Chapter 18 — Qal Imperative Passage Exercise

For each highlighted form: (a) Form Type, (b) Person, (c) Number, (d) Gender, (e) Root, (f) Usage Note. Click ▶ Answer to reveal.

Remember: Positive commands use the Imperative (no prefix). Negative commands use אַל + Jussive or לֹא + Imperfect — never the Imperative. Watch for וְ + Imperative (imperative chain) vs. Weqatal — both start with וְ but serve different functions.

Passage A — Genesis 12:1–3 (The Call of Abraham)

לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖
וַ/עֲזֹב־אֶת־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ
אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃
וֶ/הְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃

Genesis 12:1–2

#	Form	Form Type	Person	Num.	Gen.
1	לֶךְ
Imperative	2nd	s	m	הלך	Direct Command — I-י short form; ה of הלך absent; "Go!" — God's foundational call to Abraham
2	עֲזֹב
Imperative	2nd	s	m	עזב	Direct Command — Strong A-class; "Leave!" — second imperative in the triple command sequence
3	וֶהְיֵה
Imperative	2nd	s	m	היה	Direct Command — III-ה; וְ + Imperative (imperative chain, not Weqatal); "and be a blessing" — the purpose of the command

Passage B — Genesis 22:1–2 (The Binding of Isaac)

קַח־נָ֠א אֶת־בִּנְךָ֨ אֶת־יְחִֽידְךָ֤
אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֙בְתָּ֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק
וְ/לֶךְ־לְךָ֔ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּ֑ה
וְ/הַעֲלֵ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה

Genesis 22:2

#	Form	Form Type	Person	Num.	Gen.
4	קַח
Imperative	2nd	s	m	לקח	Direct Command — I-י short form; נָא adds urgency/entreaty; "Take now your son"
5	וְלֶךְ
Imperative	2nd	s	m	הלך	Command Chain — וְ + Imperative (not Weqatal); continues series of divine commands
6	וְהַעֲלֵהוּ
Imperative	2nd	s	m	עלה	Command Chain — HIPHIL Imperative 2ms + 3ms suffix (-הוּ); "offer him up" — not Qal; note the הַ– causative prefix marks Hiphil

Passage C — Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (The Shema)

שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃
וְ/אָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ
וְ/שִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ
וְ/דִבַּרְתָּ֣ בָּ֔ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֥ בְבֵיתֶ֖ךָ

Deuteronomy 6:4–7

#	Form	Form Type	Person	Num.	Gen.
7	שְׁמַע
Imperative	2nd	s	m	שמע	Direct Command — B-class; Pathach (gutt. R3); the Shema imperative — launches the Deu 6 command chain
8	וְאָהַבְתָּ
Weqatal	2nd	s	m	אהב	Command Chain — Weqatal (not Imperative) continues the command chain after שְׁמַע; "and you shall love"
9	וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם
Weqatal	2nd	s	m	שנן	Command Chain — Piel Weqatal; "and you shall teach them diligently"; continues Shema command chain
10	וְדִבַּרְתָּ
Weqatal	2nd	s	m	דבר	Command Chain — Piel Weqatal; "and you shall speak of them"; extends obligation to all contexts of daily life

Passage D — Genesis 1:28 + Exodus 3:5 (Creation Mandate and Holy Ground)

פְּר֥וּ וּ/רְב֖וּ וּ/מִלְא֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ [Gen 1:28]

אַל־תִּקְרַ֣ב הֲלֹ֑ם שַׁל־נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵעַ֣ל רַגְלֶ֔יךָ [Exo 3:5]

#	Form	Form Type	Person	Num.	Gen.
11	פְּרוּ
Imperative	2nd	p	m	פרה	Direct Command — III-ה 2mp; ה drops before -וּ; creation mandate "Be fruitful!"
12	רְבוּ
Imperative	2nd	p	m	רבה	Direct Command — III-ה 2mp; paired with פְּרוּ; "Multiply!"
13	מִלְאוּ
Imperative	2nd	p	m	מלא	Direct Command — III-א 2mp; aleph quiesces; "Fill (the earth)!"
14	אַל־תִּקְרַב
Jussive (with אַל)	2nd	s	m	קרב	Prohibition — אַל + Jussive 2ms; NOT Imperative — negative commands always use Jussive; "Do not come near here!"
15	שַׁל נְעָלֶיךָ
Imperative	2nd	s	m	שלף (or של)	Direct Command — Imperative 2ms; "Remove your sandals!" — standing on holy ground; positive command resumes after the prohibition

Passage E — Numbers 13:17–18 (Scouting Canaan)

עֲל֥וּ זֶ֖ה בַּנֶּ֑גֶב

Numbers 13:17

#	Form	Form Type	Person	Num.	Gen.	Root	Usage Note
16	עֲלוּ
Imperative	2nd	p	m	עלה	Direct Command — III-ה + I-gutt. 2mp; ה drops before -וּ; Moses's command to the scouts to go up into the Negev

Reflection Questions

In Passage A (Gen 12:1–2), Genesis uses a sequence of three imperatives (לֶךְ … עֲזֹב … וֶהְיֵה) rather than weqatal forms. In Passage C (Deu 6:4–7), a single imperative (שְׁמַע) launches a chain of Weqatal forms. What does the choice between imperative chain (וְ + Imperative) and Weqatal chain communicate about the grammatical weight or force of the commands in each passage?
In Passage D (Exo 3:5), the prohibition "Do not come near" uses אַל + Jussive (אַל־תִּקְרַב), while the positive command "Remove your sandals" uses the Imperative (שַׁל). Hebrew consistently distinguishes positive from negative commands at the grammatical level. Why do you think the language reserves the Imperative exclusively for positive commands? What would it mean theologically or rhetorically if negative commands could also use the Imperative form?
In Passage D (Gen 1:28), the creation mandate is expressed as a triplet of imperatives addressed to humanity: פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ. These are 2mp forms (addressed to the first humans together). How does the choice of the plural imperative vs. a singular imperative shape the nature of the command? What other occasions in Genesis do you observe God shifting between singular and plural direct address, and what might that signal?