Jussive Mood

The jussive mood expresses:

• A third-person command

“Let him go.”

• A wish or desire

“May God bless you.”

• A polite directive

“Let us begin.”

• Sometimes permission

“Let him enter.”

Examples in English

English no longer has a formal jussive form, but we can express it with certain constructions:

• “Let him speak.” → command about a third person
• “Let us pray.” (liturgical jussive)
• “May he rest in peace.” (jussive of wish)

Jussive in Other Languages

Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew has a true morphological jussive form, especially in 3rd-person verbs:

• יֵלֵךְ yelekh — “he will go”
• יֵלַךְ yelakh — jussive form, “let him go”

Also used with al (אַל) for negative commands to 2nd and 3rd person:

• אַל־תִּירָא — “Do not fear.”