol) verb that includes an added ending with ה (he), usually vocalized as -āh (e.g., אֵלְכָה, “let me go”).
| Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular cohortative | אֵלְכָה | “Let me go” / “I will go” (with resolve) |
| 1st person plural cohortative | נֵלְכָה | “Let us go” |
The cohortative frequently appears with the waw conjunction, particularly in narrative texts, indicating a continuation of action or a personal intention.
Semantic Functions of the Cohortative
The cohortative mood operates in various semantic domains in Biblical Hebrew:
1. Expression of Volition or Resolve
In many narrative contexts, the cohortative expresses a speaker’s firm intention or decision to do something.
Example:
אֵלְכָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶה
“Let me go now and see this great sight.”
(Exodus 3:3)
Moshe’s personal resolve to investigate the burning bush is framed in the cohortative.
2. Prayer and Supplication
The cohortative is often used in contexts of prayer or appeal, where the speaker addresses God and expresses a plea or wish.
Example:
אֶשְׁכְּחָה נָּא יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
“Let me forget Yerushalayim”
(Psalm 137:5, in a conditional context)
Such usage demonstrates deep personal emotion, often linked with vows or sacred commitments.
3. Exhortation and Encouragement
Especially in the plural form, the cohortative encourages joint action.
Example:
לְכָה וְנֵלְכָה אֶל־הָהָר
“Come, let us go up to the mountain.”
(Isaiah 2:3)
This use inspires communal action and is often found in prophetic and poetic contexts.
Distinction from Imperatives and Jussives
Though similar in function, the cohortative must be distinguished from two other mood forms in Biblical Hebrew:
| Mood | Subject | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperative | 2nd person | Command | לֵךְ (“Go!”) |
| Jussive | 3rd person | Indirect command or wish | יֵלֵךְ (“Let him go”) |
| Cohortative | 1st person | Desire / resolve / prayer | אֵלְכָה (“Let me go”) |
These three moods form a core triangle in Biblical Hebrew volitive expression, each aligned with the person of the subject.
Syntactic Placement and Patterns
The cohortative tends to appear:
- At the beginning of a clause
- Often preceded by וְ to link with prior action
- Sometimes followed by another verb in the cohortative or imperfect for parallelism
It can also function in coordinated clause chains to show sequential intention:
Example:
אָקוּמָה נָּא וְאֵלְכָה אֶל־מְקוֹם
“I will arise now and go to the place…”
This coordination shows the speaker’s inner deliberation and progression of thought.
Discourse and Poetic Use of the Cohortative
In Prophetic Discourse
The cohortative is used by prophets to express personal determination or divine resolve:
נֵלְכָה עַד־הַקֵּץ
“Let us go until the end.”
(Daniel 12:13)
In these contexts, the mood invites the audience into a communal vision or divine mission.
In Psalms and Liturgy
Psalms frequently utilize cohortative forms to express both individual devotion and communal worship:
אָשִׁירָה לַיהוָה כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה
“I will sing to YHWH, for He has triumphed gloriously.”
(Exodus 15:1)
This volitional expression becomes an act of prayer and praise, blurring the lines between speech and worship.
Theological Implications of the Cohortative
1. Human Agency
When biblical characters use the cohortative, they are asserting personal agency within the divine narrative. It is a linguistic marker of free will, deliberation, and moral initiative.
2. Dialogical Prayer
In prayer, the cohortative reflects the human voice rising in dialogue with God. It often appears in lament or petition, signaling emotional intensity and covenantal intimacy.
3. Divine Speech
Even God is sometimes represented using the cohortative to express His own intent:
נֵרְדָה וְנַבְלְלָה שָׁם שְׂפָתָם
“Let us go down and confuse their language there.”
(Genesis 11:7)
Such expressions suggest a divine will that is at once determined and relational, involving heavenly deliberation.
Common Mistakes in Identifying the Cohortative
1. Confusing with Imperfect
Not every verb ending in -āh is cohortative. Context is critical. In poetry, vocalic endings may be stylistic.
2. Neglecting Mood in Translation
Translators sometimes flatten cohortatives into regular future tense. This misses the mood’s force—intentionality, appeal, or longing.
3. Misinterpreting Divine Cohortatives
When God uses cohortatives, interpreters must weigh genre and theology carefully: is this divine deliberation or a rhetorical strategy?
The Voice of Will and Worship
The cohortative mood in Biblical Hebrew is a powerful grammatical tool for expressing the inner will of the speaker—be it personal resolve, communal encouragement, or heartfelt prayer. It gives voice to agency, emotion, and spiritual yearning. Recognizing the cohortative enhances our ability to read Scripture with depth, appreciating both the human and divine volitional energies at play. Whether uttered by prophets, kings, psalmists, or the Almighty, the cohortative mood reveals the soul’s movement toward action and communion.
