"Qal Imperative in Context" — Ch18 Passage Exercise

Chapter 18 — Qal Imperative

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This passage exercise presents 16 highlighted verb forms drawn from five canonical passages: Genesis 12:1–3 (the Call of Abraham), Genesis 22:1–2 (the Binding of Isaac), Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (the Shema), Genesis 1:28 and Exodus 3:5 (creation mandate and holy ground), and Numbers 13:17 (scouting Canaan). Students identify each form as Imperative, Weqatal, or Jussive, parse its PGN, identify the root, and note its usage (Direct Command, Command Chain, Prohibition, etc.). Form 14 (אַל־תִּקְרַב) deliberately tests the prohibition rule — Hebrew never uses the Imperative for negative commands.

Sample Questions

Q1. 1 לֶךְ

A: Imperative 2nd s m הלך Direct Command — I-י short form; ה of הלך absent; "Go!" — God's foundational call to Abraham

Q2. 2 עֲזֹב

A: Imperative 2nd s m עזב Direct Command — Strong A-class; "Leave!" — second imperative in the triple command sequence

Q3. 3 וֶהְיֵה

A: Imperative 2nd s m היה Direct Command — III-ה; וְ + Imperative (imperative chain, not Weqatal); "and be a blessing" — the purpose of the command