Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Hi Phil.

Practically speaking, I don't think there's a lot of difference between an 
imperative and second person jussive. This can be confirmed by the fact that 
many negative commands are given as negated second person jussives. One thing 
to bear in mind, however, I the particular nuance of jussives vis-à-vis 
yiqtols. A negated yiqtol is a general prohibition ('You must not...'), while 
a negated second person jussive is a much more immediate and specific command 
('Don't...'). Extrapolating from that, the second person jussive has an 
immediate sense, much like the imperative. However, the jussive also has the 
sense of a wish.

When it comes down to it, though, it's not all that different from an 
imperative.


Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Currently at George Whitefield College (Cape Town, South Africa)
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Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au