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

.. _verb_imperative:

Verb Imperative
===============

Summary
-------

An imperative verb is used to express direct commands, instructions, and
other similar actions with varying degrees of desirability as determined
by the context.

Article
-------

In Biblical Hebrew, the Imperative form is used to express positive
commands or instructions directed to another person(s). Thus, Imperative
:ref:`verbs<verb>`
always appear only in the :ref:`second person<person_second>`.
(Similarly,
:ref:`Cohortative<verb_cohortative>`
verbs appear only in the :ref:`first person<person_first>`,
and
:ref:`Jussive<verb_jussive>`
verbs usually appear in the :ref:`third person<person_third>`.)
Imperative verbs can express actions with varying degrees of
desirability, including instructions, requests, permissions,
invitations, assurances, wishes, etc. The context must determine the
nuanced meaning of each instance of an Imperative verb.

Biblical Hebrew does not use the Imperative form to express negative
commands. Rather, prohibitions are expressed either with the :ref:`Imperfect<verb_imperfect>`
(with :ref:`particle_negative-lo`)
or with a Jussive verb in the 2nd person (with :ref:`particle_negative-al`).
Occasionally, the Imperative form will appear with a :ref:`paragogic ה suffix<suffix_paragogic_he>`;
in these cases, the meaning of the ה suffix is unknown but probably functions to strengthen the force of the verb in some way.

Form
----

.. csv-table:: Qal Imperative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular,כְּבַד,kevad,you must be heavy
  feminine singular,כִּבְדִי,kivdi,you must be heavy
  masculine plural,כִּבְדוּ,kivdu,you must be heavy
  feminine plural,כְּבַדְנָה,kevadnah,you must be heavy

.. csv-table:: Niphal Imperative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular,הִקָּטֵל,hiqqatel,you must be killed
  feminine singular,הִקָּטְלִי,hiqqatli,you must be killed
  masculine plural,הִקָּטְלוּ,hiqqatlu,you must be killed
  feminine plural,הִקָּטַלְנָה,hiqqatalnah,you must be killed

.. csv-table:: Hiphil Imperative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular,הַקְטֵל,haqtel,you must cause to kill
  feminine singular,הַקְטִילִי,haqtili,you must cause to kill
  masculine plural,הַקְטִילוּ,haqtilu,you must cause to kill
  feminine plural,הַקְטֵלְנָה,haqtelenah,you must cause to kill

.. csv-table:: Piel Imperative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular,קַטֵּל,qattel,you must slaughter
  feminine singular,קַטְּלִי,qatteli,you must slaughter
  masculine plural,קַטְּלוּ,qattelu,you must slaughter
  feminine plural,קַטֵּלְנָה,qattelnah,you must slaughter

.. csv-table:: Hithpael Imperative Paradigm
  :header-rows: 1

  Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
  masculine singular,הִתְקַטֵּל,hitqattel,he must kill himself
  feminine singular,הִתְקַטְּלִי,hitqatteli,she must kill herself
  masculine plural,הִתְקַטְּלוּ,hitqattelu,they must kill themselves
  feminine plural,הִתְקַטֵּלְנָה,hitqattelnah,they must kill themselves

Function
--------

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

Direct commands or instructions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. csv-table:: Example: JER 43:9

  קַ֣ח בְּיָדְךָ֞ אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֗וֹת
  **qah** beyodkha 'avanim gedoloth
  **Take** in-your-hand stones large
  **Take** some large stones in your hand
  
.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 60:1

  ק֥וּמִי א֖וֹרִי כִּ֣י בָ֣א אוֹרֵ֑ךְ
  **qumiy 'oriy** kiy ba' 'orekh
  **Arise shine** for it-has-come your-light
  **Arise, shine;** for your light has come
  
.. csv-table:: Example: JON 1:2

  ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה
  **qum** lekh 'el-niyneveh
  **Rise go** to_Nineveh
  Get up, go to Nineveh

Actions of greater or lesser desirability
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 12:13

  אִמְרִי־נָ֖א אֲחֹ֣תִי אָ֑תְּ
  **'imri**-na 'ahothi 'at
  **Say**\ \_oh my-sister you
  **Say** that you are my sister

.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 18:23

  וִיהִי־מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ
  wihi-mah 'aruts wayyomer lo **ruts**
  And-it-will-be\_whatever I-will-run and-he-said to-him **run**
  """Whatever happens,"" said Ahimaaz, ""I will run."" So Joab answered him,
     ""**Run**""."

.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 8:10

  עֻ֥צוּ עֵצָ֖ה וְתֻפָ֑ר
  **'utsu** 'etsah wethufar
  **Advise** counsel and-it-will-be-made-ineffectual
  **Form** a plan, but it will not be carried out

.. csv-table:: Example: 1KI 2:22

  וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־לוֹ֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה
  **wesha'ali**-lo 'eth-hammelukhah
  **And-ask**\ \_for-him [dir.obj]\_the-kingdom
  **Why do you not ask** the kingdom for him also?