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

Table G

PC_pretWC[1] Should be Revocalized as PC_imp Due to Contextually Required Meaning

Chapter & Verse Hebrew Text

Comments and Time Reference

(Reconstructed JEH Style Spelling; */EBHP/⁺where stress phonemic)

English Translation(s)[2]

Masoretic Text^{^[3]}

A) PC_pretWC was Distinguished from the PC_imp in */EBHP/⁺by the Placement of Stress

16:9

ויגל - wayˈyagil (PC_pretWC)

should be

ויגל - wạyaˈgiːl (PC_imp)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

לָכֵן שָׂמַח לִבִּי וַיָּגֶל כְּבֹודִי אַף־בְּשָׂרִי יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח

29:5

וישבר - wayyạˈšabbir (PC_pretWC) should be

וישבר - wạyạšabˈbir (PC_imp)

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon

קֹול יְהוָה שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים וַיְשַׁבֵּר יְהוָה אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנֹון

29:9

ויחשף - wayˈyiḥśup (PC_pretWC)

should be

ויחשף - wạyiḥˈśup (PC_imp)

The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"

קֹול יְהוָה יְחֹולֵל אַיָּלֹות וַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרֹות וּבְהֵיכָלֹו כֻּלֹּו אֹמֵר כָּבֹוד

29:10

וישב - wayˈyišib (PC_pretWC)

should be

וישב - wạyiˈšib (PC_imp)

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

יְהוָה לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב וַיֵּשֶׁב יְהוָה מֶלֶךְ לְעֹולָם

39:12

ותמס - watˈtams (PC_pretWC)

should be

ותמסה - wạtamˈseː (PC_imp)

"You chastise mortals in punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is dear to them; surely everyone is a mere breath. Selah

בְּתֹוכָחֹות עַל־עָוֹן יִסַּרְתָּ אִישׁ וַתֶּמֶס כָּעָשׁ חֲמוּדֹו אַךְ הֶבֶל כָּל־אָדָם סֶלָה

50:16

ותשא - watˈtiśśaʾ (PC_pretWC)
should be

ותשא - wạtiśˈśaʾ (PC_imp)

But to the wicked God says,
"What right have you to tell of My statutes
And to take My covenant in your mouth?

וְלָרָשָׁע אָמַר אֱלֹהִים מַה־לְּךָ לְסַפֵּר חֻקָּי וַתִּשָּׂא בְרִיתִי עֲלֵי־פִיךָ

69:21

ואקוה - waʾʾạˈqawweː (PC_pretWC) should be

ואקוה - wạʾạqawˈweː (PC_imp)

Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

חֶרְפָּה שָׁבְרָה לִבִּי וָאָנוּשָׁה וָאֲקַוֶּה לָנוּד וָאַיִן וְלַמְנַחֲמִים וְלֹא מָצָאתִי

75:9

ויגר - wayˈyaggir (PC_pretWC)

should be

ויגר - wạyagˈgiːr (PC_imp)

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed; he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.

כִּי כֹוס בְּיַד־יְהוָה וְיַיִן חָמַר מָלֵא מֶסֶךְ וַיַּגֵּר מִזֶּה אַךְ־שְׁמָרֶיהָ יִמְצוּ יִשְׁתּוּ כֹּל רִשְׁעֵי־אָרֶץ

77:7

Table G

וַיְחַפֵּ֥שׂ (*/EBHP/ wayyạˈḥappiś) should be read as וִיְחַפֵּ֥שׂ (*/EBHP/ wayḥapˈpiś)

I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:

נְגִינָתִ֗י בַּ֫לָּ֥יְלָה עִם־לְבָבִ֥י אָשִׂ֑יחָה וַיְחַפֵּ֥שׂ רוּחִֽי׃

B) PC_pretWC Was not Distinguished from the PC_imp in */EBHP/⁺by the Placement of Stress

22:30

וישתחוו - wayyišˈtaḥwū (PC_pretWC) should be

וישתחוו - wạyišˈtaḥwū (PC_imp)

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.

אָכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ כָּל־דִּשְׁנֵי־אֶרֶץ לְפָנָיו יִכְרְעוּ כָּל־יֹורְדֵי עָפָר וְנַפְשֹׁו לֹא חִיָּה

29:6

וירקידם - wayyarˈqiːdim (PC_pretWC) should be

וירקידם - wayarˈqiːdim (PC_imp)

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

וַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמֹו־עֵגֶל לְבָנֹון וְשִׂרְיֹן כְּמֹו בֶן־רְאֵמִים

34:8

ויחלצם - wayyạḥalˈlịṣim (PC_pretWC) should be

ויחלצם - wạyạḥalˈlịṣim (PC_imp)

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

חֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם

37:40

ויעזרם; ויפלטם

wayyạpalˈlịṭim; wayyi^cˈzụrim (PC_pretWC) should be

ויעזרם; ויפלטם

wạyạpalˈlịṭim; wạyi^cˈzụrim (PC_imp)

The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

וַיַּעְזְרֵם יְהוָה וַיְפַלְּטֵם יְפַלְּטֵם מֵרְשָׁעִים וְיֹושִׁיעֵם כִּי־חָסוּ בֹו

49:15

וירדו wayˈyirdū (PC_pretWC)

should be

וירדו wạˈyirdū (PC_imp)

Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.

כַּצֹּאן לִשְׁאֹול שַׁתּוּ מָוֶת יִרְעֵם וַיִּרְדּוּ בָם יְשָׁרִים לַבֹּקֶר [וְצִירָם כ] (וְצוּרָם ק) לְבַלֹּות שְׁאֹול מִזְּבֻל לֹו

64:8

וירם wayˈyawrim (PC_pretWC)

should be

וירם wạˈyawrim (PC_imp)

But God will shoot his arrow at them; they will be wounded suddenly.

וַיֹּרֵם אֱלֹהִים חֵץ פִּתְאֹום הָיוּ מַכֹּותָם

64:9

ויכשילוהו - wayyakšiːˈluːhu(ː) (PC_pretWC) should be

ויכשילוהו - wạyakšiːˈluːhu(ː) (PC_imp)

Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake with horror.

וַיַּכְשִׁילוּהוּ עָלֵימֹו לְשֹׁונָם יִתְנֹדֲדוּ כָּל־רֹאֵה בָם

64:10

וייראו; ויגידו
wayyîˈrạʾū; wayyagˈgiːdū (PC_pretWC) should be

וייראו; ויגידו
wạyîˈrạʾū; wạyagˈgiːdū (PC_imp)

Then everyone will fear; they will tell what God has brought about, and ponder what he has done.

וַיִּירְאוּ כָּל־אָדָם וַיַּגִּידוּ פֹּעַל אֱלֹהִים וּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ הִשְׂכִּילוּ

65:10

ותשקקה - wattạšōqịˈqiha(ː) (PC_pretWC) should be

ותשקקה - wạtạšōqịˈqiha(ː) (PC_imp)

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.

פָּקַדְתָּ הָאָרֶץ וַתְּשֹׁקְקֶהָ רַבַּת תַּעְשְׁרֶנָּה פֶּלֶג אֱלֹהִים מָלֵא מָיִם תָּכִין דְּגָנָם כִּי־כֵן תְּכִינֶהָ