Imperatives,
Emphatic Imperatives,
& Negative Prohibitions
Imperatives are simple positive commands, never prohibitions, and are always used with the second person singular or plural of a verb, and the emphatic imperative, like the Cohortative, has a הָ attached to the end of the imperative. In addition, as with the Cohortative and the Jussive, so too with the Imperative, the particle הָ may be attached to the end of the Imperative for emphasis, and also with the appended ־נָא. With regard to a negative prohibition, it will occur with the Hebrew particle לֹא (lō), "no or not," with a normal imperfect, or with a jussive with the particle אַל (’al), "not."
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Simple Imperative
- “Honor (כַּבֵּד – kabbēd) your father and mother,...” (Deuteronomy 5:16).
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Emphatic Imperatives with
הָ and ־נָא:
- “Arise (קוּמָה – qûmâ – emphatic imperative with appended הָ) Oh God judge (שָׁפְטָה – shophṭâ – emphatic imperative with appended הָ) the earth,...” (Psalm 28:8).
- “Speak now (דַּבֶּר־נָא – dabber-nâ – emphatic imperative with appended (־נָא in the hearing of the people...” (Exodus 11:2).
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Negative Prohibition
- “you will not listen (לֹא תִשְׁמַע – lō’ tišma‘) to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams;...” (Deuteronomy 13:3).
- “Do not hide (אַל־תַּסְתֵּר – ’al-tastēr) Your face from me,...” (Psalm 27:9).
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
