In Biblical Hebrew, the imperfect conjugation expresses incomplete, unfolding, or anticipated actions. Formed with subject-specific prefixes and sometimes suffixes, it captures future intent, habitual patterns, and modal possibilities—ranging from “he will write” (יִכְתֹּב) to “let us go” (נִלְכָּה). Far from a rigid future tense, the imperfect resonates deeply in prophetic and covenantal texts, portraying divine plans and human responsiveness as ongoing processes. Its flexibility makes it a cornerstone of biblical style and theology, inviting readers to engage with what is emerging rather than what is settled.
What Is the Imperfect?
The Imperfect in Biblical Hebrew—also known as the prefix conjugation—expresses incomplete or unrealized actions. This includes future actions (“he will go”), repeated or habitual behaviors (“he goes”), and modal expressions like intention or permission (“he may go,” “he should go”). While English translations often render the Imperfect in the future tense, its meaning depends heavily on context, particles, and word order.
Formation of the Imperfect
The Imperfect is formed by adding prefixes (and in some cases, suffixes) to the verb root. These affixes signal the subject’s person, number, and gender. Below is the standard pattern for Qal stem Imperfect conjugation of the root כ־ת־ב (“to write”).
Qal Imperfect Conjugation: 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.) |
Functions of the Imperfect
- Future Actions: וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם… “And you shall say to them…”
- Habitual Behavior: יָצֵא וְיָבֹא “He goes out and comes in”
- Modal Usage: לוּ יִתֵּן יְהוָה… “If only the LORD would give…”
- Waw-Consecutive: וַיֹּאמֶר “And he said” (see next lesson)
Practice: Identify & Translate Imperfect Forms
| Hebrew | Root | Person | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| יִלְמֹד | ל־מ־ד | 3rd sg. masc. | He will learn |
| נִלְכָּה | ה־ל־ך | 1st pl. | Let us go |
| תִּשְׁמְעִי | ש־מ־ע | 2nd sg. fem. | You will hear |
| אֶשְׁלַח | ש־ל־ח | 1st sg. | I will send |
| יִפְקֹד | פ־ק־ד | 3rd sg. masc. | He will visit / appoint |
Opening What Is Yet to Be
The Imperfect form opens a linguistic doorway to prophecy, promise, and progressive revelation. When YHWH says, אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה—“I will be who I will be”—the Imperfect proclaims a future not fixed but unfolding. To understand the Imperfect is to hear the heartbeat of the biblical narrative as it moves toward what is yet to come.
