The Simple Imperfect
The Simple Imperfect
§ 42. The simple impf. expresses an action incomplete or unfinished. Such an action may be conceived as nascent, or entering on execution (pres.), progressing, or moving on towards execution (impf.), or as ready, or about to enter upon execution (fut.). Connected with the last use is the use of impf. to express a great variety of actions which are dependent on something preceding, whether it be the will or desire of the speaker (juss., opt.), or his judgment or permission (potential), or on some other action, or on particles expressing purpose and the like (subjunctive).
The uses of the impf. are very various, and some of them rarer in prose writing; those usual in ordinary prose may be mentioned first.
§ 43. (a) The impf. expresses a future action, whether from the point of the speaker's present, or from any other point assumed. 1 Samuel 24:20 יָדַעְתִּי כִּי מָלךְ תִּמְלוֹךְ I know that thou shalt be king; 2 Kings 3:27 וַיִּקַּח אֶת־בְּנוֹ אְַשֶׁר יִמְלֹךְ he took his son who was to be king; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:4; Genesis 6:7; Genesis 37:8; Genesis 43:25 were to eat, 1 Kings 7:7, 2 Kings 13:14 was to die.
(b) The impf. is employed to express actions which are contingent or depending on something preceding. The shades of sense of impf. in this use of it are manifold, corresponding to Eng. will (of volition), shall (of command), may and can (of possibility or permission), am to, in the present; and to would, should, might, could, was to, in the past or indirect speech. Particularly (1) in interrogative sentences; (2) in dependent clauses with כִּי that and the like; and (3) after particles like אֵיךְ how! אוּלַי perhaps, &c., and conditional particles like אִם if. Genesis 3:2 מִפְּרִי עֵץ־הַגָּן נֹאכֵל we may eat; Genesis 3:3 לֹא תֹֽאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ ye shall not eat of it; Genesis 43:7 הְַיָדוֹעַ נֵדַע כִּי יֹאמַר were we then to know that he would say? Genesis 27:45 לָמָֽה אֶשְׁכַּל שְׁנֵיכֶם why should I be bereaved of you both? Genesis 44:8 וְאֵיךְ נִגְנֹב and how should we steal! Genesis 2:19 לִרְאֹת מַה־יִּקְרָא לוֹ to see what he would call it; Judges 9:28 מִי־שְׁכֶם כִּי נַֽעַבְדֶנּוּ who is Shechem that we should serve him? Job 9:29 אָֽנֹכִי אֶרְשַׁע I am (have) to be guilty! Genesis 44:34; Genesis 47:15, Exodus 3:11, Deuteronomy 7:17, Judges 8:6; Judges 17:8-9 wherever he might find, 1 Samuel 18:18; 1 Samuel 20:2, 1 Samuel 20:5 should sit, 1 Samuel 23:13, 2 Samuel 2:22; 2 Samuel 3:33 should Abner (was A. to) die! 2 Samuel 6:9, 2 Kings 8:13, Psalms 8:4, Job 7:17. With אוּלַי Genesis 16:2; Genesis 24:5, Numbers 23:27, 1 Samuel 6:5, 1 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 19:4, Amos 5:15. With אִם if, Genesis 18:26, Genesis 18:28, Genesis 18:30; Genesis 30:31, Judges 4:8, Amos 6:9. See Cond. Sent.—With Job 9:29 cf. Job 10:15; Job 12:4, 1 Samuel 14:43; 1 Samuel 28:1.
(c) In particular impf. follows final (telic) conjunctions, as לְמַעַן in order that, אְַשֶׁר that, לְבִלְתִּי that not, פֶּן lest. Exodus 4:5 לְמַעַן יַֽאְַמִינוּ that they may believe; Deuteronomy 4:40 אְַשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ that it may be well with thee (cf. next clause); Genesis 3:3 לֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן ye shall not touch it lest ye die. Exodus 20:23, 2 Samuel 14:14. See Final Sent.
Rem. 1. The expression מִי יוֹדֵעַ who knows? differs little from perhaps, and is followed by impf., 2 Samuel 12:22, John 2:14, Jonah 3:9. In Esther 4:14 אִם is supplied before the verb.
§ 44. Frequentative impf.—The impf. expresses actions of general occurrence, such actions being independent of time. That which is nascent or ready to occur passes easily over into that which is of frequent or indefinite occurrence. This use of impf. is common in proverbial sayings, in comparisons, in the expression of social and other customs, and particularly of actions which, having a certain moral character, are viewed as universal, but also of actions which are or were customary in given circumstances without being necessary.
(a) Of actions for which Eng. uses the present. Genesis 10:9 עַל־כֵּן יֵֽאָמַר כְּנִמְרֹד therefore it is said, as Nimrod; Genesis 6:21 מִכָּל־מַֽאְַכָל אְַשֶׁר יֵֽאָכֵל take of all food which is eaten (edible); Proverbs 10:1 בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב a wise son makes a father glad. Particularly with כֵּן so, כַּֽאְַשֶׁר as, and similar words. 1 Samuel 24:13 כַּֽאְַשֶׁר יֹאמַר מְשַׁל הַקַּדְמֹנִי מֵֽרְשָׁעִים יֵצֵא רֶשַׁע as says the proverb, Out of the evil cometh forth evil; Judges 7:5 כַּֽאְַשֶׁר יָלֹק דַכֶּלֶב as a dog laps; Genesis 29:26 לֹא־יֵֽעָשֶׂה כֵן בִּמְקֹמֵנוּ it is not so done in our country. Sometimes this is not has the nuance of ought not. Genesis 20:9 מַֽעְַשִׂים אשׁר לֹא־יֵֽעָשׂוּ deeds which ought not to be done, cf. Genesis 34:7, 2 Samuel 13:12.—Genesis 50:3, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 1:31, Deuteronomy 1:44; Deuteronomy 2:11, Deuteronomy 2:20; Deuteronomy 28:29, Judges 11:40; Judges 14:10, 1 Samuel 5:5; 1 Samuel 19:24, 2 Samuel 5:8; 2 Samuel 13:18; 2 Samuel 19:4, Amos 3:7, Amos 3:12, Hosea 1:10 (cannot be counted). Of a universal truth, Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19 a gift blinds, 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Samuel 11:25 the sword devours, 1 Kings 8:46 no one who sinneth not, Psalms 1:3-6. Of a characteristic or habit, Genesis 44:5, Exodus 4:14 speaks (can speak), Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Samuel 23:22, 2 Samuel 19:35, 2 Kings 9:20 drives furiously, Isaiah 13:17-18 (the Medes), Isaiah 28:27-28, Psalms 1:2, Job 9:11-13. But also of an event repeated or general within a limited area. 1 Samuel 9:6 כל אשׁר יְדַבֵּר בֹּא יָבֹא whatever he speaks comes true; 1 Kings 22:8 לֹא יִתְנַבֵּא עָלַי טוֹב he never prophesies good about me. Exodus 13:15; Exodus 18:15, 2 Kings 6:12, Hosea 4:8, Hosea 4:13; Hosea 7:1-3, Hosea 7:14-16; Hosea 13:2 kiss calves, Amos 2:7-8, Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 14:8, Micah 3:11.
(b) Of actions customary or general in the past. Genesis 2:6 וְאֵד יַֽעְַלֶה and a mist used to go up. 1 Samuel 2:19 וּמְעִיל קָטֹן תַּֽעְַשֶׂה־לּוֹ אִמו and a little robe his mother used to make for him. 2 Chronicles 9:21 once every three years תָּבוֹאנָה ְאָנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ came the ships of Tarsh. This impf. may distribute an action over its details or particulars; Genesis 2:19 וְכֹל אְַשֶׁר יִקְרָא־לוֹ הָֽאָדָם whatever he called it. Particularly under the influence of a negative; 1 Samuel 13:19 וְחָרָשׁ לֹא יִמָּצֵא a smith was not to be found; Genesis 2:25 וְלֹא יִתְבּשָׁשׁוּ they were not (at any time) ashamed; 1 Samuel 1:13 שְׂפָתֶיהָ נָעוֹת וְקוֹלָהּ לֹא יִשָּׁמֵעַ her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Exodus 21:36, 1 Kings 8:8, 1 Kings 8:27 (cf. 1 Kings 22:8 in a); 1 Kings 18:10, 2 Kings 23:9 (contrast neg. impf. and pos. perf.), Jeremiah 13:7. Cf. Rem. 1.
Rem. 1. Other exx. Genesis 6:4; Genesis 29:2; Genesis 31:39, Exodus 8:24, Numbers 11:5, Numbers 11:9, Deuteronomy 2:11, Deuteronomy 2:20, Judges 5:8; Judges 6:4-5; Judges 17:6, 1 Samuel 1:7; 1 Samuel 13:18; 1 Samuel 14:47 (rd. perhaps יִוָּשֵׁעַ); 1 Samuel 18:5; 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 25:28, 2 Samuel 1:22 never returned; 2 Samuel 2:28 did not engage in the pursuit; 2 Samuel 12:3, 2 Samuel 12:31; 2 Samuel 17:17; 2 Samuel 20:18; 2 Samuel 23:10; 1 Kings 6:8; 1 Kings 10:5; 1 Kings 17:6; 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 21:6, 2 Kings 3:25; 2 Kings 4:8; 2 Kings 13:20, Jeremiah 36:18, Psalms 106:43, Job 1:5, 1 Chronicles 20:3.
Rem. 2. This impf. is used, e.g., 1. in describing a boundary line and naming its successive points, Joshua 16:8, interchanging with vav perf., Joshua 15:3 and often. 2. In describing the course of an ornamentation, 1 Kings 7:15, 1 Kings 7:23 ran round, 2 Chronicles 4:2. 3. In stating the amount of metal that went to each of a class of articles, 1 Kings 10:16, 2 Chronicles 9:15; and so of the number of victims offered in a great sacrifice, 1 Kings 3:4, cf. 1 Kings 10:5. 4. In describing the quantity which a vessel, &c., contained, 1 Kings 7:26. So the details of collecting and disbursing moneys, 2 Kings 12:12-17.—In 2 Kings 8:29 (2 Kings 9:15) the preceding plur. "wounds" perhaps distributes the verb wounded (perf. 2 Chronicles 22:6), just as the rest does Joab's action, 1 Chronicles 11:8, and all the cities David's, 1 Chronicles 20:3, and all the land the effect of the flies, Exodus 8:24, cf. Deuteronomy 11:24. So 2 Samuel 23:10 of the people returning in parties or successively (2 Samuel 23:9 their dispersion). Jeremiah 52:7, Ezra 9:4.
Rem. 3. Allied to § 44a above is the use of impf. to form attributive or adjectival clauses, descriptive of the subj. or obj. of a previous sentence. The restricted sphere of the ptcp. enlarges this usage. Genesis 49:27 בנ׳ זְאֵב יִטְרָף Benj. is a ravening wolf; Isaiah 40:20 עֵץ לֹא־יִרְקַב a tree that doth not rot; Hosea 4:14 עָם לֹא־יָבִין an undiscerning people; Isaiah 51:2 שָׂרָה תְּחֽוֹלֶלְכֶם S. your mother (who bears you); Isaiah 51:12 man that dies (mortal man). Isaiah 55:13, Psalms 78:6, Job 8:12, cf. Exodus 12:34, Numbers 11:33, Zephaniah 3:17. Isaiah 30:14 unsparingly, Psalms 26:1-12 without wavering. Particularly in comparisons. Job 9:26 כְּנֶשֶׁר יָטוּשׁ as an eagle swooping; Job 7:2 as a servant that longeth. Deuteronomy 32:11, Hosea 11:10, Isaiah 62:1, Jeremiah 23:29.
§ 45. To express single unfinished or enduring actions in the pres. or past the ptcp. is usually employed in prose, with a different shade of meaning. The impf., however, is often used after certain particles, as אָז then, טֶרֶם not yet, בְּטֶרֶם before. Exodus 15:1 אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה then sang Moses; Genesis 19:4 טֶרֶם יִשְׁכָּבוּ they were not yet lain down when, &c. Genesis 27:33 וָֽאֹכַל בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא and I ate before thou earnest. Deuteronomy 4:41, Joshua 8:30; Joshua 10:12; Joshua 22:1, 1 Kings 3:16; 1 Kings 9:11; 1 Kings 11:7; 1 Kings 16:21, 2 Kings 12:17; 2 Kings 15:16.—Genesis 2:5; Genesis 24:45, 1 Samuel 3:3.—Judges 14:18, 1 Samuel 2:15, 2 Kings 6:32, Jeremiah 1:5. So sometimes after עַד, Joshua 10:13, Psalms 73:17. See Temporal Sent.
Rem. 1. The use of impf. with interrog. is peculiar. The interrogation not only brings the action into the present, but seems to give such force to the verb that the finite tense may be used. Genesis 32:29 why תִּשְׁאַל dost thou ask? Genesis 37:15 מַה־תְּבַקֵּשׁ what dost thou seek? comp. the answer אנכי מֻבַקֵּשׁ. So question and answer Genesis 16:8. 2 Kings 20:14 מֵאַיִן יָבאוּ whence came they? with the answer בָּאוּ they came. Genesis 44:7, Exodus 2:13; Exodus 3:3, Judges 17:9; Judges 19:17, 1 Samuel 1:8; 1 Samuel 17:8; 1 Samuel 28:16, 2 Samuel 1:3, 1 Kings 21:7, Job 1:7; Job 2:2; Job 15:7, Isaiah 45:9, Isaiah 45:10. In some cases the questions may be freq., Isaiah 40:27. Perhaps also with other strong particles, like הִנֵּה 1 Samuel 21:14, Genesis 37:7? And necessarily when ptcp. is resolved into a neg. clause, Judges 20:16, Leviticus 11:47.
Rem. 2. Such particles as then create a space or period with which the action is contemporaneous, into which the speaker throws himself, cf. 2 Kings 8:22 where then = at that (general) time. In poetry the usage is extended, and appears with such words as day, time. Job 3:4 perish יוֹם אִוָּלֶד בּוֹ the day on which I was (am) born! Job 6:17, Deuteronomy 32:35. In other cases it may be doubtful whether contemporaneousness or immediate subsequence be expressed: Job 3:12 why died (die) I not from the womb, came I not out of the belly and expired? cf. Job 3:13. The pointing וָֽאגוע would have been good prose (Jeremiah 20:17), and so would perf. in first clause (Jeremiah 20:18), but the one tense protects the other. Cf. the reverse order of events, Numbers 12:12.
In elevated style this usage of impf. is common. The speaker does not bring the past into his own present, he transports himself back into the past, with the events in which he is thus face to face. Exodus 15:5 the depths יְכַסְיֻמוּ covered (cover) them; Deuteronomy 32:10 יִמְצָאֵהוּ found (findeth) him; Psalms 80:8 a vine from Eg. תַּסִּיעַ thou bringest, thou drivest out the nations; Job 4:15-16 a breath יַֽחְַלֹף תְּסַמֵּר passes, my hair stands up; it stops, &c. So an instantaneous effect is graphically expressed. Exodus 15:12 thou didst stretch thy hand תִּבְלָעֵמוֹ ארץ the earth swallows them, Exodus 15:14 the nations heard יִרְגָּזוּן they are terrified. Isaiah 41:5, Habakkuk 3:10, Psalms 46:6; Psalms 77:17; Psalms 69:33; Psalms 78:20. The Eng. pres. best renders this impf., our historical pres. being a similar usage. Numbers 23:7 Balak יַנְחֵנִי bringeth me. Psalms 18:6; Psalms 104:6-8. Hitz. (Psalms 18:4) so explains 1 Kings 21:6 כי אְַדַבֵּר; כי is recitativum. If reading right, Judges 2:1 אַֽעְַלֶה must rather express progressive bringing up. So perhaps 2 Samuel 15:37 יָבוֹא proceeded. In 1 Kings 7:8 יַֽעְַשֶׂה is wanting in Sep.
Rem. 3. In the prophetic and higher style the impf. is often used of single actions where prose would express itself differently. There is also frequent interchange of perf. and impf., e.g. Isaiah 5:12; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 10:28; Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 18:5; Isaiah 19:6-7; Isaiah 42:25; Isaiah 43:17; Isaiah 49:1-26, Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 17:1-14; Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 60:4, Hosea 7:1; Hosea 12:11, Psalms 26:4-5; Psalms 52:9; Psalms 93:3. In early writing these changes have meaning, but in later poetry, especially in the historical psalms and Job, the significance is not always apparent, and the changes look part of an unconscious traditional style. Some scholars, however, diminish the difficulty by the assumption that the impf. often stands for vav impf. See § 51, R. 5.
Rem. 4. The impf. is frequently used for imper., even in the 2nd pers. Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 13:5, Amos 7:12, Habakkuk 3:2, Psalms 17:8; Psalms 64:2; Psalms 71:2, Psalms 71:20-21; Psalms 140:2.