וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה (wə·’et·tê·nāh) in Psalms 51:16: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular

Hebrew-verb

Verb

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular

Conjunctive waw

Qal

Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative

First person

Common

Singular

The imperfect form presents the action as unfolding, expected, or desired in context; Psalms 51:16 determines how that force is heard.

This form carries the BSB rendering "or I would bring it" within Psalms 51:16. Psalm 51 gives language for confession, cleansing, restoration, renewed joy, and renewed praise before God.

The psalmist's statement about bringing sacrifice in Psalm 51:16

The contrast between desired ritual offering and the contrite heart God receives

The waw-linked cohortative imperfect expresses what the speaker would bring if sacrifice were what God desired.

The form does not by itself settle the full biblical theology of sacrifice, repentance, or every use of H5414.

High: The form helps express the speaker's willingness within a major repentance text.

Waw-linked cohortative imperfect. states a personal willingness within the verse's contrast. Attached to the psalmist's statement about bringing sacrifice in Psalm 51:16. Governed by the contrast between desired ritual offering and the contrite heart God receives. The waw-linked imperfect form belongs to the clause relation, and context decides whether it carries request, result, condition, resolve, or another nuance.

What would the speaker bring if that were the desired offering? The speaker would bring the sacrifice, but the verse moves toward a deeper point about what God desires.

Direct: The form directly supports the rendering "or I would bring it."

The waw-linked imperfect form belongs to the clause relation, and context decides whether it carries request, result, condition, resolve, or another nuance. The attached waw should be explained from the clause relation rather than treated as a stand-alone theological signal. The cohortative nuance should be read within the verse's contrast, not as a stand-alone doctrine of sacrifice.

Imperfect form proves future certainty by itself: The form contributes aspect or modality, but the clause and context decide the force. 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.

The BSB+ row for Psalms 51:16 links the English rendering "or I would bring it" with וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה, Strong's H5414, and the morphology label Conj-w | V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cs.

H5414 is represented here by the lemma נָתַן. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "or I would bring it" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.

The first person common singular marks the speaker's willingness, and the cohortative nuance belongs to the conditional logic of the verse.

Psalm 51 gives language for confession, cleansing, restoration, renewed joy, and renewed praise before God.

The form fits Scripture's pattern of repentance, mercy, cleansing, and restored worship before the Lord.

When teaching Psalm 51:16, use this form to explain the speaker's personal willingness before moving to the verse's point about contrition.

Do not derive the full doctrine of sacrifice, repentance, or worship from Conj-w | V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cs alone.