08816 Perfect
The Perfect expresses a completed action.
- 1) In reference to time, such an action may be:
- 1a) one just completed from the standpoint of the present "I have come" to tell you the news
- 1b) one completed in the more or less distant past in the beginning God "created" "I was (once) young" and "I have (now) grown old" but "I have not seen" a righteous man forsaken
- 1c) one already completed from the point of view of another past act God saw everything that "he had made"
- 1d) one completed from the point of view of another action yet future I will draw for thy camels also until "they have done" drinking
- 2) The perfect is often used where the present is employed in English.
- 2a) in the case of general truths or actions of frequent occurrence -- truths or actions which have been often experienced or observed the grass "withereth" the sparrow "findeth" a house
- 2b) an action or attitude of the past may be continued into the present "I stretch out" my hands to thee "thou never forsakest" those who seek thee
- 2c) the perfect of intransitive verbs is used where English uses the present; The perfect in Hebrew in such a case emphasises a condition which has come into "complete existence" and realisation "I know" thou wilt be king "I hate" all workers of iniquity
- 2d) Sometimes in Hebrew, future events are conceived so vividly and so realistically that they are regarded as having virtually taken place and are described by the perfect.
2d1) in promises, threats and language of contracts the field "give I" thee and if not, "I will take it"
2d2) prophetic language my people "is gone into captivity" (i.e. shall assuredly go)
Dual Panel