Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Ian Hutchesson" <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

I thought people might be interested in this citation from the
Talmud which shows that we are not the only ones with problems
understanding Hebrew verb "tenses":

From Bavli Berakot 52b
-------------------------
VI.1 A. The House of Shammai say, "Who created..." [M. 8:5C].
B. Raba said, "Concerning the word 'bara' [created] everyone agrees
   that 'bara' implies [the past tense]. They differ concerning
   'boré' [creates]. The House of Shammai reckon that 'boré' means,
   'Who will create in the future.' And the House of Hillel reckon
   that 'boré' also means what was created [in the past]."
C. R. Joseph objected, "'Who forms light and creates darkness'
   [Isaiah 45:7], 'Creates mountains and forms the wind' [Amos 4:13],
   'Who creates the heavens and spreads them out'" [Isaiah 42:5].
D. "But," R. Joseph said, "Concerning 'bara' and 'boré' everyone
   agrees that [the words] refer to the past. They differ as to
   whether one should say 'light' or 'lights.'
E. "The House of Shammai reckon there is one light in the fire.
F. "And the House of Hillel reckon that there are many lights in the
   fire."
G. We have a Tannaite teaching along the same lines: The House of
   Hillel said to the House of Shammai, "There are many illuminations
   in the light."

(Translation Jacob Neusner)


Ian