Imperative verbs in Biblical Hebrew communicate direct commands, typically addressed in the second person, and derive from modified imperfect forms. Present only in Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hitpael binyanim, imperatives serve as linguistic vehicles for authority, urgency, and relational force—whether “Write!” (כְּתֹב), “Speak!” (דַּבֵּר), or “Sanctify yourself!” (הִתְקַדֵּשׁ). Negative commands rely on jussives with אַל or imperfects with לֹא. Imperatives power the rhetoric of law, prophecy, and prayer, shaping Hebrew discourse with precision and immediacy.
The Nature of the Imperative
The Imperative form in Biblical Hebrew expresses direct commands, requests, or exhortations, typically in the second person. It exists only in the 2nd person masculine singular, feminine singular, and plural forms. The imperative is derived from the imperfect form but with specific modifications, usually dropping the prefix and adjusting internal vowels according to binyan (verbal stem).
Forming the Imperative
The formation of imperative verbs depends on the binyan and person. In Qal, it often involves removing the imperfect prefix (such as י-, ת-) and modifying the stem vowel. In derived stems like Piel, Hiphil, and Hitpael, additional prefixes or vowel markers may be retained to preserve the binyan’s semantic force.
Imperative Chart: Qal Binyan – Root כ־ת־ב (to write)
| Person | Hebrew | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 2ms | כְּתֹב | Write! (m.s.) |
| 2fs | כִּתְבִי | Write! (f.s.) |
| 2mp | כִּתְבוּ | Write! (m.pl.) |
| 2fp | כְּתֹבְנָה | Write! (f.pl.) |
Imperatives Across the Seven Binyanim
| Binyan | 2ms Form | Example Root | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qal | שְׁמַע | ש־מ־ע | Hear! |
| Niphal | הִלָּחֵם | ל־ח־ם | Be fought! |
| Piel | דַּבֵּר | ד־ב־ר | Speak! |
| Pual | — | — | Not used for imperatives |
| Hiphil | הַקְטֵל | ק־ט־ל | Cause to kill! |
| Hophal | — | — | Not used for imperatives |
| Hitpael | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ | ק־ד־שׁ | Sanctify yourself! |
Negative Commands: The Jussive and Imperfect with לֹא / אַל
Biblical Hebrew expresses negative commands using:
- אַל + Jussive (for prohibitions): אַל תֹּאמַר — “Do not say!”
- לֹא + Imperfect (for general negative statements): לֹא תִרְצָח — “You shall not murder”
These constructions are semantically equivalent to negative imperatives and are especially common in legal and prophetic texts.
Literary Use of Imperatives
Imperatives frequently occur in prayers, prophetic oracles, laws, and poetic exhortations. For example, imperatives directed at YHWH in Psalms express urgent pleas (e.g., “Deliver me!”), while in the prophets they often appear as divine commands to Israel (e.g., “Return to Me!”). The frequent use of imperatives demonstrates the immediacy, relational nature, and theological weight of Biblical Hebrew speech acts.
