BBA Chapter 14 — Peal Imperfect

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt
Chapter 14: Peal Imperfect

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1. Introduction — The Peal Imperfect

Chapter 13 established the Peal perfect, the backbone of Biblical Aramaic narrative. Chapter 14 introduces its counterpart: the Peal imperfect. Together these two finite verb forms account for the overwhelming majority of verbs in Daniel and Ezra.

Aspect: Perfect vs. Imperfect

The contrast between perfect and imperfect in Biblical Aramaic is fundamentally aspectual, not purely temporal:

The imperfect is therefore used for:

• Future action — what will happen: "he will write"
• Modal action — what may or should happen: "he may write," "let him write"
• Progressive or habitual action — what was happening or used to happen in the past (especially in subordinate clauses)

Comparison to Hebrew: The Peal imperfect is the direct functional equivalent of the Hebrew Qal imperfect (yiqtol). Biblical Aramaic has no wayyiqtol and no weqatal, so the imperfect carries modal and future loads that Hebrew distributes across several forms. Think of it as "the form that covers everything the Qal yiqtol does — and more."

2. The Strong Verb Paradigm

2.1 The Abstract Pattern — יִקְטֻל

The paradigm of the Peal imperfect is built around a model root קטל (the universal Semitic "grammar root" meaning "to kill"). The abstract model form is יִקְטֻל (3ms). Learn this form as the template before filling in real roots.

Structural analysis of יִקְטֻל:

• Prefix יִ- — the third-masculine-singular prefix; the yod + hireq is characteristic of the Aramaic imperfect
• Root consonants ק-ט-ל — the three radicals
• Stem vowel ֻ (shureq/qibbuts) — the characteristic u-class vowel under the third radical; this is the diagnostic of the standard Peal imperfect pattern

The full abstract paradigm:

Note on 3ms/2ms identity: In the abstract pattern (and in many actual verbs), the 3ms and 2ms forms are identical: both are תִּקְטֻל. Context — including the subject noun or pronoun — disambiguates them. This is a well-known feature of the Aramaic imperfect.

2.2 The Actual Paradigm — יִכְתֻּב (Peal imperfect of כְּתַב "to write")

The model verb for the paradigm is כְּתַב (to write). Its Peal imperfect 3ms is יִכְתֻּב.

How to Memorize the Paradigm

The imperfect has four prefixes and four suffixes. Master these eight elements and the paradigm writes itself.

Prefixes:
- יִ- — 3ms, 3mp, 3fp (yod + hireq)
- תִּ- — 3fs, 2ms, 2fs, 2mp, 2fp (tav + hireq)
- אֶ- — 1cs (aleph + seghol)
- נִ- — 1cp (nun + hireq)

Suffixes:
- — (none) — 3ms, 3fs/2ms, 1cs, 1cp (the base suffix forms)
- ִין- — 2fs (hireq + yod + nun)
- וּן- — 3mp, 2mp (shureq + nun)
- ָן- — 3fp, 2fp (qamets + nun)

Practical tip for the corpus: In Daniel and Ezra the 3ms (יִ- no suffix) form is by far the most frequent. The 3mp (יִ- + וּן) is second. The feminine and 2nd-person forms appear far less often. Master 3ms and 3mp forms first.

3. Comparison to the Hebrew Qal Imperfect

You know the Hebrew Qal imperfect well. The following comparison highlights what is the same and what has changed.

Key Diagnostic Differences

1. The stem vowel: u not o

The most immediately visible difference between Hebrew and Aramaic imperfects is the stem vowel under the final root consonant. Hebrew Qal uses holem (ֹ), producing the familiar yiqtol pattern. Aramaic Peal uses qibbuts/shureq (ֻ/וּ), producing the u-class stem.

יִכְתֹּב (Hebrew) → יִכְתֻּב (Aramaic)

When you see an imperfect-looking form with a u-vowel in the stem position, your first hypothesis is: Aramaic Peal imperfect.

2. The nun-suffix on plural and 2fs forms

Hebrew plurals end in û (shureq) for 3mp and 2mp. Aramaic adds a final nun: -וּן (shureq + nun). This "nun paragogicum" is one of the most reliable Aramaic diagnostic features:

Hebrew: יִכְתְּבוּ → Aramaic: יִכְתְּבוּן

Similarly, Hebrew 2fs ends in -î (yod), while Aramaic 2fs ends in -în (yod + nun).

3. The 3fp/2fp suffix -ָן

Hebrew 3fp imperfect uses the prefix תִּ- with the ending -נָה (תִּכְתֹּבְנָה). Aramaic uses the prefix יִ- for 3fp and the suffix -ָן (qamets + nun). This is a clean contrast that eliminates ambiguity once you know it.

4. The i-vowel prefix — consistently יִ-, תִּ-, אֶ-, נִ-

Aramaic imperfect prefixes consistently use hireq (i-vowel) under yod, tav, and nun. Hebrew uses the same pattern (yod + hireq for 3ms) — so the prefix system is essentially identical. The seghol under the aleph (אֶ-) also matches Hebrew exactly.

4. The Vowel Pattern — u-Class and i-Class Verbs

Most Peal imperfect verbs follow the u-class pattern, with qibbuts or shureq in the final stem position:

יִכְתֻּב, יִשְׁלַח → u-class (standard strong verb)

However, some verbs follow an i-class pattern with hireq in the stem position:

יִשְׁמַע → some sources show yiqtol yishma' with i-vowel in certain paradigms

In practice, for strong roots in Biblical Aramaic, the u-class (קֻטֻל pattern) is the standard. The distinction is lexically determined (it reflects the historical root class) and must be learned verb by verb. The key point: always check whether the stem vowel is u or i when parsing an unfamiliar imperfect.

5. Weak Verb Patterns in the Peal Imperfect

The same weak root classes that appeared in the Peal perfect reappear in the imperfect, now with different behaviors because the weak consonant interacts with the prefix rather than a suffix.

5.1 I-Aleph Verbs — אֲמַר (to say) → יֵאמַר / יֵימַר

In I-aleph verbs, the initial aleph of the root interacts with the prefix vowel. In the imperfect, the aleph quiesces after the prefix, causing compensatory lengthening of the prefix vowel:

• 3ms Peal perfect: אֲמַר
• 3ms Peal imperfect: יֵאמַר (or יֵימַר in some manuscripts)

The prefix יִ- lengthens its hireq to tsere (יֵ-) because the aleph following it cannot carry a full vowel and effectively disappears phonetically. The resulting form has a long ē vowel in the prefix syllable.

Prefix pattern for I-aleph imperfect: יִ- → יֵ- (tsere before quiescent aleph)

Other I-aleph imperfects follow the same pattern:
- אכל (to eat): יֵאכֻל
- אזל (to go): יֵאזַל

5.2 I-Nun Verbs — נְפַל (to fall) → יִפַּל

In I-nun verbs, the nun assimilates into the following consonant when placed immediately before it — exactly as in Hebrew Qal imperfect (compare Hebrew יִפֹּל from root נפל). The assimilation is marked by a dagesh forte in the second radical:

• 3ms Peal perfect: נְפַל (nun is fully written — no assimilation in perfect)
• 3ms Peal imperfect: יִפַּל (nun assimilates → dagesh in peh)

Contrast with the perfect: The I-nun perfect preserves the nun (נְפַל). The I-nun imperfect drops it into the dagesh (יִפַּל). This is the reverse of what students sometimes expect — the perfect is "safe" for I-nun, but the imperfect triggers assimilation.

This mirrors Hebrew precisely: Hebrew יִפֹּל (imperfect of נפל) has the same dagesh-lene (actually dagesh-forte) in peh from the assimilated nun.

5.3 I-Waw / I-Yod Verbs — יְהַב (to give) → יִנְתֵּן

The root יהב (to give) is a I-yod root. In the imperfect, the yod of the root drops entirely and the stem is replaced by a suppletive form. The Peal imperfect of יהב is יִנְתֵּן — from a different but related root (נתן, the same root used in Hebrew for "to give"). This suppletive form is irregular and must be memorized:

יהב (Peal perfect, "he gave") — יִנְתֵּן (Peal imperfect, "he will give")

This suppletive relationship is a famous oddity in Biblical Aramaic and appears frequently in Daniel and Ezra.

5.4 Hollow Verbs — קוּם (to arise) → יְקוּם

In hollow verbs (II-waw/II-yod roots), the middle vowel is a long ū (shureq) that appears between the first and third radicals. The imperfect prefix vowel shifts to shewa:

• 3ms Peal perfect: קָם (qamets-aleph contraction)
• 3ms Peal imperfect: יְקוּם (shewa prefix + long ū between first and third radical)

The prefix vowel pattern is shewa (not hireq): יְ- rather than יִ-. This is the hallmark of hollow verb imperfects in both Hebrew and Aramaic.

Compare Hebrew: יָקוּם (3ms) has qamets-patach prefix + shureq. The Aramaic יְקוּם uses shewa prefix + shureq. Both have the long ū as the stem vowel.

Similarly, the verb שִׂים (to place, set) forms its imperfect as יָשִׂים / יְשִׂים, with the long î vowel replacing the hollow root.

5.5 III-Aleph Verbs — שׁנא (to change) → יִשְׁנֵא

In III-aleph verbs, the final aleph quiesces at the end of the word in the imperfect, just as in the perfect. The result is a long vowel before the silent aleph:

• 3ms Peal imperfect: יִשְׁנֵא (tsere + aleph mater)

The pattern is: the final aleph is present in the spelling but phonetically silent — it serves as a mater lectionis for the preceding long vowel. The characteristic tsere (ē) before the final aleph in III-aleph imperfects is a reliable diagnostic.

5.6 III-He Verbs — הֲוָה (to be) → יֶהֱוֵא; בְּנָה (to build) → יִבְנֵא

In III-he verbs, the final he drops when followed by a suffix (as in the perfect), but in the unsuffixed imperfect, the final he appears as a mater lectionis or is replaced by aleph. The forms can be complex:

הֲוָה (to be, to exist, to happen)

The Peal imperfect of הֲוָה is יֶהֱוֵא:

Note the distinctive seghol under the prefix (יֶ-) and the hateph-seghol under the first root radical (הֱ-) — both arising from the initial guttural he of the root. The final aleph (א) is the III-aleph replacement for the original III-he.

Critical form to master: יֶהֱוֵא is extremely frequent in Daniel and Ezra, appearing in decrees, prophecy, and conditional clauses. "It will be that..." (יֶהֱוֵא דִּי...) is a formulaic phrase.

בְּנָה (to build)

The Peal imperfect of בְּנָה is יִבְנֵא:

The tsere + aleph (ֵא) at the end of the 3ms and 2ms is the signature ending for III-he verbs in the imperfect.

5.7 Geminate Verbs — עלל (to enter) → יְעֻל / יֵעֻל

In geminate verbs, the doubled consonant pattern shows differently in the imperfect. The verb עַל (Peal perfect 3ms of root עלל, "to enter") forms its imperfect as יְעֻל or יֵעֻל — the two identical root consonants collapse into a single consonant with the remaining vowel. Context and comparison with the perfect form help identify these.

6. Translation — Imperfect Aspect in Biblical Aramaic

6.1 Future Action

The default translation of the Peal imperfect is simple future:

יִכְתֻּב מַלְכָּא — "the king will write"
יֵאמַר דָּנִיֵּאל — "Daniel will say"
יְקוּם מַלְכָּא — "the king will arise"

In narrative, whenever the storyline moves forward to describe what will happen — especially in divine pronouncements, royal decrees, and prophetic oracles — the imperfect is the expected form.

6.2 Modal Uses — "May," "Should," "Must"

The imperfect also expresses possibility and obligation:

לָא יִסְגְּדוּן לְצַלְמָא — "They must not bow down to the statue." (prohibition)
מַן יִכְלֻן לְמִפְרַק — "Who can rescue from his hand?" (possibility)

6.3 Progressive / Habitual Past (in Subordinate Clauses)

In temporal and conditional clauses, the imperfect can describe ongoing or habitual action in the past:

כְּדִי יִשְׁמַע קָל קַרְנָא — "whenever he heard the sound of the horn…" (iterative past)

6.4 Jussive — Third-Person Wish or Command

The 3rd person imperfect used as a jussive expresses a wish or indirect command:

יְקוּם מַלְכָּא לְעָלַם — "Let the king live forever!"
יֶהֱוֵא אֱלָהָהּ בְּסַעְדֵנָא — "May their God be with them!"

The jussive is formally identical to the regular imperfect; only context — especially the formula לְ + infinitive or doxological framing — signals jussive meaning.

7. The Peal Imperfect in Daniel and Ezra — Illustrative Examples

The following forms are drawn directly from the Biblical Aramaic corpus.

Daniel 2:9 — 3mp Peal imperfect of אמר (I-aleph), prohibition

לָא תֵּאמְרוּן קֳדָמַי

"Do not say before me…"

תֵּאמְרוּן: 2mp Peal imperfect, root אמר (I-aleph). Prefix תִּ- → תֵּ- (compensatory lengthening before quiescent aleph). Suffix -וּן (2mp). The prohibitive לָא + imperfect = "do not."

Daniel 2:28 — 3ms Peal imperfect of הוה (III-he)

אִיתַי אֱלָהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא גָּלֵא רָזִין וְהוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מָה דִּי יֶהֱוֵא בְּאַחֲרִית יוֹמַיָּא

"There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days."

יֶהֱוֵא: 3ms Peal imperfect of הוה (to be). Seghol prefix (יֶ-) + hateph-seghol under he (הֱ-) + tsere + aleph ending (ֵא). One of the most diagnostic and frequent imperfect forms in the corpus.

Daniel 3:6 — 3ms Peal imperfect of רמה (to throw), jussive force

וּמַן-דִּי לָא יִפֶּל וְיִסְגֻּד יִתְרְמֵא לְגוֹא-אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא

"…and whoever does not fall down and bow down shall be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace."

יִתְרְמֵא: this is actually Ithpeel (passive), but note the parallel יִסְגֻּד — 3ms Peal imperfect of סגד (to bow down). The u-vowel under the dalet is the Peal imperfect diagnostic.

Daniel 3:18 — 3ms Peal imperfect of יהב (suppletive) → יִנְתֵּן

וְהֵן לָא יְדִיעַ לֶהֱוֵא לָךְ מַלְכָּא דִּי לֵאלָהָיְךְ לָא אִיתַנָא פָּלְחִין

"But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods…"

לֶהֱוֵא: Peal imperfect 3ms of הוה (with prefixed לְ). The combination לֶהֱוֵא יְדִיעַ ("let it be known") = a periphrastic passive used formulaically in Aramaic decree language.

Daniel 6:11 — 3ms Peal imperfect of קום (hollow)

וְדָנִיֵּאל כְּדִי יְדַע דִּי-רְשִׁים כְּתָבָא עַל לְבַיְתֵהּ

"Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house."

עַל: Peal perfect 3ms of עלל (geminate, "to enter/go in"). Note: this is perfect, not imperfect — included to contrast with the imperfect יֶהֱוֵא in the same verse context. The geminate imperfect would be יֵעֻל.

Ezra 7:25 — 2mp Peal imperfect of מנה (to appoint) — context of command

וְאַנְתְּ עֶזְרָא כְּחִכְמַת אֱלָהָךְ דִּי בִידָךְ מַנִּי שָׁפְטִין וְדַיָּנִין

"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges…"

The imperfect is frequently used in Ezra in the context of royal commands, where it carries an imperatival or jussive nuance.

Daniel 4:14 — 3mp Peal imperfect of יְהַב → יִנְתְּנוּן (or: the suppletive form)

עַד דִּי אַנְתְּ תִּנְדַּע דִּי שַׁלִּיט עִלָּאָה בְּמַלְכוּת אֲנָשָׁא וּלְמַן-דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִנְתְּנִנַּהּ

"…until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."

יִנְתְּנִנַּהּ: Peal imperfect 3ms of the suppletive root נתן (the imperfect form of יהב "to give") + pronominal suffix. The form shows the I-nun assimilation: נ → dagesh in תּ.

8. The Jussive — Third-Person Imperfect as Wish or Command

The jussive is not a separate morphological form in Aramaic — it uses the ordinary 3rd person imperfect. The signal is semantic and contextual:

1. Liturgical doxologies: Praise formulas addressed to God

   יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ — "May his great name be blessed!" (Dan 2:20)
   יְהֵא: 3ms Peal imperfect of הוה, jussive ("may it be")

2. Royal decrees issuing commands indirectly:

   יִתְּנֵא לֵהּ — "Let it be given to him" (passive imperfect, indirect command)

3. After particle דִּי:

   אָמַר דִּי יִבְנוֹן — "He said that they should build" (indirect discourse with imperfect of purpose/volition)

The key practical lesson: when you encounter a 3rd-person imperfect preceded by a wish particle, in a prayer, or introducing an indirect command, translate it as "let him/her/they…" or "may…" rather than a simple future.

9. Summary Paradigm Table

Strong Verb — יִכְתֻּב (Peal imperfect of כְּתַב "to write")

Diagnostic Prefixes — Quick Reference

Diagnostic Suffixes — Quick Reference

Key Weak-Verb Imperfect Forms

10. Key Points for Hebrew Students — Summary

1. Same prefix system as Hebrew Qal imperfect — יִ-, תִּ-, אֶ-, נִ- are identical to Hebrew. The imperfect "looks like" Hebrew from the prefix perspective.

2. The stem vowel is u, not o — Aramaic Peal imperfect uses qibbuts/shureq (יִקְטֻל), not the Hebrew holem (יִקְטֹל). This is the first thing to check when distinguishing Hebrew from Aramaic imperfects.

3. The plural and 2fs forms add a final nun — יִכְתְּבוּן (not יִכְתְּבוּ), תִּכְתְּבִין (not תִּכְתְּבִי). This "energic nun" is diagnostic for Aramaic.

4. I-nun assimilation happens in the imperfect (unlike the perfect) — נפל → יִפַּל; the nun disappears into a dagesh forte in peh. Exactly as in Hebrew Qal imperfect (Hebrew יִפֹּל, Aramaic יִפַּל — same pattern).

5. I-aleph roots lengthen the prefix vowel — יִ- → יֵ- before a quiescent aleph (יֵאמַר). The tsere prefix is a reliable I-aleph imperfect marker.

6. Hollow verb imperfects have shewa prefix — יְקוּם, not יִקוּם. The shewa under the prefix (יְ-) in a hollow-looking stem is a signal.

7. יהב has a suppletive imperfect: יִנְתֵּן — the most important lexical irregularity in BBA. "To give" switches roots between perfect and imperfect.

8. יֶהֱוֵא is the most frequent imperfect in the corpus — master it cold. It appears in formulas, decrees, visions, and doxologies.

9. The jussive = the 3rd person imperfect — there is no separate jussive form. Context determines whether "he will write" or "let him write" is the correct rendering.

10. 3ms and 2ms are identical — תִּכְתֻּב can be either. Subject pronouns or context disambiguate.

11. Practice

The exercise for this chapter presents twenty Peal imperfect verb forms drawn from Daniel and Ezra. For each form you will identify the root, the PGN (person, gender, number), and provide a translation.