Wayyiqtol וַיִּקְטֹל wayyiqtol
The wayyiqtol is the backbone of biblical narrative. In Genesis 1, “God said … and there was light … saw … divided … called” are all this form (50 times in Genesis 1 alone). One word is made of three pieces — וַ (and) + יִּ (he, a letter doubled by a dot) + קְטֹל (the root). This page takes the three pieces apart one by one and shows, in Bible words, why the form means “and he did,” why it is read “wayyiqtol,” and why it carries past events forward in order.
the “and he killed” form of the model קטל. Traditional Hebrew grammar calls this וַ וָו הַהִפּוּךְ (vav ha-hippukh, “the turning waw”).
Colour key blue = added at the front · orange = added at the end · purple = a mark inside (dot · doubled letter · changed vowel) · underline = the word this page is about
1What the wayyiqtol is
The wayyiqtol is the verb form that tells past events one after another: “and he did …, and he did …,” moving the story forward step by step.
By the OSHB morphology it occurs 15,034 times in the Old Testament, 2,107 in Genesis — 76 in Genesis 1–2 and 50 in chapter 1 alone. Together with the perfect (15,525) it is the most frequent verb form in the Old Testament. The narrative parts of the Old Testament run almost entirely on it.
English grammars call it the wayyiqtol, the waw-consecutive imperfect, or the preterite (past tense).
2Why “and he did” — three pieces
The model וַיִּקְטֹל (wayyiqtol, “and he killed”) split into three.
- (1) וַ = “and”The conjunction ו (waw). The ordinary “and” is וְ (we); in the wayyiqtol its vowel is ַ (patah, “a”): וַ (wa). This “a” vowel is the first mark of the wayyiqtol.
- (2) יִּ = “he” — a letter doubled by a dotThis is the imperfect “who” prefix יִ (he). It carries a dot (dagesh), which means “pronounce this letter twice.” So יּ is “y + y.” This dot in the “who” letter after וַ is the second mark of the wayyiqtol.
- (3) קְטֹל = the rootThe root ק-ט-ל (kill) with its vowels — the same as the back part of the imperfect יִקְטֹל.
- Together“and” + “he” + “kill” → “and he killed.” Why it means “killed” and not “will kill” is explained below under “Why past.”
3Why it is read “wayyiqtol” — way · yiq · tol
Because the one doubled יּ spans two syllables.
- wayIn the doubled יּ after וַ (wa), the first “y” closes the first syllable → “way.”
- yiqThe second “y” opens the next syllable; with its vowel ִ (i) and the following ק (closing it; the sheva is silent) → “yiq.”
- tolטֹל → “tol.”
- Soוַיִּקְטֹל = way-yiq-tol. In Bible words, וַיִּקְרָא (Gen 1:5) = way-yiq-ra, “wayyiqra” (also the Hebrew name of Leviticus).
4Why it is also called “waw-consecutive imperfect”
“Imperfect” — the form after וַ looks exactly like the imperfect יִקְטֹל: the prefixes י ת א נ show “who,” and the endings וּ נָה are the same. So it was seen as “an imperfect with a waw.”
“Consecutive” — the form says the next event happened “following on” the previous one, as in 1:3 וַיֹּאמֶר … וַיְהִי (“said … and there was”).
“Conversive” — older grammars thought this וַ turns an imperfect (“will do”) into a past (“did”). Traditional Hebrew grammar therefore calls it וָו הַהִפּוּךְ (vav ha-hippukh, “the turning waw”), and English “waw conversive.”
“Wayyiqtol” — modern grammars name the form by the sound of the model, as the perfect is “qatal” and the imperfect “yiqtol”: וַיִּקְטֹל is “wayyiqtol.”
5Why it carries past events — though it looks like the imperfect
The imperfect יִקְטֹל means “will kill,” but וַיִּקְטֹל with וַ means “killed.” Two forms that look almost alike seem to mean opposite things — this is the great question of the wayyiqtol.
Many grammars today explain it this way. Very early Hebrew (and its Semitic neighbors) had two prefix forms: a longer one (“will do” — today’s imperfect) and a short past form (“did”). The short past form all but disappeared on its own and survived only after the narrative וַ. That is the wayyiqtol.
The evidence is visible in Bible words. The wayyiqtol is often shorter than the imperfect — וַיְהִי (and there was) beside יִהְיֶה (it will be), וַיַּעַשׂ (and he made) beside יַעֲשֶׂה. This short shape is the same as the jussive “let …” (יְהִי let there be) (see “Short forms” below).
So rather than memorizing “an imperfect turned around,” it is more accurate to remember “וַ + dot = the next event in the story, ‘and … did.’” The story before it sets the time — in a past story it carries past events forward in order.
6Paradigm — Qal wayyiqtol
The Qal wayyiqtol of the model קטל. Blue וַ (and), purple the dotted “who” letter, orange the ending. After וַ it matches the imperfect table.
| Who | Qal wayyiqtol | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| he | וַיִּקְטֹל | wayyiqtol | and he killed |
| she · you (m) | וַתִּקְטֹל | wattiqtol | and she / you killed |
| you (f) | וַתִּקְטְלִי | wattiqteli | and you (f) killed |
| I | וָאֶקְטֹל | wa’eqtol | and I killed |
| they | וַיִּקְטְלוּ | wayyiqtelu | and they killed |
| they (f) · you (f pl) | וַתִּקְטֹלְנָה | wattiqtolnah | and they (f) killed |
| you (m pl) | וַתִּקְטְלוּ | wattiqtelu | and you (pl) killed |
| we | וַנִּקְטֹל | wanniqtol | and we killed |
Only “I” has וָ (qamets) instead of וַ, and no dot in א: א is a guttural and cannot be doubled (see “First person” below).
7Real examples from the Bible — find the three pieces
Look for the blue וַ, the purple dotted “who” letter, and the root after it.
wayyiqra — and he called
וַ (and) + יִּ (he, doubled by the dot) + קְרָא (the root ק-ר-א call). Compared with the imperfect יִקְרָא (2:19, he would call), only the וַ in front and the dot in י differ. In the same verse, “the darkness he called Night” puts “the darkness” first and switches to the perfect קָרָא.
YLVAnd God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, day one.
wayyivra — and he created
וַ + יִּ + the root ב-ר-א (create). The same root as the perfect בָּרָא in 1:1. 1:1 opens the account with a perfect; 1:21 and 1:27 are next events inside it, so wayyiqtol.
YLVAnd God created the man (adam) in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
wayyishbot — and he rested
וַ + יִּ + the root שׁ-ב-ת (cease, rest), with ֹ (o) on the second letter — a strong verb exactly like the model וַיִּקְטֹל. The dot in ב is not doubling; it marks the hard “b” sound.
YLVAnd God finished on the seventh day his work which he had made, and he shabbatted on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
wattiqqaḥ — and she took
וַ + תִּ (she, doubled) + the root ל-ק-ח (take). The subject is the woman, so the prefix is ת. In this verb the first letter ל merges into ק, so ק also has a dot.
YLVAnd the woman (ishah) saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a desire to the eyes, and the tree was desirable to make one wise; and she took of its fruit and ate, and she gave also to her man (ish) with her, and he ate.
wayyishme‘u — and they heard
וַ + יִּ + the root שׁ-מ-ע (hear) + וּ (they). Front י with end וּ is “they,” exactly as in the imperfect. The subject is Adam and his wife.
YLVAnd they heard the voice of YHWH God walking about in the garden at the spirit (ruach) of the day; and Adam and his woman (ishah) hid themselves from the presence of YHWH God in the midst of the trees of the garden.
wannomer — and we said
וַ + נֹּ (we, doubled) + the root א-מ-ר (say). The first root letter א loses its sound, so the prefix vowel is ֹ (o) — only the prefix differs from וַיֹּאמֶר (and he said) in 1:3.
YLVAnd they said, "We have surely seen that YHWH has been with you; and we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you, and let us make a covenant (berit) with you,'
8Events in order — the wayyiqtol chain
A wayyiqtol rarely stands alone; it forms a chain. Gen 1:3–5: וַיֹּאמֶר (said) → וַיְהִי (and there was) → וַיַּרְא (saw) → וַיַּבְדֵּל (divided) → וַיִּקְרָא (called) → וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר (and there was evening and there was morning). Each happens after the one before.
Gen 3:6 has five in one verse: וַתֵּרֶא (she saw) → וַתִּקַּח (took) → וַתֹּאכַל (ate) → וַתִּתֵּן (gave) → וַיֹּאכַל (and he ate). Only the last has the husband as subject, so the prefix changes from ת to י.
When the chain breaks. If another word comes before the verb, the wayyiqtol cannot be used and a perfect appears: 1:5 וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא (“and the darkness he called Night”), 1:2 וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה (“and the earth was” — background). The waw attaches to a non-verb and the verb is a perfect. More on the “Narrative chain” page.
9Short forms — wayyiqtols shorter than the imperfect
With final-ה roots, hollow roots and the Hiphil, the wayyiqtol is shorter than the imperfect — the same short shape as the jussive (“let …”). The shortened part is purple.
wayhi — and there was
The root ה-י-ה (be). The imperfect is יִהְיֶה (yihyeh); the wayyiqtol drops the final ֶה and shortens to וַיְהִי (wayhi). It pairs with the jussive יְהִי (let there be) in the same verse — “let there be … and there was.” The יְ has sheva, so the doubling dot is dropped (a י under sheva often loses it). It is the most frequent wayyiqtol in Genesis 1–2.
YLVAnd God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
wayya‘as — and he made
The root ע-שׂ-ה (make). The imperfect is יַעֲשֶׂה (ya‘aseh); the wayyiqtol drops the final ה and shortens to וַיַּעַשׂ (wayya‘as). The first letter ע is a guttural, so the prefix vowel is ַ (a).
YLVAnd God made the firmament, and divided between the waters which were under the firmament and the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
wayyar — and he saw
The root ר-א-ה (see). The imperfect is יִרְאֶה (yir’eh); the final ֶה drops and it becomes וַיַּרְא (wayyar). Every “and God saw that it was good” uses this short form.
YLVAnd God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided between the light and between the darkness.
wayyiven — and he built
The root ב-נ-ה (build). From the imperfect יִבְנֶה (yivneh) the final ה drops and a helping “e” vowel comes between ב and נ: וַיִּבֶן (wayyiven).
YLVAnd YHWH God built the rib which he had taken from Adam into a woman (ishah), and brought her to Adam.
wayyasem — and he put
The root שׂ-י-ם (put) is a hollow verb. The imperfect is יָשִׂים (yasim, long ִי); the wayyiqtol shortens the vowel to וַיָּשֶׂם (wayyasem), and the stress moves forward.
YLVAnd YHWH God planted a garden in Eden, from the east, and there he put Adam whom he had formed.
wayyavdel — and he divided
Hiphil stem (root ב-ד-ל divide). The Hiphil imperfect is יַבְדִּיל (yavdil, long “i”); the wayyiqtol shortens to וַיַּבְדֵּל (“e”). Even a strong verb has a shorter wayyiqtol in the Hiphil.
YLVAnd God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided between the light and between the darkness.
wayyomer — and he said
The root א-מ-ר (say). The imperfect is יֹאמַר (yomar); in the wayyiqtol the stress moves forward and the last vowel becomes ֶ (e): וַיֹּאמֶר (wayyomer). One of the most frequent words in the Old Testament.
YLVAnd God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
10“I” is וָאֶ — why וָ instead of a dot
The “I” prefix א is a guttural and cannot take the doubling dot. Since it cannot be doubled, the vowel of וַ lengthens from ַ (short a) to ָ (long a, qamets): וָאֶ · וָא.
va’ira — and I was afraid
וָ (and, with qamets) + א (I, no dot) + the root י-ר-א (fear). No dot in א, and ו has ָ. Adam tells his actions in order — “heard … was afraid … hid.”
YLVAnd he said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself."
va’eḥave — and I hid myself
The next wayyiqtol in the same verse: וָ + אֵ (I) + the Niphal of ח-ב-א (hide). As a Niphal its first root letter should have a dot, but ח is a guttural too, so instead the vowel of אֵ is lengthened to “e” (see the Niphal page).
YLVAnd he said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself."
va’okhel — and I ate
וָ + אֹ (I, written together with the root א) + כֵל. The first א of the root א-כ-ל (eat) and the “I” א are written once. Only the prefix differs from וַתֹּאכַל (and she ate) in 3:6.
YLVAnd Adam said, "The woman (ishah) whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
11Wayyiqtol in other stems — the same וַ and dotted “who” letter
Every stem has a wayyiqtol, not just the Qal. The וַ and the “who” letter are the same; only the stem pattern after them differs.
Piel: וַיְבָרֶךְ (1:22, and he blessed) · וַיְקַדֵּשׁ (2:3, and he sanctified). In the Piel imperfect the “who” letter has sheva (יְ), so the doubling dot drops and it appears as וַיְ (way-ye). וַיְהִי is the same.
Pual: וַיְכֻלּוּ (2:1, and they were finished). Hiphil: וַיַּבְדֵּל (1:4) · וַיַּצְמַח (2:9). Niphal: וַתִּמָּלֵא (6:11). Hithpael: וַיִּתְחַבֵּא (3:8, and he hid himself).
12Easy to confuse
וְ + imperfect (jussive) is not a wayyiqtol. 1:26 וְיִרְדּוּ (“and let them rule”) has וְ (we) and no dot in י; it is a wish, not a past. The keys are וַ (the “a” vowel) and the dot in the “who” letter after it.
Not every וַ is a wayyiqtol. The ordinary conjunction also becomes וַ before hateph patah (ֲ) — 18:30 וַאֲדַבֵּרָה (“and I will speak,” a cohortative). Check that the next letter is י ת נ with a dot, or א after וָ.
A first-person wayyiqtol can end in ָה. 41:11 וַנַּחַלְמָה (“and we dreamed”) has ָה at the end but is a wayyiqtol, not a cohortative (note the dot in נ). OSHB analyzes it as a wayyiqtol.
It is the mirror of the weqatal וְקָטַל. The wayyiqtol (“וַ + prefix form”) carries past events forward; the weqatal (“וְ + suffix form”) carries future or commanded action forward (see the weqatal page).
13Where this appears in Genesis 1–2
All 76 places, found from the OSHB morphology. Tap one to go to that word’s notes.