Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar/108. Use of the Cohortative

by Wilhelm Gesenius

Layout 2

§108. Use of the Cohortative.

a The cohortative, i.e. according to § 48 c, the 1st pers.^[1] sing. or plur. of the imperfect lengthened by the ending ־ָה,^[2] represents in general an endeavour directed expressly towards a definite object. While the corresponding forms of the indicative rather express the mere announcement that an action will be undertaken, the cohortative lays stress on the determination underlying the action, and the personal interest in it.

Its uses may be divided into—

b 1. The cohortative standing alone, or co-ordinated with another cohortative, and frequently strengthened by the addition of the particle נָא:

(a) To express self-encouragement, e.g. Ex 3 אָסֻ֫רָה־נָּא וג׳ I will turn aside now, and see...! So especially as the result of inward deliberation (in soliloquies), e.g. Gn 18, 32 (rarely so used after אַל־, Gn 21 let me not look...! Jer 18), and also as a more or less emphatic statement of a fixed determination, e.g. Is 5 I will sing^[3]...! 5, 31. Cf. also Gn 46 now let me die (I am willing to die), since I have seen thy face; and ψ 31. In the 1st pers. plur. the cohortative includes a summons to others to help in doing something, e.g. ψ 2 נְנַתְּקָה come! let us break asunder! &c., and Gn 11.

c (b) To express a wish, or a request for permission, that one should be allowed to do something, e.g. Dt 2 אֶעְבְּרָה may I be allowed to pass through (let me pass through)! Nu 20 נַעְבְּרָה־נָּא may we be allowed to pass through! Jer 40 let me go, I pray thee! &c.; 2 S 16; so after לֹא 2 S 18; after אַל־ 2 S 24, Jer 17, ψ 25 (אַל־אֵב֫וֹשָׁה let me not be ashamed; cf. ψ 31, 18, 71:1); 69:15. After אַל־נָא Jon 1.

d 2. The cohortative in dependence on other moods, as well as in conditional sentences: (a) In dependence (with wāw copulative; ψ 9 after לְמַ֫עַן) on an imperative or jussive to express an intention or intended consequence, e.g. Gn 27 bring it to me, וְאֹכֵ֑לָה that I may eat, prop. then will I eat; Gn 19, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30 f., 42:34, 49:1, Dt 32, Ho 6, ψ 2, 39, Jb 10 Q^erê; Is 5 and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, וְנֵדָֽעָה that we may know (it)! Gn 26, 1 S 27. Also after negative sentences, Gn 18, 32, Ju 6, and after interrogative sentences, 1 K 22, Is 40, 41, Am 8.

e (b) In conditional sentences (with or without אִם) to express a contingent intention, e.g. Jb 16 אִם־אֲדַבְּרָה should I determine to speak, my grief is not assuaged, וְאַחְדְּלָה and should I forbear, what am I eased? without אִם Jb 19, 30 (where, however, וָאיחלה is probably intended); ψ 73 (unless וָֽאֲח׳ should be read), 139:8 f. After the 3rd person, Jb 11 though it be dark, &c. So perhaps also 2 S 22 אֶרְדְּפָה if I determined to pursue, then ..., but cf. ψ 18.

f (c) Likewise in the apodosis of conditional sentences, e.g. Jb 31 f. if my step hath turned out of the way ..., אֶזְרְעָה then let me sow; cf. 16:4 f. I also could speak as ye do, if ...! So even when the condition must be supplied from the context, e.g. ψ 40 else would I declare and speak of them; 51:18 else would I (gladly) give it, i.e. if thou didst require it (cf. the precisely similar וְאֶשָּׂא ψ 55); Jb 6. In the 1st plur. Jer 20. To the same category belong the cohortatives after the formula expressing a wish מִֽי־יִתֵּן, מִֽי־יִתְּנֵ֫נִי, e.g. Jer 9 oh, that I had ..., וְאֶֽעֶזְבָה then (i.e. if I had) should I (or would I) leave my people, &c.; Ju 9; without Wāw Is 27, ψ 55, Jb 23 (cf. also verse 7).

g Rem. 1. The question, whether a resolution formed under compulsion (a necessity) is also expressed by the cohortative (so, according to the prevailing opinion, in Is 38 אֵלֵ֫כָה; Jer 3, 4, 21, 6:10, ψ 55, 18 (?); 57:5, where, however, with Hupfeld, שָֽׁכְבָה should be read; 77:7, 88:16, and in the 1st plur. Is 59), is to be answered in the sense that in these examples the cohortative form is used after its meaning has become entirely lost, merely for the sake of its fuller sound, instead of the ordinary imperfect. This view is strongly supported by the rather numerous examples of cohortative forms after wāw consec. of the imperfect (cf. § 49 e, as also ψ 66 שָׁם נִשְׂמְחָה there did we rejoice^[4]; ψ 119 וָֽאֲתַעֵ֑בָה; Pr 7), which can likewise only be explained as forms chosen merely for euphony, and therefore due to considerations of rhythm.

h 2. The cohortative is strange after עַד־ ψ 73 until I went... אָבִ֫ינָה I considered their latter end; possibly a pregnant construction for ‘until I made up my mind, saying, I will consider’, &c. (but אָבִ֫ינָה Pr 7 is still dependent on the preceding וָ); עַד־אַרְגִּ֫יעָה Pr 12 is at any rate to be explained in the same way (in Jer 49, 50 we have כִּי־א׳ with a similar meaning), as long as I (intentionally) wink with the eyelashes (shall wink). On the other hand, in Ex 32 אֲכַפֵּר is to be read, with the Samaritan, instead of אֲכַפְּרָה after אוּלַי.

1. For the few examples of cohortatives in the 3rd sing., see § 48 d.
2. But verbs ל״ה, according to § 75 l, even in the cohortative, almost always have the ending ־ֶה; cf. e.g. in Dt 32 אֶרְאֶה after אַסְתִּ֫ירָה.
3. R.V. let me sing.]
4. Analogous to this cohortative (as equivalent to the imperfect) after שָׁם is the use of the historic imperf. after אָז, § 107 c.