Edition
1.
20 September 2011
Observations on Tenses in Psalms
by David Steinberg
David.Steinberg@houseofdavid.ca
Home page http://www.houseofdavid.ca/
See Tenses
or Aspects in Biblical Hebrew
Note that in most instances, in the
following examples, the general context of meaning, together with the preceeding
or succeeding PCpretWC[1](sometimes also SCpast) in the same verse make identification of
verb as PCpret_sim probable.
.
Table
C
PCpret_sim and PCpretWC in
the Same Verse Referring to the Past
Chapt./Vs.
of Hebrew Text |
PC and SC Verbs Indicating Time Reference (Reconstructed JEH Style
Spelling; */EBHP/+; n.b. EBHP PCpret and
PCjus were identical.) |
English Translation(s)[2] |
|
A) At Least One Form of Preterite was
Distinguished from the PCimp in */EBHP/+ by
the Placement
of Stress. |
|||
7:16 |
SCpast - past - כרה - kaˈrâ PCpretWC - past - ויחפרהו - wayyiḥpụˈrihu(ː). Identical form in PCjus and PCimp. - ויפל - wayˈyippul (:wạyipˈpul PCimp :wạˈyippul PCjus) PCpret_sim - past - יפעל - ˈyipcal (:yipˈcal PCimp) |
He
has dug a pit and hollowed it out, |
בֹּ֣ור
כָּ֭רָֽה
וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ
וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל
בְּשַׁ֣חַת
יִפְעָֽל |
18:8 |
PCpretWC
- past – - ותגעש - watˈtigcaš (:wạtigˈcaš PCimp :wạˈtigcaš PCjus) - ותרעש - watˈtircaš (:wạtirˈcaš PCimp :wạˈtircaš PCjus) - ויתגעשו - wayyitgaˈcịšū. (:wạyitgaˈcịšū PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim - past - יפעל - ˈyipcal (:yipˈcal PCimp) SCpast - past - חָ֥רָה - ḥaˈrâ |
Then the
earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and
quaked, because he was angry. |
וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ
וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ
׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ וּמֹוסְדֵ֣י
הָרִ֣ים
יִרְגָּ֑זוּ
וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ
כִּי־חָ֥רָה
לֹֽו |
18:14 |
PCpretWC
- past – וירעם - wayˈyarcim (:wạyarˈciːm PCimp/PCjus) PCpret_sim
- past – יתנ - ˈyittin (:yitˈtin PCimp) |
The LORD also thundered in the
heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice. |
וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם
בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם
׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה וְ֭עֶלְיֹון
יִתֵּ֣ן
קֹלֹ֑ו
בָּ֝רָ֗ד
וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ |
18:19 |
PCpret_sim - past - יקדמוני - yạqaddịˈmūnῑ. Identical
form in PCjus and PCimp PCpretWC
- past - ויהי - wayˈyihy (:wạyihˈyê PCimp). |
They
confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support. |
יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי
בְיֹום־אֵידִ֑י וַֽיְהִי־יְהוָ֖ה
לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן
לִֽי |
18:36 |
PCpretWC - past – ותתנ - watˈtittin (:wạtitˈtin PCimp :wạˈtittin PCjus). PCpret_sim - past (Identical
form
in PCjus and PCimp). תסעדני - tiscaˈdinῑ; תרבני tarˈbinῑ. |
You have
given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me;
your help has made me great. |
וַתִּתֶּן־לִי֮
מָגֵ֪ן
יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ
וִֽימִינְךָ֥
תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥
תַרְבֵּֽנִי |
44:3 |
SCpast - past - הורשת - hawˈrašta(ː) PCpretWC
- past (Stress not distinctive in these forms) - ותטעם
- wattiṭṭaˈcim (:wạtiṭṭaˈcim PCimp/PCjus); - ותשלחם - wattạšalliˈḥim
(:wạtạšalliˈḥim PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim - past -תרע
-
ˈtarịc (:taˈrịːc PCimp). |
you with
your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the
peoples, but them you set free |
אַתָּ֤ה
׀ יָדְךָ֡
גֹּויִ֣ם
הֹ֭ורַשְׁתָּ
וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם
תָּרַ֥ע
לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽם |
44:10 |
SCpast - past - זנחת - zaˈnaḥta(ː) PCpretWC
- past -ותכלימנו - wattakliːˈminū PCpret_sim - past - תצא - ˈtiṣiʾ (:tiˈṣiʾ PCimp). |
Yet you
have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies. |
אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ
וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ וְלֹא־תֵ֝צֵ֗א
בְּצִבְאֹותֵֽינוּ |
78:15 |
PCpret_sim - past - יבקע - yạbˈbaqịc (:yạbbaˈqịc PCimp). PCpretWC
- past - וישק- wayˈyašq (:wạyašˈqê PCimp :wạˈyašq PCjus). |
He split
rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the
deep. |
יְבַקַּ֣ע
צֻ֭רִים
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ
כִּתְהֹמֹ֥ות
רַבָּֽה |
78:26 |
PCpret_sim - past - יסע - ˈyassịc (:yasˈsịːc PCimp). PCpretWC - past - וינהג- wayyạˈnahig (:wạyạnaˈhig PCimp :wạyạˈnahig PCjus). |
He caused
the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south
wind |
יַסַּ֣ע
קָ֭דִים
בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם
וַיְנַהֵ֖ג
בְּעֻזֹּ֣ו
תֵימָֽן |
78:29 |
PCpretWC
- past (Stress not distinctive in these forms) - וישבעו - wayyiśˈbạcū (:wạyiśˈbạcū PCimp/PCjus); - ויאכלו - wayyôˈkịlū (:wạyôˈkịlū PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim - past - יבא - ˈyabiʾ (:yaˈbiːʾ PCimp). |
And they
ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. |
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ
וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ
מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם
יָבִ֥א
לָהֶֽם |
78:44 |
PCpretWC - past -ויהפכ - wayˈyihpuk (:wạyihˈpuk PCimp). PCpret_sim
- past - ישתין - yištaˈyūn. Identical form in PCimp. |
He turned
their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. |
וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ
לְ֭דָם
יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם
וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם
בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן |
78:45 |
PCpret_sim - past - ישלח - yạˈšallịḥ (:yạšalˈlịḥ PCimp). PCpretWC
- past - ויאכלם - wayyôˈkịlim (:wạyôˈkịlim PCimp/PCjus); -
ותשחתם - wattašˈḥiːtim (:wạtašˈḥiːtim PCimp/PCjus). |
He sent
among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed
them. |
יְשַׁלַּ֬ח
בָּהֶ֣ם
עָ֭רֹב
וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם
וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ
וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם |
80:9 |
PCpret_sim -
past - תסיע- ˈtaśic (:taˈśic PCimp). - תגרש - tạˈgarriš (:tạgarˈriš PCimp). PCpretWC
- past - ותטעה - wattiṭṭaˈciha(ː) (:wạtiṭṭaˈciha(ː) PCimp/PCjus). |
You
brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. |
גֶּ֭פֶן
מִמִּצְרַ֣יִם
תַּסִּ֑יעַ תְּגָרֵ֥שׁ
גֹּ֝ויִ֗ם
וַתִּטָּעֶֽהָ |
92:12 |
PCpretWC - past - ותבט - wayˈyihpuk (:wạyihˈpuk PCimp :wạˈyihpuk PCjus). PCpret_sim
- past - תשמענה - tišˈmacna(ː).
Identical
form in PCjus and PCimp. |
My eyes
have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil
assailants. |
וַתַּבֵּט
עֵינִי
בְּשׁוּרָי
בַּקָּמִים עָלַי
מְרֵעִים
תִּשְׁמַעְנָה אָזְנָי |
107:29 |
PCpret_sim - past - יקם - ˈyaqim (:yaˈqiːm PCimp). PCpretWC
- past - ויחשו - wayyiḥˈšū (:wạyiḥˈšū PCimp/PCjus). |
he made
the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. |
יָקֵ֣ם
סְ֭עָרָה
לִדְמָמָ֑ה
וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ
גַּלֵּיהֶֽם |
114:3 |
SCpast - past - ראה - raˈʾâ. PCpretWC - past - וינס - wayˈyanus (:wạyanuːs PCimp :wạˈyanus PCjus). PCpret_sim -
past – יסב - ˈyissub (:yisˈsub PCimp |
The
sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back |
הַיָּם
רָאָה
וַיָּנֹס
הַיַּרְדֵּן
יִסֹּב
לְאָחֹור |
B) Neither form of Preterite Was
Distinguished from the PCimp in */EBHP/+ by the Placement
of Stress |
|||
18:20 |
PCpretWC - past - ויוציאני - wayyawṣiˈʾinῑ (:wạyawṣiˈʾinῑ PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim -
past - יחלצני - yạḥallịˈṣinῑ (:yipˈcal PCimp/PCjus) |
He
brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in
me. |
וַיֹּוצִיאֵנִי
לַמֶּרְחָב
יְחַלְּצֵנִי
כִּי חָפֵץ
בִּי |
78:20 |
SCpast - past – הכה - hikˈkâ PCpretWC
- past - ויזובו
- wayyaˈzuːbū (:wạyazuːbū PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim - past -ישטפו
-
yišˈṭụpū. Identical form in PCjus and PCimp. יכין – ˈyakin (:yaˈkiːn
PCimp). |
Even
though he struck the rock so that water gushed out and torrents overflowed,
can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?" |
הֵ֤ן
הִכָּה־צ֨וּר
׀
וַיָּז֣וּבוּ
מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים
יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם
י֣וּכַל
תֵּ֑ת
אִם־יָכִ֖ין
שְׁאֵ֣ר
לְעַמֹּֽו |
78:36 |
PCpretWC - past - ויפתהו - wayyạpatˈtūnῑ (:wạyạpatˈtūnῑ PCimp/PCjus). PCpret_sim
- past - יכזבו - yạkaˈzibū. Identical form in PCjus and PCimp. |
But they flattered him with their
mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. |
וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ
בְּפִיהֶ֑ם
וּ֝בִלְשֹׁונָ֗ם
יְכַזְּבוּ־לֹֽו |
78:58 |
PCpretWC
- past - ויכעסהו - wayyạkciːˈsūhu(ː) PCpret_sim - past - יקנאהו - yaqniːˈʾūhu(ː). Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. |
For they
provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with
their idols. |
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ
בְּבָמֹותָ֑ם
וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם
יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ |
78:64 |
SCpast - past -נפלו - naˈpalū PCpret_sim - past – תבכינה - tibˈkayna(ː).Identical
form in PCjus and PCimp. |
Their
priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. |
כֹּ֭הֲנָיו
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
נָפָ֑לוּ
וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו
לֹ֣א
תִבְכֶּֽינָה |
78:72 |
PCpretWC
- past - וירעם - wayyirˈcim PCpret_sim - past - ינחם - yanˈḥim. Identical form in PCjus and PCimp. |
With
upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skillful hand. |
וַ֭יִּרְעֵם
כְּתֹ֣ם
לְבָבֹ֑ו
וּבִתְבוּנֹ֖ות
כַּפָּ֣יו
יַנְחֵֽם |
81:8 |
SCpast - past -קראת - qaˈraʾta(ː). PCpretWC
- past -ואחלצך - waʾʾạḥallịˈṣaka(ː) PCpret_sim
- past - Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. -אענך - yanˈḥim. - אבחנך - - yanˈḥim. |
In
distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of
thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah |
בַּצָּרָה
קָרָאתָ
וָאֲחַלְּצֶךָּ
אֶעֶנְךָ
בְּסֵתֶר
רַעַם
אֶבְחָנְךָ עַל־מֵי
מְרִיבָה
סֶלָה |
106:43 |
PCpret_sim
- past - Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. - יצילם - yanˈḥim. -ימרו - yanˈḥim. PCpretWC
- past - וימכו-
wayyaˈmukkū |
Many
times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were
brought low through their iniquity. |
פְּעָמִים
רַבֹּות יַצִּילֵם
וְהֵמָּה יַמְרוּ
בַעֲצָתָם וַיָּמֹכּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָם |
107:28 |
PCpret_sim
- past - Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. - ויצעקו - yanˈḥim. PCpretWC - past - יוציאם-
wayyaˈmukkū |
Then they
cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out from their
distress |
וַיִּצְעֲקוּ
אֶל־יְהוָה
בַּצַּר
לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם
יֹוצִיאֵם |
107:30 |
PCpret_sim
- past - Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. - וישמחו - yanˈḥim. - וינחם - yanˈḥim. PCpretWC - past - ישתקו
- wayyaˈmukkū |
Then they
were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. |
וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ
כִי־יִשְׁתֹּקוּ
וַיַּנְחֵם
אֶל־מְחֹוז
חֶפְצָם |
138: 3 |
SCpast - past -קראתי - qaˈraʾtῑ. PCpretWC - past - ותענני -
wayyaˈmukkū PCpret_sim
- past - תרהבני - tarhiːˈbinῑ. Identical form in PCjus
and PCimp. |
On the
day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. |
[1] IN EBHP and LBHP THE JUSSIVE
(PCjus), COHORTATIVE (PCcoh), IMPERFECT (PCimp) AND
PRETERITE (PCpret_sim/PCpretWC)
are, in some forms, distinguished by
the placement of syllabic stress when
not carrying object suffixes. See -
- http://www.adath-shalom.ca/history_of_hebrew3a.htm#indic_jus
AND
- http://www.adath-shalom.ca/history_of_hebrew3a.htm#Prefix_Conjugation
[2] For convenience, I have used NASB or NRSV as the basis of my translation modifying the wording and layout as appropriate.
[3] From The Westminster
Leningrad Codex http://www.tanach.us/ .