Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Hi Karl!

No the Yiqtol and Qatal don't have the same functions. There are key differences. In prose, the Qatal verb doesn't have the same indefiniteness as the Yiqtol. The Qatal presents action as definite (ie. concrete, specific, close up).

Yiqtol: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Qatal: A gentle answer turned away wrath, but a harsh word stirred up anger.

The yiqtol is indefinite, and could apply to past, present, or future. In this case, it's gnomic present. But the Qatal would be speaking about a specific occasion when a gentle answer happened to turn away wrath and a harsh word stirred up anger. It's the difference between indefinite and definite.

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia