וַיִּבְרָ֨א (way·yiḇ·rā) in Genesis 1:27: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
וַיִּבְרָ֨א (way·yiḇ·rā) in Genesis 1:27
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Genesis 1:27 links the English rendering "created" with וַיִּבְרָ֨א, Strong's H1254, and the morphology label Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form clarifies that Genesis 1:27 is reporting God's decisive creative action, but the theology of human dignity rests on the whole verse, not on the verb form alone.
How To Communicate It
When teaching Genesis 1:27, use this form to show how the grammar keeps God as the actor while the full clause explains creation in the image of God.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make the Hebrew sequence form carry a full creation chronology by itself.
- Do not use the stem label alone to settle a theological claim.
- Do not treat this occurrence as a complete word study for the whole Hebrew lemma.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Conjunctive waw
Qal
Consecutive imperfect
Third person
Masculine
Singular
The consecutive imperfect carries the narrative or sequence forward in Genesis 1:27, linking this action to the movement around it.
This form carries the BSB rendering "created" within Genesis 1:27. Genesis 1 presents God ordering, filling, naming, blessing, and giving life to the created world by his word.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The created action in Genesis 1:27
The narrative sequence that reports God's creation of humankind in his image
The waw-linked Qal consecutive imperfect presents God's creative act as the next narrated action and keeps the reader's focus on God as the subject.
The form does not by itself settle the full doctrine of the image of God, creation chronology, or every use of H1254.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries the main action in a major creation verse, but its theological force depends on the whole clause.
Waw-linked Hebrew sequence form. advances the creation narrative by reporting God's action. Attached to the created action in Genesis 1:27. Governed by the narrative sequence that reports God's creation of humankind in his image. The waw-linked consecutive imperfect advances the local discourse, but the verse and passage decide how the action relates to the larger argument.
Who performs the creative action? God performs the action; the form participates in the narrative report that God created humankind.
Direct: The form directly supports the English rendering "created" and the narrative movement of the verse.
The waw-linked consecutive imperfect advances the local discourse, but the verse and passage decide how the action relates to the larger argument. The attached waw should be explained from the clause relation rather than treated as a stand-alone theological signal. The verb form identifies the narrated action, but the image-language receives its meaning from the full clause.
Consecutive imperfect proves every chronology claim: The form advances the discourse; broader chronology or theology must be argued from the passage, not the sequence form alone. stem label settles the theology: The Hebrew stem identifies the verbal pattern; the passage supplies the theological claim. grammar replaces context: The morphology should clarify the clause while remaining governed by the surrounding passage.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Genesis 1:27 links the English rendering "created" with וַיִּבְרָ֨א, Strong's H1254, and the morphology label Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms.
H1254 is represented here by the lemma בָּרָא. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "created" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The attached waw and consecutive imperfect carry the narrative forward, while the third masculine singular points to God as the acting subject in context.
Genesis 1 presents God ordering, filling, naming, blessing, and giving life to the created world by his word.
The form fits Scripture's opening witness that creation is received from God and interpreted under his speech and order.
When teaching Genesis 1:27, use this form to show how the grammar keeps God as the actor while the full clause explains creation in the image of God.
Do not derive a complete doctrine of image-bearing, creation chronology, or the full range of H1254 from Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms alone.