:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/verb_cohortative.rst

.. _verb_cohortative:

Verb Cohortative
================

Summary
-------

The cohortative form is used to express indirect commands and other
similar actions with varying degrees of desirability as determined by
the context.

Article
-------

The Cohortative form looks very similar to the :ref:`Imperfect<verb_imperfect>`
but functions in a sentence more like an
:ref:`Imperative<verb_imperative>`.
Cohortative verbs appear only in :ref:`first person<person_first>`
forms. (Similarly, imperatives appear only in :ref:`second person<person_second>`
forms, and
:ref:`Jussive<verb_jussive>`
usually appear in :ref:`third person<person_third>`
forms.) A Cohortative
:ref:`verb<verb>`
does not carry the full force of a command ("We *must* do this!"), but
it conveys a stronger meaning than a simple suggestion or statement of
possibilty ("We *could* do this."). The meaning is somewhere in the
middle. In English, a Cohortative is often translated with a helping
verb such as "let" or "want" or "will," depending on the context (*"Let
us do this!"* or *"I want to do this!"*). Thus, the Cohortative verb
functions as an indirect command; the reader must examine the context to
determine the strength of desirability being expressed in each specific
instance.

Form
----

.. csv-table:: Cohortative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  Qal singular,אֶקְטֹלָה,'eqtolah,let me kill
  Qal plural,נִקְטֹהלָה,niqtohlah,let us kill
  Niphal singular,אֶקָּטֵלָה,'eqqatelah,let me be killed
  Niphal plural,נִקָּטֵלָה,niqqatelah,let us be killed
  Hiphil singular,אַקְטִילָה,'aqtilah,let me cause to kill
  Hiphil plural,נַקְטִילָה,naqtilah,let us cause to kill
  Piel singular,אֲקַטֵּלָה,'eqattelah,let me slaughter
  Piel plural,נְקַטֵּלָה,niqattelah,let us slaughter
  Hithpael singular,אֶתְקַטֵּלָה,'ethqattelah,let me kill myself
  Hithpael plural,נִתְקַטֵּלָה,nithqattelah,let us kill ourselves

Function
--------

The Cohortative form can indicate any of the following kinds of actions:

Indirect commands
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 2:5

  בֵּ֖ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְכ֥וּ **וְנֵלְכָ֖ה** בְּא֥וֹר יְהוָֽה
  beth ya'aqov lekhu **wenelekhah** be'or yehwah
  House-of Jacob come **and-let-us-walk** in-light-of Yahweh.
  "House of Jacob, come, **and let us walk** in the light of Yahweh."

Actions of greater or lesser desirability
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

These may include instructions, requests, permissions, invitations,
assurances, wishes, etc.

.. csv-table:: Example: JER 40:15

  אֵ֤לְכָה נָּא֙ וְאַכֶּה֙ אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה
  **'elekhah** na' we'akkeh 'eth-yishma'el ben-nethanyah
  **Let-me-go** oh and-I-will-kill [dir.obj]\_Ishmael son-of\_Nethaniah
  **Allow me to go** kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah.

.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 3:3

  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה **אָסֻֽרָה**\ ־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה
  wayyomer mosheh **'asurah**-nna **we'er'eh**
  And-he-said Moses **let-me-turn-aside**\ \_oh **and-let-me-see**
  "Moses said, ""**I will turn aside and see**"""

.. csv-table:: Example: PSA 25:2

  אֱלֹהַ֗י בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁה
  'elohay bekha vatahti 'al-**'evoshah**
  My-God in-you I-trust not\_\ **let-me-be-ashamed**
  "My God, I trust in you. **Do not let me be humiliated**"