Article
In Biblical Hebrew a Perfect
verb
is normally used to describe actions that have occurred in the past or
actions that are seen as completed (even in present or future time). However,
the Perfect conjugation is also used to describe a variety of other kinds
of actions. Thus, a Perfect verb has the potential to be
translated with the past tense, the present tense, or even the future
tense. The context must determine the proper meaning for each instance
of a Perfect verb.
When the
conjunction
waw (וְ "and") is added to the Perfect conjugation as a prefix, this
can indicate either the Perfect copulative
or the Sequential Perfect.
The meaning of the verb is different in either case, and the context
must be carefully considered to determine if it is a Perfect
copulative verb or a Sequential Perfect verb.
Function
The Perfect conjugation can indicate any of the following kinds of
actions:
Completed actions in past time
The Perfect conjugation can be translated as simple past action ("he did"), present
completed action ("he has done"), or past completed action
("he had done").
Example: JER 43:7 — Perfect conjugation translated as simple past action
| כִּ֛י לֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה |
| ki lo shom'u beqol yehwah |
| for not they-listened to-voice-of Yahweh. |
| because they did not listen to Yahweh's voice. |
Example: JER 43:10 — Perfect conjugation translated as present completed action
| מִמַּ֛עַל לָאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֣ר טָמָ֑נְתִּי |
| mimma'al la'avanim ha'elleh 'asher tamanti |
| from-over to-the-stones the-these that you-buried. |
| over these stones that you have buried. |
Example: JER 43:5 — Perfect conjugation translated as past completed action
| כָּל־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֗בוּ מִכָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ |
| kol-she'erith yehudah 'asher-shavu mikkol-haggoyim |
- whole_remnant-of Judah that_they-returned
- from-all_the-nations
|
| all the remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations |
Completed actions in present/future time
Example: GEN 28:15
| עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִם־עָשִׂ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי לָֽךְ |
| 'ad 'asher 'im-'asithi 'eth 'asher-dibbarti lakh |
| until then when I-have-done [dir.obj] what_I-have-spoken to-you. |
| I will do all that I have promised to you. |
Imaginary actions
This is an action described as a hypothetical situation.
Example: RUT 1:12
| כִּ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ יֶשׁ־לִ֣י תִקְוָ֔ה |
| ki 'amartiy yesh-li thiqwah |
| if I-said there-is_for-me hope |
| If I said, 'I hope I get a husband tonight,' |
Example: 1SA 14:30
| אַ֗ף כִּ֡י לוּא֩ אָכֹ֨ל אָכַ֤ל הַיּוֹם֙ הָעָ֔ם |
| 'af ki lu' 'akhol 'akhal hayyom ha'am |
| Oh if only eating they-had-eaten the-day the-people |
| How much better if the people had eaten freely today |
Stative actions (describing a state or condition)
This kind of action describes a state or a condition, often (but not always) with a passive stem formation.
Example: LAM 1:1
| אֵיכָ֣ה׀ יָשְׁבָ֣ה בָדָ֗ד הָעִיר֙ |
| 'ekhah yoshvah vadad ha'ir |
| How it-sits lonely the-city |
| The city ... is now sitting all alone. |
Prophetic actions
This is a very rare use of the Perfect conjugation, occurring in prophetic
utterances.
Example: ISA 11:9
| כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ דֵּעָה֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה |
| ki-mol'ah ha'arets de'ah 'eth-yehwah |
| for_it-will-be-full the-earth-of knowledge [dir.obj]_Yahweh |
| for the earth will be full of knowledge of Yahweh" |
Perfect copulative
This form adds the
conjunction
waw (וְ "and") to the normal Perfect conjugation and can express any of
the above meanings. This form appears identical to the
Sequential Perfect.
Example: 1KI 12:32
| וְהֶעֱמִיד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֶת־כֹּהֲנֵ֥י |
| wehe'emid beveth 'el 'eth-kohane |
| and-he-set-up in-Bethel [dir.obj]_priests |
| and he placed priests in Bethel |
Example: ISA 1:2
| בָּנִים֙ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי וְרֹומַ֔מְתִּי |
| banim giddalti werowmamti |
| sons I-made-great and-I-raised-up |
| I have nourished and brought up children |
