Verb Imperative

Summary

An imperative verb is used to express direct commands, instructions, and other similar actions with varying degrees of desirability as determined by the context.

Article

In Biblical Aramaic, the Imperative form is used to express positive commands or instructions directed to another person(s). Thus, Imperative verbs always appear only in the second person. Imperative verbs can express actions with varying degrees of desirability, including instructions, requests, permissions, invitations, assurances, wishes, etc. The context must determine the nuanced meaning of each instance of an Imperative verb.

Biblical Aramaic does not use the Imperative form to express negative commands. Rather, prohibitions are expressed with the Imperfect form.

Form

Pe’al Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Aramaic	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	כְּתֻב	kethub	Write!
feminine singular	כְּתֻבִי	kethubhiy	Write!
masculine plural	כְּתֻבוּ	kethubhu	Write!
feminine plural	כְּתֻבָה	kethubhah	Write!

Pa’el Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Aramaic	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	כַּתֵּב	kattebh	Write down!
feminine singular	כַּתִּבִי	kattibhiy	Write down!
masculine plural	כַּתִּבוּ	kattibhu	Write down!
feminine plural	כַּתִּבָה	kattibhah	Write down!

Haphel Imperative Paradigm

Parsing	Aramaic	Transliteration	Gloss
masculine singular	הַכְתֵּב	hakhtebh	Cause to write!
feminine singular	הַכְתִּבִי	hakhtibhiy	Cause to write!
masculine plural	הַכְתִּבוּ	hakhtibhu	Cause to write!
feminine plural	הַכְתִּבָה	hakhtibhah	Cause to write!

Function

Direct commands or instructions

Actions of greater or lesser desirability