The Hebrew verb בּוֹא (root: ב-ו-א) is a high-frequency irregular verb that means “to come,” “to go in,” “to enter,” or “to arrive.” It occurs in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts and is essential for expressing movement toward a place or event. It frequently appears with prepositions like אֶל (“to”) or בְּ (“in”).
Because it is a hollow verb (middle root is ו), its forms are highly irregular in some tenses and must be memorized. It appears most frequently in the Qal binyan, with some occurrences in Hiphil (causative: “to bring in”).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of בּוֹא
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | בָּאתִי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | בָּאתָ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בָּאתְ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | בָּא |
| 3rd person feminine singular | בָּאָה |
| 1st person plural | בָּאנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בָּאתֶם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בָּאתֶן |
| 3rd person plural | בָּאוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | בָּא |
| Feminine singular | בָּאָה |
| Masculine plural | בָּאִים |
| Feminine plural | בָּאוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אָבוֹא |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תָּבוֹא |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תָּבוֹאִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יָבוֹא |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תָּבוֹא |
| 1st person plural | נָבוֹא |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תָּבֹאוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תָּבֹאנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יָבֹאוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | בּוֹא |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בּוֹאִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בּוֹאוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בֹּאנָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 7:1 – בֹּא אַתָּה וְכָל־בֵּיתְךָ אֶל־הַתֵּבָה
“Come, you and all your house, into the ark.” - Exodus 10:1 – בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה
“Go to Pharaoh.” – used with the sense of entering a place or presence. - Psalm 24:7 – וְיָבֹא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד
“That the King of Glory may come in.”
Summary
The verb בּוֹא is foundational for expressing movement toward or into something in biblical Hebrew. It is commonly used to describe people entering places, divine visitations, prophetic declarations, and eschatological promises. Its irregular patterns must be memorized, but its frequency makes it a key verb for biblical understanding.
