וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה (wə·ṯê·rā·’eh) in Genesis 1:9: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה (wə·ṯê·rā·’eh) in Genesis 1:9
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Genesis 1:9 links the English rendering "may appear" with וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה, Strong's H7200, and the morphology tag Conj-w | V-Nifal-ConjImperf-3fs.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form matters because it carries the commanded appearance of the dry land after the waters are gathered. It clarifies the ordered result within God's speech.
How To Communicate It
Use the form to ask what result God commands in this clause. The form supports the appearing of dry land, while Genesis 1 supplies the creation theology.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make the imperfect label prove future time or command force apart from the speech context.
- Do not make the Nifal stem settle the full theology of divine action.
- Do not treat this occurrence as a complete word study for the whole Hebrew lemma.
- Do not use the grammar profile as a shortcut around the wording and logic of the verse.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Conjunctive waw
Nifal
Conjunctive imperfect
Third person
Feminine
Singular
The conjunctive imperfect is heard with modal force inside God's speech: let the dry land appear.
This form carries the BSB rendering "may appear" within Genesis 1:9, where the dry land is brought into view after the waters are gathered.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The dry land appearing after the waters are gathered
God's command speech in Genesis 1:9
It presents the appearing of the dry land as the result called for in the command.
It does not by itself settle every use of H7200, the full mechanics of creation, or a doctrine of visibility.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries the commanded appearance of dry land in the creation sequence.
Conjunctive imperfect with modal force in divine speech. states the result called for by the command. Attached to the dry land appearing. Governed by God's command speech in Genesis 1:9. The context supplies the modal force; the form alone should not be used as a universal rule for imperfects.
What result does God command in this clause? The dry land is to appear after the waters are gathered together.
Direct: The form directly supports a rendering such as "may appear" or "let ... appear" in this command context.
Hebrew imperfect can carry modal force in command contexts; Genesis 1:9 supplies that force here. The Nifal stem supports the appearing sense, but it does not by itself explain the whole creation event.
Imperfect always means future tense: The divine speech context gives this form command or result force. Nifal always means simple passive: The Nifal form here is best explained by the appearing action in context, not by a universal shortcut.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Genesis 1:9 links the English rendering "may appear" with וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה, Strong's H7200, and the morphology tag Conj-w | V-Nifal-ConjImperf-3fs.
H7200 is represented here by the lemma רָאָה. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "may appear" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The Nifal conjunctive imperfect joins the command sequence and is heard with modal force because God is commanding the dry land to appear.
Genesis 1 presents God as Creator who orders, names, blesses, and declares his creation good.
The form fits Scripture's creation witness, where God's word and action establish the world as dependent on him.
When teaching Genesis 1:9, use this form to show the commanded result: the dry land appears. Keep broader claims about creation order anchored in the passage.
Do not use the Nifal stem, imperfect form, or rendering "may appear" alone to settle creation mechanics, visibility theology, or every use of H7200.