Introduction to Genesis 1:11
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינֹ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעֹו־בֹ֖ו עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
Genesis 1:11 records part of the creation narrative, where God commands the earth to bring forth vegetation. The key verb in this verse, תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א (tadshēʾ), is a Hiphil imperative, an important grammatical construction in Biblical Hebrew. The Hiphil stem conveys causative action, meaning that God does not simply state that vegetation will grow but actively commands the earth to produce it. This article explores how the Hiphil imperative functions in divine speech and how it shapes the meaning of the verse.
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The primary verb that commands attention is תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א (tadshēʾ), which is in the Hiphil imperative form. The root of the verb is דָּשָׁא (dāshāʾ), meaning “to sprout” or “to bring forth vegetation.” The prefix תַּ indicates that this is a second-person feminine singular verb, agreeing with the subject הָאָ֨רֶץ (hāʾārets), “the earth.” In this context, the Hiphil imperative functions as a jussive command, instructing the earth to act.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
The verb תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א in the Hiphil stem is significant because it expresses causation. In Biblical Hebrew, the Hiphil stem generally conveys causative action, meaning that the subject (in this case, הָאָ֨רֶץ, “the earth”) is being commanded to produce vegetation rather than doing so passively. The Hiphil imperative is used in divine speech acts to emphasize God’s authoritative role in creation.
Key grammatical features of תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א:
1. Hiphil Stem – This verb form indicates that God is causing the earth to sprout vegetation, rather than simply stating that it will happen naturally.
2. Imperative/Jussive Function – Though formally an imperative, this verb functions as a jussive within the broader structure of divine commands, where God’s speech initiates creation.
3. Second-Person Feminine Singular Agreement – The subject, הָאָ֨רֶץ (hāʾārets), is grammatically feminine and singular, requiring the verb to match in form.
The Role of the Hiphil Imperative in Genesis 1:11
The use of תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א (tadshēʾ) in Hiphil provides insight into how causation is expressed in divine speech. Unlike a simple declarative statement, this Hiphil imperative explicitly shows that God’s command brings about the action, reinforcing a key theme in Genesis—creation occurs through divine speech acts. The imperative/jussive construction highlights God’s sovereignty over the natural world, demonstrating how Biblical Hebrew grammar encodes both divine authority and the mechanics of creation through its verb forms.
