Lesson 6 | Commands
[3] In the Songs We’ve Learned
There have been a number of commands in songs we have already learned.
יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוָה — “hope, O Israel, for the Lord”
These two verbs are definitely cohortatives and not simple imperfects because of the kamatz vowel + ה added to the end of each of them.
נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ — “let us be happy and let us rejoice in his salvation”
Here are two more imperatives. Note the י at the end indicating that they are both 2fs.
קוּמִי אוֹרִי — “arise, shine”
Again, the י at the end of the form indicates it is 2fs. The reason is that the psalmist is addressing his own soul, and soul in Hebrew (נֶפֶשׁ) is generally treated as feminine.
בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה — “bless, O my soul, the Lord”