History of the Hebrew Language by David Steinberg

Edition 1.

20 September 2011

PC_{pret_sim} in Prophetic Poetry

by David Steinberg

David.Steinberg@houseofdavid.ca

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

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See Tenses or Aspects in Biblical Hebrew

The following table is the result of a rapid scan of some prophetic texts. It seems that prophetic BH poetry, in its use of the preterite lies between BH prose and psalmic poetry (see See Observations on Some Aspects of the Use of Tenses in Psalms).

Use of the PC_{pret_sim}[1] in the prophetic literature is rare and generally occurs only where the past meaning is clear from context.

Chapt./Vs. of Hebrew Text	*Comments and Time Reference* (Reconstructed JEH Style Spelling; */EBHP/⁺^{^[2]}; n.b. EBHP PC_pret and PC_jus were identical.)	*English Translation(s)*[3]	*Masoretic* *Text*^{^[4]}
*A) Preterite and Jussive Distinguished from* *PC_imp* in **/EBHP/by the Placement of Stress***
Is 41:2	PC_{pret_sim} יתן - ˈyittin (:yitˈtin PC_imp) ירד - ˈyard (?) (:yaˈroːd (?) PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by preceeding הֵעִיר (2) stress in יקראהו yiqraˈʾihu not distinctive	Who has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service? `He delivered up nations before him and subdued kings` `making them like dust with his sword`... . (my translation)	מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלֹו יִתֵּן לְפָנָיו גֹּויִם וּמְלָכִים יַרְדְּ יִתֵּן כֶּעָפָר חַרְבֹּו כְּקַשׁ נִדָּף קַשְׁתֹּו
Is 42:6	PC_{pret_sim} ואחזק - wạˈʾaḥziq (:wạʾaḥˈziːq PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by preceeding קְרָאתִיךָ; (2) stress in ואצרך - wạʾiṣṣuˈraka(ː) and ואתנך - wạʾittiˈnaka(ː) not distinctive; (3) possibly the 3 verbs should be repointed as PC_pretWC waʾˈʾaḥziq; waʾʾiṣṣuˈraka(ː); waʾʾittiˈnaka(ː).	I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,	אֲנִי יְהוָה קְרָאתִיךָ בְצֶדֶק וְאַחְזֵק בְּיָדֶךָ וְאֶצָּרְךָ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ לִבְרִית עָם לְאֹור גֹּויִם
Is 43:9	PC_{pret_sim} יגד - ˈyaggịd (:yagˈgịːd PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by preceeding נִקְבְּצוּ; (2) stress in ישמענו - yašmiːˈ^cūnū not distinctive.	`All the nations have gathered together so that the peoples may be assembled.` `Who among them has declared this` `Foretold to us things that have happened?` Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, "It is true."	כָּל־הַגֹּויִם נִקְבְּצוּ יַחְדָּו וְיֵאָסְפוּ לְאֻמִּים מִי בָהֶם יַגִּיד זֹאת וְרִאשֹׁנֹות יַשְׁמִיעֻנוּ יִתְּנוּ עֵדֵיהֶם וְיִצְדָּקוּ וְיִשְׁמְעוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ אֱמֶת
Is 57:17	PC_{pret_sim} ואקצף - wạˈʾiqṣup (:wạʾiqˈṣup PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by other verbs in verse; (2) stress in ואכהו - wạʾakˈkihu(ː) not distinctive; (3) possibly the 2 verbs should be repointed as PC_pretWC waʾˈʾiqṣup; waʾʾakˈkihu(ː).	Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways.	בַּעֲוֹן בִּצְעֹו קָצַפְתִּי וְאַכֵּהוּ הַסְתֵּר וְאֶקְצֹף וַיֵּלֶךְ שֹׁובָב בְּדֶרֶךְ לִבֹּו
Is 63:5	PC_{pret_sim} ואבט - wạˈʾabbiṭ (:wạʾabˈbiːṭ PC_imp) ואשתמם- wạʾišˈtōmim (:wạʾištōˈmim PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by other verbs in verse; (2) possibly the verbs should be repointed as PC_pretWC waʾˈʾabbiṭ; waʾʾišˈtōmim	I looked, but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me.	וְאַבִּיט וְאֵין עֹזֵר וְאֶשְׁתֹּומֵם וְאֵין סֹומֵךְ וַתֹּושַׁע לִי זְרֹעִי וַחֲמָתִי הִיא סְמָכָתְנִי
Is 63:6	PC_{pret_sim} ואבס - wạˈʾabus (:wạʾaˈbuːs PC_imp) ואורד- wạˈʾawrid (:wạʾawˈriːd PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by context; (2) possibly ואשכרם - wạʾạšakˈkịrim should be repointed as PC_pretWC waʾʾạšakˈkịrim	I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."	וְאָבוּס עַמִּים בְּאַפִּי וַאֲשַׁכְּרֵם בַּחֲמָתִי וְאֹורִיד לָאָרֶץ נִצְחָם
Is 66:7	PC_{pret_sim} תחיל - taḫil (:taˈḫiːl PC_imp) Nb. time established as past by preceeding בְּטֶרֶם	Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.	בְּטֶרֶם תָּחִיל יָלָדָה בְּטֶרֶם יָבֹוא חֵבֶל לָהּ וְהִמְלִיטָה זָכָר
Hosea 13:11	PC_{pret_sim} אתן - ˈʾittịn (:ʾitˈtịn PC_imp) ואקח - wạˈʾiqqaḥ (:wạʾiqˈqaḥ PC_imp) Nb. (1) time established as past by context; (2) possible ואקח should be repointed as PC_pretWCwaʾˈʾiqqaḥ	I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.	אֶתֶּן־לְךָ מֶלֶךְ בְּאַפִּי וְאֶקַּח בְּעֶבְרָתִי
*B) Preterite,* *PC_jus and* *PC_imp* *Identical in* **/EBHP/*
Is 40:13	PC_{pret_sim} יודיענו - yawdiːˈ^cannu(ː). Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.Nb. time established as past by preceeding תִכֵּן	Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has instructed him?	מִי־תִכֵּן אֶת־רוּחַ יְהוָה וְאִישׁ עֲצָתֹו יֹודִיעֶנּוּ
Is 40:14	PC_{pret_sim} יודיענו - yawdiːˈ^cannu(ː) nb. time established as past by preceeding וַיְבִינֵהוּ וַיְלַמְּדֵהוּ	Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?	אֶת־מִי נֹועָץ וַיְבִינֵהוּ וַיְלַמְּדֵהוּ בְּאֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט וַיְלַמְּדֵהוּ דַעַת וְדֶרֶךְ תְּבוּנֹות יֹודִיעֶנּוּ
Is 40:19	PC_{pret_sim} ירקענו - yạraqqịˈ^cannu(ː) nb. time established as past by preceeding נָסַךְ	The idol?-- A workman has cast it, and a goldsmith overlaid it with gold, and casts for it silver chains. (my translation)	הַפֶּסֶל נָסַךְ חָרָשׁ וְצֹרֵף בַּזָּהָב יְרַקְּעֶנּוּ וּרְתֻקֹות כֶּסֶף צֹורֵף
Is 40:21	PC_{pret_sim} תשמעו - tišˈma^cū nb. past time established as past by context	`Do you not know? Have you not heard?` `Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?` `Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?`	הֲלֹוא תֵדְעוּ הֲלֹוא תִשְׁמָעוּ הֲלֹוא הֻגַּד מֵרֹאשׁ לָכֶם הֲלֹוא הֲבִינֹתֶם מֹוסְדֹות הָאָרֶץ
Is 43:28	PC_{pret_sim} ואתנה - wạʾitˈtịna(ː) Nb. (1) time established as past by preceeding וַאֲחַלֵּל; (2) possibly the verb should be repointed as PC_pretWC waʾʾitˈtịna(ː).	Therefore I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, I delivered Jacob to utter destruction, and Israel to reviling.	וַאֲחַלֵּל שָׂרֵי קֹדֶשׁ וְאֶתְּנָה לַחֵרֶם יַעֲקֹב וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְגִדּוּפִים
Is 51:2	PC_{pret_sim} תחוללכם - tạḫōlilạˈkim וארבהו - ʾarˈbihu(ː) nb. time established as past by other verbs in verse.	Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.	הַבִּיטוּ אֶל־אַבְרָהָם אֲבִיכֶם וְאֶל־שָׂרָה תְּחֹולֶלְכֶם כִּי־אֶחָד קְרָאתִיו וַאֲבָרְכֵהוּ וְאַרְבֵּהוּ
Is 61:10	PC_{pret_sim} יעטני - yạġaˈṭanῑ nb. time established as past by preceeding הלבישני	I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.	שֹׂושׂ אָשִׂישׂ בַּיהוָה תָּגֵל נַפְשִׁי בֵּאלֹהַי כִּי הִלְבִּישַׁנִי בִּגְדֵי־יֶשַׁע מְעִיל צְדָקָה יְעָטָנִי כֶּחָתָן יְכַהֵן פְּאֵר וְכַכַּלָּה תַּעְדֶּה כֵלֶיהָ
Is 63:3	PC_{pret_sim} ואדרכם - wạʾidˈrụkim וארמסם- wạʾirˈmụsim יז - wạˈyizz nb. (1) time established as past by preceeding דָּרַכְתִּי; (2) Possibly the verbs should be repointed as PC_{pretWC -}waʾʾidˈrụkim; waʾʾirˈmụsim; wayˈyizz.	"I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes.	פּוּרָה דָּרַכְתִּי לְבַדִּי וּמֵעַמִּים אֵין־אִישׁ אִתִּי וְאֶדְרְכֵם בְּאַפִּי וְאֶרְמְסֵם בַּחֲמָתִי וְיֵז נִצְחָם עַל־בְּגָדַי וְכָל־מַלְבּוּשַׁי אֶגְאָלְתִּי
Jer 2:15	PC_{pret_sim} ישאגו - yiˈšạgū Nb. time established as past by following verbs.	The lions have roared against him, they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.	עָלָיו יִשְׁאֲגוּ כְפִרִים נָתְנוּ קֹולָם וַיָּשִׁיתוּ אַרְצֹו לְשַׁמָּה עָרָיו [נִצְּתָה כ] (נִצְּתוּ ק) מִבְּלִי יֹשֵׁב
Ob 1:7	PC_{pret_sim} ישימו - yaˈśiːmū Nb. (1) time established as (probably) past by preceeding SC verbs; (2) possibly ישימו should be understood as PC_{imp_prfut} (="`will set an ambush`").	All your allies have deceived you, they have driven you to the border; your confederates have prevailed against you; those who ate your bread have set a trap for you-- there is no understanding of it.	עַד־הַגְּבוּל שִׁלְּחוּךָ כֹּל אַנְשֵׁי בְרִיתֶךָ הִשִּׁיאוּךָ יָכְלוּ לְךָ אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלֹמֶךָ לַחְמְךָ יָשִׂימוּ מָזֹור תַּחְתֶּיךָ אֵין תְּבוּנָה בֹּו