In Biblical Hebrew, the imperfect verb form conveys unfolding, anticipated, or habitual action, offering a grammatical gateway to future hopes, modal possibilities, and ongoing realities. Constructed with prefixes (and sometimes suffixes) that reflect person and number, the imperfect enriches prophetic speech, legal pronouncements, and narrative tension—distinguishing what is becoming from what has been. Whether expressing divine intention (יִבְרָא – “He will create”), human resolve (אֶרְאֶה – “I will see”), or collective movement (נֵלֵךְ – “We will go”), the imperfect form embodies sacred anticipation and relational dynamism.
Understanding the Imperfect
The Imperfect (also called the prefix conjugation) expresses actions that are incomplete—ongoing, habitual, repeated, or yet to occur. While it often conveys the future tense in English, it can also indicate present or modal meanings depending on context. Recognizing its forms and functions is essential for following the narrative flow and prophetic tone of the Hebrew Bible.
Key Features of the Imperfect
- Aspect: Incomplete action
- Common Usages: Future actions, ongoing states, habitual behavior, potential actions
- Conjugation: Prefixes (and sometimes suffixes) added to the verb root according to person, number, and gender
Conjugation Chart: Qal Imperfect of כָּתַב (“to write”)
| Person | Hebrew | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | אֶכְתֹּב | I will write |
| 2nd sg. masc. | תִּכְתֹּב | You will write (m.) |
| 2nd sg. fem. | תִּכְתְּבִי | You will write (f.) |
| 3rd sg. masc. | יִכְתֹּב | He will write |
| 3rd sg. fem. | תִּכְתֹּב | She will write |
| 1st pl. | נִכְתֹּב | We will write |
| 2nd pl. masc. | תִּכְתְּבוּ | You will write (m. pl.) |
| 2nd pl. fem. | תִּכְתֹּבְנָה | You will write (f. pl.) |
| 3rd pl. masc. | יִכְתְּבוּ | They will write (m.) |
| 3rd pl. fem. | תִּכְתֹּבְנָה | They will write (f.) |
Common Verbs in the Imperfect
| Hebrew | Root | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| יֹאמַר | א־מ־ר | He will say |
| יִשְׁמַע | ש־מ־ע | He will hear |
| יִרְאֶה | ר־א־ה | He will see |
| יֵשֵׁב | י־ש־ב | He will dwell / sit |
| יִלְמַד | ל־מ־ד | He will learn |
Translation Practice: Identify the Imperfect
| Hebrew | Root | Person | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| יִבְרָא | ב־ר־א | 3rd sg. masc. | He will create |
| תִּשְׁפֹּט | ש־פ־ט | 2nd sg. masc. / 3rd sg. fem. | You will judge / She will judge |
| יִשְׁמְעוּ | ש־מ־ע | 3rd pl. masc. | They will hear |
| אֶרְאֶה | ר־א־ה | 1st sg. | I will see |
| נֵלֵךְ | ה־ל־ך | 1st pl. | We will go |
A World Yet Unfolded
The Imperfect invites the reader into possibility, anticipation, and continuity. It tells not just of what was, but what might be—how prophets hope, how kings plan, and how YHWH reveals promises yet to come. Reading the Imperfect correctly transforms one’s view of divine speech, covenant expectation, and poetic flow.
