Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Mitch,

> With reference to this quote:
>
> Leupold observes that the occurrence of the verb `aman
> in verse 6 as a perfect with waw is unusual, and not
> the expected imperfect with waw consecutive. His
> analysis, based on Koenig’s grammar, is that the
> perfect probably indicates the permanence of Abraham’s
> faith. He believed not just this once, but was
> constant in his faith.
>
> (end quote)
>
> Could someone help me understand the difference, as
> far as its temporal/chronological implications are
> concerned, between the perfect and imperfect? I had
> read where the 'aman referred to in Genesis 15:6 would
> also include Abram's earlier faith (Gen. 12 onward).
> Is this what the perfect more so implies than would
> the imperfect. (If possible, could you integrate your
> answer with reference to the LXX using the Aorist
> tense here for 'believed.')
>
> In Leupold's quote above, "He believed not just this
> once".. does this mean Abram had believed earlier as
> well, or does this look forward?
>
> I have absolutely no Hebrew training, so please keep
> that in mind if you choose to respond.
>  

HH: Leupold's analysis seems suspicious because the context indicates 
that Abraham believed in what God had just told him. Here is a comment 
by the NET Bible, and they expect lay readers to be able to understand 
their notes, I think. I will add a couple of things in brackets:

20tn The nonconsecutive [breaking the narrative flow] vav (ו) is on a 
perfect verbal form. If the composer of the narrative had wanted to show 
simple sequence, he would have used the vav consecutive with the 
preterite [the imperfect used with vav to indicate past action]. The 
perfect with vav conjunctive (where one expects the preterite with vav 
consecutive) in narrative contexts can have a variety of discourse 
functions, but here it probably serves to highlight Abram’s response to 
God’s promise. For a detailed discussion of the vav + perfect 
construction in Hebrew narrative, see R. Longacre, “Weqatal Forms in 
Biblical Hebrew Prose: A Discourse-modular Approach,” Biblical Hebrew 
and Discourse Linguistics, 50-98. The Hebrew verb אָמַן (’aman) means “to 
confirm, to support” in the Qal verbal stem. Its derivative nouns refer 
to something or someone that/who provides support, such as a “pillar,” 
“nurse,” or “guardian, trustee.” In the Niphal stem it comes to mean “to 
be faithful, to be reliable, to be dependable,” or “to be firm, to be 
sure.” In the Hiphil, the form used here, it takes on a declarative 
sense: “to consider something reliable [or “dependable”].” Abram 
regarded the God who made this promise as reliable and fully capable of 
making it a reality.

HH: So the NET translator felt that the Hebrew verb choice highlighted 
Abraham's belief as particularly significant. One could translate it: 
"Now Abraham believed in the Lord, and He credited it to him as 
righteousness."

Yours,
Harold Holmyard

> Mitch Larramore
> Sugar Land, Texas
>
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