Biblical Hebrew Forum

[fred burlingame <tensorpath AT gmail.com>]

Hello Rolf:

Thanks for your instructive post.

I read proverbs 31:10-31 at your suggestion.

The passage seems to describe a series of "causes" and "effects." The
virtuous woman performs one act; and then another act follows.

The qatal form generally (but with exceptions) marks the beginning "cause;"
and the yiqtol form generally (but with exceptions) designates the
after "effect." Neither tense or aspect appear to be the focus of these
verbs or verses; but rather "cause" and "effect."

So, perhaps the two verb forms represent multi-function devices. Just as a
single word can instruct a wide variety
of different meanings, depending on context; so a single verb form can enjoy
a wide variety of different uses, depending on context.

Here that use includes differentiating between"cause" and "effect."

Is this the direction you intend in your challenge?

regards,

fred burlingame