23.6 Syntax of the Volitional

Hebrew likes to link multiple verbs together. Word order can be a big clue in translating volitional clauses.

• Multiple Imperatives (M+M) in succession:
  • עֲלֵה וּקְבֹר אֶת־אָבִיךָ
  • Go up and bury your father (Gen 50:6)

    • This verse would be sequential - go up and (then you can) bury your father
    • The context may indicate a consequential translation - do this so that something else will happen
• An Imperative followed by Perfect with Vav Consecutive (M + Pwc)
  • לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדִּי
  • Go and say to my servant (2 Sam 7:5)
  • The perfect verb acts as if it were a second imperative (“Go and say”, not “go and you will say”)
• Imperative followed by an Imperfect or Cohortative (M+I or M+C) to create a purpose or result. “So that…”
  • רְדוּ־שָׁמָּה וְשִׁבְרוּ־לָנוּ מִשָּׁם וְנִחְיֶה
  • Go down there and buy grain for us from there so that we might live (Gen 42:2)