An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

34.5.1 Cohortative in Independent Clauses
a The cohortative expresses the will or strong desire of the speaker. In cases where the
speaker has the ability to carry out an inclination it takes on the coloring of resolve (‘I
will…’; ## 1–4). In other cases, where the speaker cannot effect a desire without the
consent of the one addressed, it connotes request (‘May I…’; ## 5–7). The sense is
optative when the speaker’s will involves dubiety, an indefinite potentiality (‘I might/
can…’; ## 8–9). Finally, in first-person plural, the speakers usually seek to instigate
or encourage each other to some action (‘Let us…’; ## 10–12). By etymology the
term “cohortative” is applicable only to this last use (Latin cohortor ‘to encourage’),
but the term has been expanded to cover the other uses mentioned here. The negative
particle with the cohortative is לא (# 2).
1. וּנּא֫ ֶ רְ אֶ ו ְ ה ָכלְ אֵ I will go and see him.
2.
ד ֶל֑יּ֫ ָה
ַ תוֹמ ְבּ האֶ רְ א־ל ֶ ַ
3. הוהי־ם ֵשׁ הרָ ְמּ זַ אֲ וַ
׃ןוֹי ְל ֶע
4. ה ָכלְ נ ֵ ר ַענּ ַ֫
הַ ו ְ ינִ אֲ וַ
הוֶ חֲ תַּ ְשׁ נִ ו ְ הֹכּ־ד ֑ ַע
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5.
6.
ר ָשׂ ָב ה ָל ְכֹא תָּ ֫ רְ ַמ אָ ְ
7. . . . הוהי־דַיב ְ אנּ־ה ָ ָל ְפּ ִנ
׃ה ָל ֹפּ֫ א־ל ֶ א ַ םדָ א־דַי ָ בוּ ְ
8.
Gen 45:28
א I will not watch the boy die.
Gen 21:16
I will praise YHWH Elyon.
Ps 7:10
As for me and the boy, we will go there and worship.
Gen 22:5
ו And you will say, “I would like to eat meat.”
Deut 12:20
׃הרָ ֹב֫ ֱעא ֶ י ַלגְ רַ ְבּ Let me pass through on foot.
Num 20:19
Let us fall into the hands of YHWH…but let me not
fall into the hands of men.
2 Sam 24:14
הדי ָ ִעאָ ו ְ הרָ ְבּד ַא
ֲ ימ־ל ִ ַע Against whom can I speak and give a warning?
9. ד ַע ְבּ הרָ ְפּ ַכא ֲ י ַלוּא
׃ם ֶכתא ְ טַּ חַ
10.
ה ָנְי תֹדּ ֑ ָ֫
ה ָכלְ ֵ
21 A similar idiom occurs in Gen 32:21.
Jer 6:10
Perhaps I can make atonement for you (lit., atonement
for your sin). 21
Exod 32:30
נ Let’s go to Dothan.