Tag Archives: Exodus 24:2

Exodus 24:2 – Verb Conjugation: Yiqtol vs. Wayyiqtol and Contrastive Negation

וְנִגַּ֨שׁ מֹשֶׁ֤ה לְבַדֹּו֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֣א יִגָּ֑שׁוּ וְהָעָ֕ם לֹ֥א יַעֲל֖וּ עִמֹּֽו׃ (Exodus 24:2) And Moshe shall approach alone to YHWH, but they shall not approach, and the people shall not go up with him. In Exodus 24:2, the contrast between verb forms in the yiqtol (imperfect) conjugation highlights future or modal negation, as well as restricted agency. The main verb וְנִגַּשׁ (ve-niggash) is a wayyiqtol form of the verb נָגַשׁ (to approach), marking it as a sequential or narrative action. It signals what Moshe will do, i.e.,… Learn Hebrew
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