הַגִּידָה־ (hag·gî·ḏāh-) in Jonah 1:8: Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
הַגִּידָה־ (hag·gî·ḏāh-) in Jonah 1:8
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Jonah 1:8 links the English rendering "Tell" with הַגִּידָה־, Strong's H5046, and the morphology label V-Hifil-Imp-ms | 3fs.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form clarifies that the sailors are pressing Jonah for disclosure, not merely making a calm inquiry.
How To Communicate It
In explanation of Jonah 1:8, use this form to show the urgency of the sailors' demand before tracing Jonah's answer.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make the imperative label prove more than the sentence supports.
- Do not use the stem label by itself to settle a theological claim.
- Do not treat attached suffixes as self-explaining; let the verse identify their referent.
- Do not make Hifil automatically carry every possible causative nuance into the interpretation.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Third person feminine singular
Hifil
Imperative
Not marked
Masculine
Singular
The imperative presents the form as a directed command or appeal in Jonah 1:8, but the verse still supplies the speaker, audience, and purpose.
This form carries the BSB rendering "Tell" within Jonah 1:8. Jonah 1 traces the prophet's flight, the Lord's storm, and the sailors' urgent questions before God's pursuing mercy.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The sailors' urgent question in Jonah 1:8, demanding that Jonah explain why the calamity has come
The imperative form within the speaker and audience frame of the verse
It gives the sailors' direct demand for disclosure in the storm scene.
It does not make the command form carry the whole narrative or theological meaning by itself.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries the sailors' urgent demand in the interrogation scene where Jonah's identity is exposed.
Hifil imperative masculine singular with 3fs suffix. It gives the sailors' direct demand for disclosure in the storm scene.. Attached to the sailors' urgent question in Jonah 1:8, demanding that Jonah explain why the calamity has come. Governed by the speaker, addressee, and object frame of the verse. The command force must be read with the speaker, addressee, and narrative setting.
What do the sailors demand from Jonah? They demand that he tell them why this calamity has come upon them.
Direct: The imperative directly supports the rendering "Tell" in this occurrence.
Imperative force gives a direct command or appeal, but the verse identifies who speaks and who must respond. Attached suffixes should be resolved from the clause before interpretation. Hifil identifies the stem, but the sailors' urgent speech supplies the force of the command.
Imperative alone supplies the theology: The command form marks force; the narrative and passage supply meaning. stem label settles the claim: The stem identifies the form but does not carry the full theological argument. suffix meaning can be guessed: The suffix must be resolved from the clause.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Jonah 1:8 links the English rendering "Tell" with הַגִּידָה־, Strong's H5046, and the morphology label V-Hifil-Imp-ms | 3fs.
H5046 is represented here by the lemma נָגַד. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "Tell" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The Hifil imperative gives direct command force in the sailors' speech, and the following questions identify what they want Jonah to disclose.
Jonah 1 follows the prophet's flight, the storm at sea, and the sailors' growing fear as disobedience is exposed.
The form fits Scripture's witness to mercy, repentance, prophetic obedience, and God's compassion for the nations.
When teaching Jonah 1:8, use this form to show the urgency of the sailors' demand before tracing Jonah's answer.
Do not derive a full word study, grammar doctrine, or passage theology from the imperative form alone. The form marks the direct command or appeal in this verse.