Tag Archives: Esther 4:16

If I Perish, I Perish: Imperatives, Volition, and Repetition in Esther 4:16

Esther 4:16 לֵךְ֩ כְּנֹ֨וס אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַי וְאַל־תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָיֹ֔ום גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָבֹ֤וא אֶל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי׃ Imperative Sequence: לֵךְ כְּנֹוס לֵךְ and כְּנֹוס are masculine singular imperatives. לֵךְ (“Go!”) comes from י־ל־ךְ and כְּנֹוס (“Gather!”) from כ־נ־ס. These commands are direct and urgent, addressed to Mordekhai. The sequential imperatives stress immediate action and communal mobilization. Participle Clause: הַנִּמְצְאִים הַנִּמְצְאִים is a Niphal participle masculine plural from מ־צ־א (“to be found”).… Learn Hebrew
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