The Modal Nature of טֶרֶם in Biblical Hebrew
The word טֶרֶם in Biblical Hebrew is usually translated as 'before' or '(not) yet'. The problem is that the verb appearing in a טֶרֶם clause is (usually) in the form yiqtol, even when the clause is interpreted as reporting a past event. Most Hebraists account for the problem with...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
The National Association of Professors of Hebrew
2006
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| In: |
Hebrew studies
Year: 2006, Volume: 47, Issue: 1, Pages: 23-47 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The word טֶרֶם in Biblical Hebrew is usually translated as 'before' or '(not) yet'. The problem is that the verb appearing in a טֶרֶם clause is (usually) in the form yiqtol, even when the clause is interpreted as reporting a past event. Most Hebraists account for the problem within a historical analysis, claiming that the verb form in the complement clause of טֶרֶם is the short form yaqtul which has a preterit value., In this paper, I analyze the word טֶרֶם synchronically, showing it to be a general modal particle, compatible with the modal nature of yiqtol. Both of its interpretations, 'before' and '(not) yet', are shown to be modal in nature. I suggest that the choice between the two English interpretations is based on the syntax. In case of a subordinate clause it would be translated as 'before', and in case of a matrix as '(not) yet'. |
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| ISSN: | 2158-1681 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Hebrew studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/hbr.2006.0035 |