The jussive mood in Biblical Hebrew is a nuanced third-person volitional form that expresses wishes, commands, and potential actions, particularly in divine speech and liturgical blessings. While often identical to the imperfect in form, certain verbs—especially lamed-he or guttural roots—display distinct apocopated jussive shapes (e.g., יְהִי from יִהְיֶה). Negated jussives use אַל, reflecting their modal nature. Found in poetic parallelism, narrative decrees, and covenantal benedictions (e.g., Genesis 1:3; Numbers 6:24), the jussive subtly communicates divine will and human desire. Its fluidity with related moods—imperative, imperfect, cohortative—requires contextual sensitivity to grasp its theological and rhetorical force.
Introduction
In Biblical Hebrew, the jussive mood plays a crucial role in expressing volition, desire, or potential outcomes, particularly in the third person. Unlike the imperative (second person) or cohortative (first person), the jussive is typically used for third-person commands or wishes, such as “Let him go” or “May it be so.” It is a subtle and often contextually driven form, found widely in legal texts, prayers, blessings, curses, and narrative reports. This article explores its formation, functions, and nuances within the Biblical corpus.
1. Definition and Function of the Jussive
The jussive is a modal form of the imperfect (yiqtol) used mainly in the third person (both singular and plural). Its primary uses include:
- Volitional wish: “Let him speak” – expressing a desire
- Permission or allowance: “He may go” – granting a possibility
- Exhortation or warning: “Let them not enter” – urging avoidance
The jussive is especially common in divine speech, prayers, prophetic oracles, and poetic parallelism.
2. Form and Morphology of the Jussive
A. Regular Jussives
In many cases, the jussive is identical in form to the imperfect. For example:
| Person | Verb | Jussive Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יֵלֵךְ (yēleḵ) | Jussive = Imperfect | Let him go / May he go |
| 3fs | תֵּלֵךְ (tēleḵ) | Jussive = Imperfect | Let her go / May she go |
B. Shortened (Apocopated) Jussives
Some verbs—especially weak verbs and verbs with gutturals or lamed-he endings—form shortened jussive forms that are distinct from the imperfect.
Examples:
| Verb | Imperfect | Jussive | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| עשה (‘asah – to do) | יַעֲשֶׂה (yaʿăseh) | יַעַשׂ (yaʿas) | Let him do |
| יהי (yihyeh – to be) | יִהְיֶה (yihyeh) | יְהִי (yehi) | Let there be |
3. Syntax and Usage
A. With וַ (Vav Consecutive)
Jussives can appear in sequences with vav-consecutive, especially to show progression of commands or divine decrees. For example:
- וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר – “And God said, ‘Let there be light’” (Genesis 1:3)
B. In Parallelism
In poetic texts, the jussive frequently occurs in parallel lines to express either blessing or cursing:
- יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֹשָׂיו – “Let Yisraʾel rejoice in his Maker” (Psalm 149:2)
C. With Negation: אַל
The jussive is regularly negated with אַל, not לֹא (which negates indicative mood):
- אַל יֵשְׁבְּרוּ – “Let them not break”
- אַל יִירָא לִבְּכֶם – “Let not your heart be afraid”
D. Prayer and Blessing
The jussive is central in intercessory prayers, benedictions, and imprecations:
- יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה – “May YHWH bless you”
- יָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם – “May He give you peace”
4. Distinctions from Related Moods
A. Jussive vs. Imperfect
Although forms may overlap, jussives express modality (what should or may happen), while imperfects typically indicate future or habitual action.
B. Jussive vs. Cohortative
Cohortatives are first-person volitional forms (e.g., אָשִׁירָה – “Let me sing”), while jussives are third-person.
C. Jussive vs. Imperative
Imperatives directly command the second person. Jussives are less direct and are used when speaking about someone else, or even as polite imperatives.
5. Examples from the Hebrew Bible
| Reference | Jussive Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 1:3 | יְהִי אוֹר | Let there be light |
| Psalm 104:31 | יְהִי כְבוֹד־יְהוָה לְעוֹלָם | May the glory of YHWH endure forever |
| Numbers 6:24 | יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה | May YHWH bless you |
| Psalm 109:13 | יִכָּרֵת זִכְרָם מֵאֶרֶץ | May their memory be cut off from the earth |
Let It Be!
The jussive mood in Biblical Hebrew is both powerful and poetic. It conveys wishes, commands, prayers, and divine decrees, often with only slight changes in form from the imperfect. Its presence in blessings, curses, and creation narratives shows how deeply interwoven it is with the theology and rhetoric of the Bible. To understand jussives is to grasp how Hebrew expresses human longing and divine authority—sometimes in just two syllables: יְהִי.
