Biblical Hebrew Verbal System in Poetry: Examining the Constellation, Functions, and Semantics of Biblical Hebrew Finite Conjugations in Elements of the Psalms of Lament

Abstract

The Biblical Hebrew verbal system in the poetry of Psalms poses a challenge for Bible translators and interpreters. This has resulted in variations and inconsistencies in the rendering of finite verbal conjugations in Bible translations and commentaries. Some scholars of the Hebrew Bible wonder whether the Biblical Hebrew verbal system in the book of Psalms follows any linguistic principles. This research investigates the constellation, functions, and semantics of the Biblical Hebrew finite conjugations in elements of the Psalms of Lament in an attempt to find linguistic principles that the writers of Psalms might have used in their selection of verbal conjugations. After introducing the research concept in the first chapter the researcher studies the characteristics of Biblical Hebrew poetry to understand the dichotomy between prose and poetic texts. The research goes further in studying different theories on the Biblical Hebrew verbal system. The textlinguistic theories of Alviero Niccacci and Robert E Longacre are singled out as promising because of their insistence on the importance of studying verbal conjugations in the text and not in isolation. The textlinguistic theory is blended with the genre analysis theory of Hermann Gunkel who proposes that the book of Psalms can be studied reasonably if only the Psalms are classified in their different genres.Upon studying the constituent parts of the Psalms of Lament under genre analysis the researcher examines how finite verbal conjugations are constellated indifferent genre-elements of the Psalms of Lament. The research discovers that some verbal forms dominate in specific genre-elements while other verbal conjugations dominate in other elements. The analysis of the findings reveals that the writers of the Psalms of Lament did not select Biblical Hebrew finite conjugations randomly but that they were guided by the genre principle whereby a specific verbal conjugation was selected in a specific element to fulfil a specific linguistic function. Therefore, this research proposes that a genre analysis approach gives new hopes in the future of studying Biblical Hebrew verbal conjugations in the poetic corpus.The Biblical Hebrew verbal system in the poetry of Psalms poses a challenge for Bible translators and interpreters. This has resulted in variations and inconsistencies in the rendering of finite verbal conjugations in Bible translations and commentaries. Some scholars of the Hebrew Bible wonder whether the Biblical Hebrew verbal system in the book of Psalms follows any linguistic principles. This research investigates the constellation, functions, and semantics of the Biblical Hebrew finite conjugations in elements of the Psalms of Lament in an attempt to find linguistic principles that the writers of Psalms might have used in their selection of verbal conjugations. After introducing the research concept in the first chapter the researcher studies the characteristics of Biblical Hebrew poetry to understand the dichotomy between prose and poetic texts. The research goes further in studying different theories on the Biblical Hebrew verbal system. The textlinguistic theories of Alviero Niccacci and Robert E Longacre are singled out as promising because of their insistence on the importance of studying verbal conjugations in the text and not in isolation. The textlinguistic theory is blended with the genre analysis theory of Hermann Gunkel who proposes that the book of Psalms can be studied reasonably if only the Psalms are classified in their different genres.Upon studying the constituent parts of the Psalms of Lament under genre analysis the researcher examines how finite verbal conjugations are constellated indifferent genre-elements of the Psalms of Lament. The research discovers that some verbal forms dominate in specific genre-elements while other verbal conjugations dominate in other elements. The analysis of the findings reveals that the writers of the Psalms of Lament did not select Biblical Hebrew finite conjugations randomly but that they were guided by the genre principle whereby a specific verbal conjugation was selected in a specific element to fulfil a specific linguistic function. Therefore, this research proposes that a genre analysis approach gives new hopes in the future of studying Biblical Hebrew verbal conjugations in the poetic corpus.