תִּירָ֣א (tî·rā) in Genesis 15:1: Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
תִּירָ֣א (tî·rā) in Genesis 15:1
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Genesis 15:1 links the English rendering "be afraid" with תִּירָ֣א, Strong's H3372, and the morphology label V-Qal-Imperf-2ms.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form clarifies that the line is not predicting fear; it is forbidding fear in the Lord's direct address to Abram.
How To Communicate It
In explanation of Genesis 15:1, this form can help readers hear the reassurance before moving to the promise of shield and reward.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not treat the Hebrew imperfect as a simple English future in a negative command.
- Do not make Qal prove that fear is simple or shallow.
- Do not use this one form to settle every biblical teaching on fear.
- Let the Lord's whole address in Genesis 15:1 govern the pastoral claim.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Qal
Imperfect
Second person
Masculine
Singular
The imperfect form presents the action as unfolding, expected, or desired in context; Genesis 15:1 determines how that force is heard.
This form carries the BSB rendering "be afraid" within Genesis 15:1. Genesis 15 anchors God's covenant promise to Abram, moving from promise and faith to assurance and covenant sign.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The Lord's reassurance in Genesis 15:1: Do not be afraid, Abram
The negative command frame with a Qal imperfect second masculine singular
It expresses the fear that the Lord forbids as He identifies Himself as Abram's shield and reward.
It does not define every kind of fear or settle a full theology of courage by itself.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries the opening reassurance in a major covenant-promise scene.
Qal imperfect second masculine singular in a prohibition. expresses the fear that Abram is told not to have. Attached to the Lord's direct address to Abram. Governed by the negative command frame. The imperfect should be read through the prohibition, not as a simple future.
What does the Lord tell Abram not to do? He tells Abram not to be afraid.
Direct: The negative imperfect construction directly supports the rendering "Do not be afraid."
A Hebrew imperfect in a negative command can express prohibition rather than simple future. The Lord's self-identification as shield and reward supplies the reason for the reassurance. The form identifies the command frame but does not carry every pastoral implication by itself.
Imperfect means simple future: The negative command frame gives this form prohibitive force. grammar alone solves fear: The form marks the command; the Lord's whole promise supplies the pastoral ground. Qal means fear is simple: Qal identifies the stem, not the depth of Abram's situation.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Genesis 15:1 links the English rendering "be afraid" with תִּירָ֣א, Strong's H3372, and the morphology label V-Qal-Imperf-2ms.
H3372 is represented here by the lemma יָרֵא. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "be afraid" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The imperfect is governed by the negative command frame, so the form should be read as a prohibition or reassurance rather than a simple future.
Genesis 15 anchors God's covenant promise to Abram, moving from promise and faith to assurance and covenant sign.
The form fits Scripture's covenant pattern in which God speaks, promises, judges, gives, and keeps his word.
When teaching Genesis 15:1, use this form to show that the Lord's promise begins with direct reassurance before the shield and reward statement.
Do not derive a full doctrine of fear, courage, or divine protection from V-Qal-Imperf-2ms alone. The form belongs to the Lord's reassurance in this verse.