Summary
An Imperfect verb is used generally to indicate an action
that is not complete, or an action that either occurs in the present or
will occur in the future. However, an Imperfect verb can also be
used to describe other kinds of actions.
Article
In Biblical Hebrew the Imperfect conjugation is used generally to describe
actions that are not completed or actions that occur in the present or
future. However, the Imperfect conjugation is also used to describe several
other kinds of actions as determined by the context. These include
frequentive or durative actions, negative commands, indirect commands,
potential actions, and actions of greater or lesser desirability
(similar to Jussive verbs and Cohortative verbs).
The normal Imperfect conjugation with the
conjunction
waw (וְ "and") as a prefix is different from the Sequential Imperfect,
which utilizes a specialized form of the conjunction and contains a
different meaning. Sometimes a
verb
with Imperfect conjugation occurs within a clause after another finite verb
(as in Gen 49:27 below, supplying the linking verb to be). In these
cases, the context must determine whether the Imperfect verb is
functioning as a non-finite verb to complement the preceding main verb, or whether it is functioning as a
second main verb.
Function
The Imperfect conjugation can indicate any of the following kinds of actions:
Actions in future time
Example: JER 43:13
| וְאֶת־בָּתֵּ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽי־מִצְרַ֖יִם יִשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ |
| we'eth-botte 'elohe-mitsrayim yisrof ba'esh |
| and-[dir.obj]_houses-of gods-of_Egypt he-burns in-the-fire |
| He will burn the temples of Egypt's gods. |
Actions in present time
Example: GEN 32:30
| לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י |
| lammah zeh tish'al lishmi |
| why this you-ask for-my-name |
| Why is it that you ask my name? |
Frequentive or durative actions
These may be in past time, present time, future time, or without a
specified time frame.
Example: GEN 49:27
| בִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף |
| binyamin ze'ev yitraf |
| Benjamin wolf he-tears |
| Benjamin is a hungry wolf. |
Example: JER 43:12
| כַּאֲשֶׁר־יַעְטֶ֤ה הָֽרֹעֶה֙ אֶת־בִּגְד֔וֹ |
| ka'asher-ya'teh haro'eh 'eth-bigdo |
| as-how_he-picks-clean the-shepherd [dir.obj]_his-garment |
| just as shepherds clean vermin off their clothes |
Direct negative commands (with לֹא to express an emphatic prohibition)
Example: JER 43:2
| לֹֽא־תָבֹ֥אוּ מִצְרַ֖יִם לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם |
| lo-thavo'u mitsrayim lagur sham |
| not_you-go Egypt to-sojourn there |
| Do not go to Egypt to live there. |
Potential actions
Example: PSA 23:4
| גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת |
| gam ki-'elekh bege tsalmaweth |
| even if_I-walk in-valley-of deep-darkness |
| Even though I walk through a valley of darkest shadow |
Actions of greater or lesser desirability
These may include instructions, requests, permissions, invitations,
assurances, wishes, etc.
Example: GEN 3:16
| מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃ |
| mikkol 'ets-haggan 'akhol tokhel |
| from-every tree-of_the-garden eating you-eat |
| From every tree in the garden you may freely eat. |
