Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Rolf Furuli <furuli AT online.no>]

Dear Randall,

I start with a few definitions: The deictic center (C) is the 
vantage-point from which an event is seen; event time (ET) is the 
time an action takes from beginning to end; and reference time (RT) 
is the  part of ET that is focused upon or made visible. Aspect is 
the relationship between ET and RT and represents non-deictic time 
(time that is not defined in relation to the deictic center). Tense 
is the relationship between ET and C and represents deictic time. 
Languages such as Burmese and Mandarin do not have tense, so we can 
only speak of temporal reference and not tense in these languages.

When ET comes before C, the tense is past; when ET comes after C, the 
tense is future, and when ET coincides with C, the tense (or temporal 
reference) is present. I use "temporal reference" as an alternative, 
because, for example, I do not analyze English present as a tense.

Modality indicates how the speaker or writer views the words; it is 
related to wish, will, certainty/uncertainty. Indicative relates to 
this world, while modality relates to imagined worlds.

Then we look at Matthew, chapter 24. and we start with the QATAL of v. 15.

And English translation can be: "And when you see (QATAL) the 
abominable sign of desolation, which was spoken (QATAL) of by Daniel 
the prophet, standing in a holy place, then use discernment (NEQTOL, 
the same as BH YIQTOL)."

The deictic center is speech time, and there can be no doubt that 
reference time (the seeing) would occur after C. Therefore the 
reference is future. Do the words refer to this real world or to 
imagined worlds? Jesus referred to a prophecy uttered by Daniel, and 
his words show that he was certain that the abominable sign of 
abomination would come and would be seen. No one would take  Jesus' 
words as: "If you happen to see the ab.," "you might see the ab...," 
"Daniel's words may have a fulfillment, and in that case, if you se 
the ab.."  Jesus referred to this world and to a certain situation 
that would come in the future. The fact that Jesus exhorts them in a 
certain way, is dependent on the fulfillment in this world, and this 
fulfillment is not dependent upon the exhortation. Thus, the seeing 
event expressed by QATAL is in the indicative and the exhortation is 
modal. So, the QATAL form is used with future reference, and QATAL 
can therefore not be defined as "grammaticalized past".

We have a very similar situation in v. 33. As an answer to the 
question, "what will be the sign of your presence," Jesus mentions 
particular events that will occur in this world; in his mind this was 
a certainty  and not a possibility or a hope. The seeing of these 
events would be a reality, and this seeing was not dependent on the 
exhortation. So again, the seeing situation is indicative, and the 
exhortation is modal.

BTW. Some people would say that future reference always is modal, and 
that for example English does not have a future tense. I take the 
side of B. Comrie in this case and analyze English future as future 
tense. I also analyze Classical Greek future as future tense.


Best regards,

Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo










>  >Syriac QATAL is normally
> used with past reference, but in Matthew 24:33
> the QATAL form of the verb XZ) (to see) is used
> with future reference. >
>
> This sentence also illustrates the need to evaluate how an analyst
> divides and assigns data.
> The verb Hazaytun 'you saw' is in a subordinate clause mo d- 'what that'
> to main clause with an imperative "Know".
> The main command to 'know' indirectly relates to the future,
> but it is specifically in the volitional world,
> "i want you to know" the non-indicative world.
> The subordinate 'seeing' can also be viewed as relatively past to the
> 'knowing'. "When you would see, then you should know.."
>
> So one should not take this Syriac qatal as an unambiguous, simple
> 'future context'.
>
> braxot
> Yochanan
>
>
> --
> Randall Buth, PhD
> www.biblicalulpan.org
> randallbuth AT gmail.com
> Biblical Language Center
> Learn Easily - Progress Further - Remember for Life
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