Psalm 133/Notes/Verbal.v. 3.173143

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Although we prefer the present perfect interpretation of the qatal צִוָּ֣ה, translations such as the NIV ("For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore") indicate a habitual reading, in which "it is perfective and expresses a single act of a member of the set of the class named by the subject nominal that is representative of the characteristic acts of all members of the class."[1] In other words, "a single instance exemplifies a recurrent situation."[2]

  1. Khan, "Qaṭal," forthcoming.
  2. IBHS §30.4b.