Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>]

On 12/04/2007 15:20, Lisbeth S. Fried wrote:
> ...
> Dear Peter,
> I understand that is your contention, and Rolf's. I am still waiting for a
> sentence with a Yiqtol in it that I would agree would make no sense that
> way. I allowed for the future to begin the moment the pen is lifted from the
> paper of the composer.
> Liz Fried
>
>   
Liz (and Isaac), this contention is not mine or Rolf's but goes back to 
Gesenius. or at least GKC. He wrote (section 107b-i) that "the imperfect 
[our YIQTOL] serves - 1. In the sphere of /past time/: (a) To express 
actions, &c., which /continued/ throughout a longer or shorter period 
... (b) To express actions, &c., which were /repeated/ in the past, 
either at fixed intervals or occasionally ... 2. In the sphere of 
/present time/, again (a) To express actions, &c., which are /continued/ 
for a longer or shorter time ... (b) To express actions, &c., which may 
be /repeated/ at any time, including therefore the present, or are 
/customarily/ repeated on a given occasion ... (c) To express actions, 
&c., which although, strictly speaking, they are already finished, are 
regarded as still lasting on into the present time, or continuing to 
operate in it ... 3. In the sphere of /future time/ ..." GKC gives many 
examples of each of these categories, starting with ya`aleh in Genesis 
2:6, clearly not future to any composer!

--
Peter Kirk
E-mail:  peter AT qaya.org
Blog:    http://www.qaya.org/blog/
Website: http://www.qaya.org/