Summary
A Sequential Perfect verb often expresses the same kinds of action as the Imperfect conjugation, but it also connects to an
earlier verb to form either a sequence of time or a sequence of thought. However, in Biblical Hebrew a Sequential Perfect
verb has an additional and unique potential to express the same kind of action as the verb immediately preceding it.
Article
The Sequential Perfect conjugation looks very similar to the normal
Perfect form,
but it is a separate verbal form and must be treated as such. The
Sequential Perfect conjugation takes the same verbal endings as the
normal Perfect conjugation but includes the
conjunction
waw (וְ "and") as a prefix. A Sequential Perfect
verb
does not function like a normal Perfect conjugation verb. Rather, it functions more like an Imperfect verb,
because it often appears in a series following a
clause with an Imperfect verb.
Note
The Sequential Pefect conjugation has an additional function that is unique among all verbal conjugations in Biblical Hebrew.
A Sequential Verb often, but not always, expresses the same kind of action as the preceding verb. This is often the case when
a Sequential Perfect verbs are used to express a sequence of incomplete actions, a sequence of imperatives, or a sequence of
verbal actions expressing possibility or desirability.
There is a difference between (1) the Sequential Perfect conjugation, (2)
the Perfect copulative,
and (3) the normal Imperfect conjugation with the conjunction. (1) and (2)
have an identical form, including the vocalization, so the reader must
determine from the context which one is being used in any given
instance. (1) is also different than (3), although they can have similar
meanings. The Sequential Perfect conjugation ((1) above) forms a sequence
with the verb in the clause before it, but the normal Imperfect conjugation
((3) above) with the conjunction does not.
Function
The Sequential Perfect conjugation can indicate any one of many different
kinds of actions:
Incomplete actions, in present or future time
Example: JER 43:12
| וְהִצַּ֣תִּי אֵ֗שׁ בְּבָתֵּי֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם |
| wehitsatti 'esh bevottey 'elohe mitsrayim |
| and-I-will-kindle fire in-houses-of gods-of Egypt |
| Then I will light a fire in the temples of Egypt's gods. |
In poetry it can take on a variety of functions, here it clearly
continues the previous Imperfect.
It expresses an habitual action
that is not (never) completed.
Example: PSA 90:6
| בַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃ |
| babboqer yatsits wehalaf la'erev yemolel weyavesh |
| in-the-morning it-blossoms and-it-renews at-the-evening it-withers
and-it-dries |
| In the morning it blooms and grows up; in the evening it withers
and dries up. |
Frequentive or durative actions
These may be in past time, present time, future time, or without a
specified timeframe.
Example: 1SA 5:7
| וַיִּרְא֥וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד כִּֽי־כֵ֑ן וְאָמְר֗וּ |
| wayyir'u 'anshe-'ashdod ki-khen we'omru |
| and-they-saw men-of_Ashdod that_thus and-they-were-saying |
| When the men of Ashdod realized what was happening, they said |
Direct or indirect commands
In the following example, the Sequential Perfect conjugation is
translated with imperative meaning.
Example: 2SA 7:5
| לֵ֤ךְ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ אֶל־עַבְדִּ֣י אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד |
| lekh we'amarta 'el-'avdi 'el-dawid |
| go and-say to_my-servant to_David |
| Go and tell David my servant |
In the following example, the Sequential Perfect conjugation is
translated with jussive meaning.
Example: GEN 31:44
| וְהָיָ֥ה לְעֵ֖ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽךָ |
| wehayah le'ed beni uvenekha |
| and-let-it-be for-a-witness between-me and-between-you |
| and let it be for a witness between you and me. |
Imaginary, possible, or conditional actions
Example: EXO 21:20
- וְכִֽי־יַכֶּה֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּ֜וֹ א֤וֹ אֶת־אֲמָתוֹ֙ בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט
- וּמֵ֖ת
|
| wekhi-yakkeh 'ish 'eth-'avdo 'o 'eth-'amatho bashevet umeth |
- and-if_he-strikes man [dir.obj]_his-servant or
- [dir.obj]_his-female-servant with-the-rod and-he-dies
|
- If a man hits his male servant or his female servant with a staff,
- and if the servant dies
|
Actions of greater or lesser desirability
These may include instructions, requests, permissions, invitations,
assurances, wishes, etc.
In the following example, the Sequential Perfect conjugation is
translated with cohortative meaning.
Example: RUT 2:7
| אֲלַקֳטָה־נָּא֙ וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י בָֽעֳמָרִ֔ים |
| 'alaqotah-nna' we'asafti vo'omarim |
| let-me-glean_oh and-let-me-gather among-the-reapers |
| Please let me glean and gather after the reapers. |
