History of the Hebrew Language by David Steinberg

Edition 1.

20 September 2011

Observations on Tenses in Psalms

by David Steinberg

David.Steinberg@houseofdavid.ca

Home page http://www.houseofdavid.ca/

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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 SC_past (sometimes also PC_pretWC[1]) in the same verse make identification of verb as PC_{pret_sim} probable.

Table D

PC_{pret_sim}and SC 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 PC_pret and PC_jus were identical.)	*English Translation(s)*[2]	*Masoretic* *Text*^{^[3]}
*A) Preterite and Jussive Distinguished from* *PC_imp* in **/EBHP/by the Placement of Stress***
7.16	SC_past - past -כרה - kaˈrâ PC_pretWC - past - ויחפרהו - wayˈyiḥpụˈrihu(ː).Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. PC_{pret_sim} - past - יפעל - ˈyip^cal (:yipˈ^cal PC_imp)	`He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,` `And has fallen into the hole which he made.`	בֹּור כָּרָה וַיַּחְפְּרֵהוּ וַיִּפֹּל בְּשַׁחַת יִפְעָל
18:9	SC_past - past - עָלָה - ^caˈlâ - בערו- baˈ^carū PC_{pret_sim} - past - תאכל - ˈtôkịl (:tôˈkịl PC_imp)	`Smoke went up out of His nostrils,` `And fire from His mouth devoured;` `Coals were kindled by it.`	עָלָה עָשָׁן בְּאַפֹּו וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּיו תֹּאכֵל גֶּחָלִים בָּעֲרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ
39:4	SC_past - past - חמ - ˈḥamm - דברתי- dibˈbartῑ PC_{pret_sim} - past - תבער - ˈtib^car (:tibˈ^car PC_imp)	my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue	חַם־לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי בַּהֲגִיגִי תִבְעַר־אֵשׁ דִּבַּרְתִּי בִּלְשֹׁונִי
40:10	SC_past - past - בשרתי - biśˈśartῑ PC_{pret_sim} - past - אכלא - ˈʾiklaʾ (:ʾikˈlaʾ PC_imp) SC_state - present - ידעת- yaˈda^ctῑ	I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.	בִּשַּׂרְתִּי צֶדֶק בְּקָהָל רָב הִנֵּה פָתַי לֹא אֶכְלָא יְהוָה אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ
44:3	SC_past - past - הֹורַשְׁתָּ - hawˈrašta(ː) PC_pretWC - past (Identical forms in PC_jus and PC_imp.) - ותטעמ - wattiṭṭaˈ^cim. - ותשלחמ - wattạšallịˈḥim PC_{pret_sim} - past - תרע - ˈtarị^cc (:taˈrị^cc PC_imp)	`You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them; You afflicted the peoples,` `Then You spread them abroad.`	אַתָּה יָדְךָ גֹּויִם הֹורַשְׁתָּ וַתִּטָּעֵם תָּרַע לְאֻמִּים וַתְּשַׁלְּחֵם
44:12	תמכר	You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.	תִּמְכֹּר־עַמְּךָ בְלֹא־הֹון וְלֹא־רִבִּיתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶם
47:5	יבחר	He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah	יִבְחַר־לָנוּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתֵנוּ אֶת גְּאֹון יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר־אָהֵב סֶלָה
68:10	Table A PC_{pret_sim} - past -תנפ - ˈtanip (:taˈniːp PC_imp) SC_past - past ונלאה - wạnilˈʾâ כננתה - kōnanˈtaː(h)	Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;	גֶּ֣שֶׁם נְ֭דָבֹות תָּנִ֣יף אֱלֹהִ֑ים נַחֲלָתְךָ֥ וְ֝נִלְאָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה כֹֽונַנְתָּֽהּ׃
73: 3	אראה	For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.	כִּי־קִנֵּאתִי בַּהֹולְלִים שְׁלֹום רְשָׁעִים אֶרְאֶה
73:18	Table A PC_{pret_sim} - past - תשית - ˈtašit (:taˈšiːt PC_imp) SC_past - past - הפלתם - hippalˈtam. Stress not distinctive in this form.	`Surely You set them in slippery places;` `You cast them down to destruction.`	אַ֣ךְ בַּ֭חֲלָקֹות תָּשִׁ֣ית לָ֑מֹו הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם לְמַשּׁוּאֹֽות׃
78:50	יפלס	He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague.	יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפֹּו לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר
81:6	אשמע	`He established it for a testimony in Joseph` `When he went throughout the land of Egypt.` `I heard a language that I did not know:`	עדות ביהוסף שמו בצאתו על־ארץ מצרים שפת לא־ידעתי אשמע
89:44	Table A PC_{pret_sim} - past - תשב - ˈtašib (:taˈšiːb PC_imp) SC_past - past - הקמתה - hiqimoːˈtô(h).	Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not supported him in battle.	אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבֹּ֑ו וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹתֹ֗ו בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
93:1	Context makes clear that תכון תבל is probably PC_{pret_sim}while בל־תמוט is certainly PC_{imp_prfu}_t	The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved	יְהוָה מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ לָבֵשׁ יְהוָה עֹז הִתְאַזָּר אַף־תִּכֹּון תֵּבֵל בַּל־תִּמֹּוט
99:7	Table A PC_{pret_sim} - past - ידבר- yạˈdabbir (:yạdabˈbir PC_imp) SC_past - past - שמרו - šaˈmạrū נתנ - naˈtan	He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.	בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָ֭נָן יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם שָׁמְר֥וּ עֵ֝דֹתָ֗יו וְחֹ֣ק נָֽתַן־לָֽמֹו׃
116:3	אמצא	The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.	אֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָוֶת וּמְצָרֵי שְׁאֹול מְצָאוּנִי צָרָה וְיָגֹון אֶמְצָא
116:6	יהושיע	The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.	שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לֹּותִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהֹושִֽׁיעַ׃
116:10	אדבר	I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";	הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃
*B) Preterite,* *PC_jus and PC_imp. Identical in* **/EBHP/*
8:7	Table A PC_{pret_sim} - past -תמשלהו - tamšiːˈlihu(ː). SC_past - past שתה - ˈšatta(ː).	You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,	תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃
11:3	יהרסון	If the foundations have been destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (my trans.)	כִּי הַשָּׁתֹות יֵהָרֵסוּן צַדִּיק מַה־פָּעָל
18:5	SC_past - past שתה - ʾạpaˈpūnῑ. PC_{pret_sim} - past - יבעתני- yạba^ccịˈtūnῑ.	The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me;	אֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָוֶת וְנַחֲלֵי בְלִיַּעַל יְבַעֲתוּנִי
18:8	יִרְגָּזוּ	Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.	וַתִּגְעַשׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ הָאָרֶץ וּמֹוסְדֵי הָרִים יִרְגָּזוּ וַיִּתְגָּעֲשׁוּ כִּי־חָרָה לֹו
18:18	יצילני	He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.	יַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבִי עָז וּמִשֹּׂנְאַי כִּי־אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי
18:41	אצמיתם	You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.	וְאֹיְבַי נָתַתָּה לִּי עֹרֶף וּמְשַׂנְאַי אַצְמִיתֵם
18:44	תפלטני מריבי עם תשימני לראש גוים עם לא־ידעתי יעבדוני	You delivered me from strife with the peoples; you made me head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.	תְּפַלְּטֵנִי מֵרִיבֵי עָם תְּשִׂימֵנִי לְרֹאשׁ גֹּויִם עַם לֹא־יָדַעְתִּי יַעַבְדוּנִי
24:2	יכוננה	for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.	כִּי־הוּא עַל־יַמִּים יְסָדָהּ וְעַל־נְהָרֹות יְכֹונְנֶהָ
30:12	ותאזרני	You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,	הָפַכְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי לְמָחֹול לִי פִּתַּחְתָּ שַׂקִּי וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי שִׂמְחָה
32:5	אודיעך	Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah	חַטָּאתִי אֹודִיעֲךָ וַעֲוֹנִי לֹא־כִסִּיתִי אָמַרְתִּי אֹודֶה עֲלֵי פְשָׁעַי לַיהוָה וְאַתָּה נָשָׂאתָ עֲוֹן חַטָּאתִי סֶלָה
38:5	יכבדו	For my iniquities have gone/are going over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me. (my trans.)	כִּי עֲוֹנֹתַי עָבְרוּ רֹאשִׁי כְּמַשָּׂא כָבֵד יִכְבְּדוּ מִמֶּנִּי
44:10	תשיבנו	You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have gotten spoil.	תְּשִׁיבֵנוּ אָחֹור מִנִּי־צָר וּמְשַׂנְאֵינוּ שָׁסוּ לָמֹו
44:11	תתננו	You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.	תִּתְּנֵנוּ כְּצֹאן מַאֲכָל וּבַגֹּויִם זֵרִיתָנוּ
44:12	תתננו	You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.	תִּתְּנֵנוּ כְּצֹאן מַאֲכָל וּבַגֹּויִם זֵרִיתָנוּ
44:13	תשימנו	You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.	תְּשִׂימֵנוּ חֶרְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנֵינוּ לַעַג וָקֶלֶס לִסְבִיבֹותֵינוּ
44:14	תשימנו	You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.	תְּשִׂימֵנוּ מָשָׁל בַּגֹּויִם מְנֹוד־רֹאשׁ בַּל־אֻמִּים
66:6	SC_past – past - הפכ - haˈpak PC_{pret_sim} - past יעברו - yi^cˈbụrū, נשמחה - niśˈmaḫa(ː). Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,	הָ֤פַךְ יָ֨ם לְֽיַבָּשָׁ֗ה בַּ֭נָּהָר יַֽעַבְר֣וּ בְרָ֑גֶל ם נִשְׂמְחָה־בֹּֽו׃
74:14	Table A SC_past - past - רצצת - riˈṣaṣta(ː) PC_{pret_sim} - תתננו - tittịˈnannu(ː). Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.	אַתָּ֣ה רִ֭צַּצְתָּ רָאשֵׁ֣י לִוְיָתָ֑ן תִּתְּנֶ֥נּוּ מַ֝אֲכָ֗ל לְעָ֣ם לְצִיִּֽים׃
77:17	Table A SC_past - past - ראכ - raˈʾūka(ː). PC_{pret_sim} יחלו - yaˈḥilū;ירגזו - yirˈgạzū. Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.	רָ֘א֤וּךָ מַּ֨יִם אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים רָא֣וּךָ מַּ֣יִם יָחִ֑ילוּ אַ֝֗ף יִרְגְּז֥וּ תְהֹמֹֽות׃
77:18	Table A SC_past - past - זרמו - zōˈrịmū; נתנו - naˈtanū PC_{pret_sim} - יתהלכו - yithalˈlakū. Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.	זֹ֤רְמוּ מַ֨יִם עָבֹ֗ות קֹ֖ול נָתְנ֣וּ שְׁחָקִ֑ים אַף־חֲ֝צָצֶ֗יךָ יִתְהַלָּֽכוּ׃
77:18	יתהלכו	The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.	זֹרְמוּ מַיִם עָבֹות קֹול נָתְנוּ שְׁחָקִים אַף־חֲצָצֶיךָ יִתְהַלָּכוּ
78:20	ישטפו	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?"	הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל תֵּת אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמֹּו
78:64	Table A SC_past - past -נפלו - naˈpalū. PC_{pret_sim} - תבכינה - tibˈkayna(ː). Stre Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.	כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃
81: 7	Table A SC_past - past -הסרתי - ḥisiˈroːtῑ PC_{pret_sim} - תעברנה - ti^cˈburna(ː). Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.	הֲסִירֹ֣ותִי מִסֵּ֣בֶל שִׁכְמֹ֑ו כַּ֝פָּ֗יו מִדּ֥וּד תַּעֲבֹֽרְנָה׃
102:15	Table A SC_state - present -רצו - raˈṣū PC_{imp_prfu}_t - present - יחננו - yạḥuˈninū. Same in PC_pret and PC_jus.	`Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones` `And feel pity for her dust.`	כִּֽי־רָצ֣וּ עֲ֭בָדֶיךָ אֶת־אֲבָנֶ֑יהָ וְֽאֶת־עֲפָרָ֥הּ יְחֹנֵֽנוּ׃
116:3	Table A SC_past - past - אפפני - ʾạpaˈpūnῑ; מצאני - mạṣaˈʾūnῑ. PC_{pret_sim} - אמצא - ˈʾimṣaʾ (:ʾimˈṣaʾ PC_imp)	The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.	אֲפָפ֤וּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁאֹ֣ול מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָגֹ֣ון אֶמְצָֽא׃
116:6	Table A Table H SC_past - past - דלתי - dalˈloːtῑ. PC_{pret_sim} - יהושע - yạˈhawši^c (:yạhawˈšiː^c PC_imp)	The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.	שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לֹּותִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהֹושִֽׁיעַ׃
116:10	Table A SC_past - past - האמנתי - hiʾˈmantῑ. PC_{pret_sim} - אדבר - ʾạˈdabbir (:ʾạdabˈbir PC_imp) SC_state- present - ענתי - ^caˈnîtῑ.	I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";	הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃
118:10	אמילם	All nations `surround`/ `surroundedm`e; verily, in the name `of the LORD I will surely/ have indeed cut them off.` (my translation)	כָּל־גֹּויִ֥ם סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
118:10	Table A Other possibilities are - SC_state- present OR SC_past - past סבבני - sạbaˈbūnῑ סבני - sabˈbūnῑ PC_{imp_prfu}_t - future OR PC_{pret_sim} - past אמלם - ʾạmiːˈla(ː)m	All nations `surround`/`surroundedm`e; verily, in the name `of the LORD I will surely/ have indeed cut them off.` (my translation)	כָּל־גֹּויִ֥ם סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
118:11		They `surround`/`surrounded` me on every side; in the name of the LORD I `I will` `surely/ have` cut them off! (my translation)	סַבּ֥וּנִי גַם־סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
118:12	Table A Other possibilities are - SC_state- present OR SC_past - past סבני - sabˈbūnῑ דעכו - du^cˈ^cạkū PC_{imp_prfu}_t - future OR PC_{pret_sim} - past אמלם - ʾạmiːˈla(ː)m	They surround/surrounded me like bees; they were/will be stamped out like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut/will cut them off!	סַבּ֤וּנִי כִדְבֹורִ֗ים דֹּ֭עֲכוּ כְּאֵ֣שׁ קֹוצִ֑ים בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
119:67	אענה	Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.	טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג וְעַתָּה אִמְרָתְךָ שָׁמָרְתִּי
138: 3	תרהבני	On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.	בְּיֹום קָרָאתִי וַתַּעֲנֵנִי תַּרְהִבֵנִי בְנַפְשִׁי עֹז
139:13	Table A SC_past - past קנת - qaˈnîta(ː) PC_{pret_sim} - pastתסכני - tạsukˈkinῑ. Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.	כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה קָנִ֣יתָ כִלְיֹתָ֑י תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗נִי בְּבֶ֣טֶן אִמִּֽי׃
139:16	Table A SC_past - past ראו - raˈʾū יצרו- yuˈṣarū [4] PC_{pret_sim} - past - יכתבו - yikkaˈtibū. Same in PC_jus and PC_imp.	Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.	גָּלְמִ֤י רָ֘א֤וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וְעַֽל־סִפְרְךָ֮ כֻּלָּ֪ם יִכָּ֫תֵ֥בוּ יָמִ֥ים יֻצָּ֑רוּ [וְלֹא כ] (וְלֹ֖ו ק) אֶחָ֣ד בָּהֶֽם׃