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/

To print use PDF file here

Return to Table of Contents

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

Table C

PC_{pret_sim}and PC_pretWC 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) At Least One Form of Preterite was Distinguished from the* *PC_imp* in **/EBHP/⁺by the* *Placement of Stress*.
7:16	SC_past - past - כרה - kaˈrâ PC_pretWC - past - ויחפרהו - wayyiḥpụˈrihu(ː). Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. - ויפל - wayˈyippul (:wạyipˈpul PC_imp :wạˈyippul PC_jus) 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.`	בֹּ֣ור כָּ֭רָֽה וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל בְּשַׁ֣חַת יִפְעָֽל
18:8	PC_pretWC - past – - ותגעש - watˈtig^caš (:wạtigˈ^caš PC_imp :wạˈtig^caš PC_jus) - ותרעש - watˈtir^caš (:wạtirˈ^caš PC_imp:wạˈtir^caš PC_jus) - ויתגעשו - wayyitgaˈ^cịšū. (:wạyitgaˈ^cịšū PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - יפעל - ˈyip^cal (:yipˈ^cal PC_imp) SC_past - 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	PC_pretWC - past – וירעם - wayˈyar^cim (:wạyarˈ^ciːm PC_imp/PC_jus) PC_{pret_sim} - past – יתנ - ˈyittin (:yitˈtin PC_imp)	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	PC_{pret_sim} - past - יקדמוני - yạqaddịˈmūnῑ. Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp PC_pretWC - past - ויהי - wayˈyihy (:wạyihˈyê PC_imp).	They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support.	יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיֹום־אֵידִ֑י וַֽיְהִי־יְהוָ֖ה לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן לִֽי
18:36	PC_pretWC - past – ותתנ - watˈtittin (:wạtitˈtin PC_imp:wạˈtittin PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past (Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp)_. תסעדני - tis^caˈdinῑ; 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	SC_past - past - הורשת - hawˈrašta(ː) PC_pretWC - past (Stress not distinctive in these forms) - ותטעם - wattiṭṭaˈ^cim (:wạtiṭṭaˈ^cim PC_imp/PC_jus); - ותשלחם - wattạšalliˈḥim (:wạtạšalliˈḥim PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past -תרע - ˈtarị^c(:taˈrịː^c PC_imp).	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	SC_past - past - זנחת - zaˈnaḥta(ː) PC_pretWC - past -ותכלימנו - wattakliːˈminū (:wạtakliːˈminū PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - תצא - ˈtiṣiʾ(:tiˈṣiʾ PC_imp).	Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies.	אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ וְלֹא־תֵ֝צֵ֗א בְּצִבְאֹותֵֽינוּ
78:15	PC_{pret_sim} - past - יבקע - yạbˈbaqị^c(:yạbbaˈqị^c PC_imp). PC_pretWC - past - וישק- wayˈyašq (:wạyašˈqê PC_imp:wạˈyašq PC_jus).	He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.	יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמֹ֥ות רַבָּֽה
78:26	PC_{pret_sim} - past - יסע - ˈyassị^c(:yasˈsịː^c PC_imp). PC_pretWC - past - וינהג- wayyạˈnahig (:wạyạnaˈhig PC_imp:wạyạˈnahig PC_jus).	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	PC_pretWC - past (Stress not distinctive in these forms) - וישבעו - wayyiśˈbạ^cū (:wạyiśˈbạ^cū PC_imp/PC_jus); - ויאכלו - wayyôˈkịlū (:wạyôˈkịlū PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - יבא - ˈyabiʾ (:yaˈbiːʾ PC_imp).	And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.	וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם
78:44	PC_pretWC - past -ויהפכ - wayˈyihpuk (:wạyihˈpuk PC_imp). PC_{pret_sim} - past - ישתין - yištaˈyūn. Identical form in PC_imp.	He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams.	וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן
78:45	PC_{pret_sim} - past - ישלח - yạˈšallịḥ (:yạšalˈlịḥ PC_imp). PC_pretWC - past - ויאכלם - wayyôˈkịlim (:wạyôˈkịlim PC_imp/PC_jus); - ותשחתם - wattašˈḥiːtim (:wạtašˈḥiːtim PC_imp/PC_jus).	He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.	יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם
80:9	PC_{pret_sim} - past - תסיע- ˈtaśi^c (:taˈśi^c PC_imp). - תגרש - tạˈgarriš (:tạgarˈriš PC_imp). PC_pretWC - past - ותטעה - wattiṭṭaˈ^ciha(ː) (:wạtiṭṭaˈ^ciha(ː) PC_imp/PC_jus).	You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.	גֶּ֭פֶן מִמִּצְרַ֣יִם תַּסִּ֑יעַ תְּגָרֵ֥שׁ גֹּ֝ויִ֗ם וַתִּטָּעֶֽהָ
92:12	PC_pretWC - past - ותבט - wayˈyihpuk (:wạyihˈpuk PC_imp:wạˈyihpuk PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - תשמענה - tišˈma^cna(ː). Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	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	PC_{pret_sim} - past - יקם - ˈyaqim (:yaˈqiːm PC_imp). PC_pretWC - past - ויחשו - wayyiḥˈšū (:wạyiḥˈšū PC_imp/PC_jus).	he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.	יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם
114:3	SC_past - past - ראה - raˈʾâ. PC_pretWC - past - וינס - wayˈyanus (:wạyanuːs PC_imp:wạˈyanus PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past – יסב - ˈyissub (:yisˈsub PC_imp:wạˈyissub PC_jus).	The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back	הַיָּם רָאָה וַיָּנֹס הַיַּרְדֵּן יִסֹּב לְאָחֹור
*B) Neither form of Preterite Was Distinguished from the* *PC_imp* in **/EBHP/⁺by the* *Placement of Stress*
18:20	PC_pretWC - past - ויוציאני - wayyawṣiˈʾinῑ (:wạyawṣiˈʾinῑ PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - יחלצני - yạḥallịˈṣinῑ (:yipˈ^cal PC_imp/PC_jus) SC_state - חפץ – ḥaˈpiṣ (:ḥaˈpiːṣ part.)	He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.	וַיֹּוצִיאֵנִי לַמֶּרְחָב יְחַלְּצֵנִי כִּי חָפֵץ בִּי
78:20	SC_past - past – הכה - hikˈkâ PC_pretWC - past - ויזובו - wayyaˈzuːbū (:wạyazuːbū PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past -ישטפו - yišˈṭụpū. Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. PC_jus – jussive יוכל – ˈyûkal (:yûˈkal PC_imp) יכין – ˈyakin (:yaˈkiːn PC_imp).	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	PC_pretWC - past - ויפתהו - wayyạpatˈtūnῑ (:wạyạpatˈtūnῑ PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - יכזבו - yạkaˈzibū. Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.	וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשֹׁונָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֹֽו
78:58	PC_pretWC - past - ויכעסהו - wayyạk^ciːˈsūhu(ː) (:wạyạk^ciːˈsūhu(ː) PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - יקנאהו - yaqniːˈʾūhu(ː). Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.	וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמֹותָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ
78:64	SC_past - past -נפלו - naˈpalū PC_{pret_sim} - past – תבכינה - tibˈkayna(ː).Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.	כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה
78:72	PC_pretWC - past - וירעם - wayyirˈ^cim (:wạyirˈ^cim PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - ינחם - yanˈḥim. Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skillful hand.	וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָבֹ֑ו וּבִתְבוּנֹ֖ות כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם
81:8	SC_past - past -קראת - qaˈraʾta(ː). PC_pretWC - past -ואחלצך - waʾʾạḥallịˈṣaka(ː) (:wạʾạḥallịˈṣaka(ː) PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. -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	PC_{pret_sim} - past - Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. - יצילם - yanˈḥim. -ימרו - yanˈḥim. PC_pretWC - past - וימכו- wayyaˈmukkū (:wạyaˈmukkū PC_imp/PC_jus).	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	PC_{pret_sim} - past - Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. - ויצעקו - yanˈḥim. PC_pretWC - past - יוציאם- wayyaˈmukkū (:wạyaˈmukkū PC_imp/PC_jus).	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	PC_{pret_sim} - past - Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp. - וישמחו - yanˈḥim. - וינחם - yanˈḥim. PC_pretWC - past - ישתקו - wayyaˈmukkū (:wạyaˈmukkū PC_imp/PC_jus).	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	SC_past - past -קראתי - qaˈraʾtῑ. PC_pretWC - past - ותענני - wayyaˈmukkū (:wạyaˈmukkū PC_imp/PC_jus). PC_{pret_sim} - past - תרהבני - tarhiːˈbinῑ. Identical form in PC_jus and PC_imp.	On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.	בְּיֹום קָרָאתִי וַתַּעֲנֵנִי תַּרְהִבֵנִי בְנַפְשִׁי עֹז