The Tense of the Qatal Verbs in Ps. 98:1–3

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Back to Psalm 98

Introduction

The Masoretic text of Psalm 98:1-3 is as follows: [1]

V.1 מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָ֨ה ׀ שִׁ֣יר חָ֭דָשׁ כִּֽי־נִפְלָא֣וֹת עָשָׂ֑ה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה־לּ֥וֹ יְ֝מִינ֗וֹ וּזְר֥וֹעַ קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
V.2 הוֹדִ֣יעַ יְ֭הוָה יְשׁוּעָת֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י הַ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם גִּלָּ֥ה צִדְקָתֽוֹ׃
V.3 זָ֘כַ֤ר חַסְדּ֨וֹ ׀ וֶֽאֱֽמוּנָתוֹ֮ לְבֵ֪ית יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל רָא֥וּ כָל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ אֵ֝֗ת יְשׁוּעַ֥ת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

This exegetical issue will focus on the verbs in bold and large text, namely: רָא֥וּ, זָ֘כַ֤ר, גִּלָּ֥ה, הוֹדִ֣יעַ, הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, עָשָׂ֑ה.

There are two main ways that the verbal semantics of these verbs have been interpreted.

  • The majority of modern versions reflect an analysis where the verbs refer to a completed event in the past and perfect aspect, i.e., the result of that completed event is still relevant to the present. Translations usually bring out this meaning using the equivalent of the English present perfect. E.g.,
    • has done... have worked... has made known... has revealed... has remembered'... have seen (ESV)
    • a fait... ont rendu... a fait... a révélé... s'est rappelé... a vu (TOB)
  • A few translations understand the verbs as ‘characteristic divine activities’[2]. That is, they interpret the temporal reference of the verbs to be irrelevant and the aspect to be habitual. This is often referred to as the gnomic use of qatal. E.g.,
    • performs... accomplish ... demonstrates ... reveals ... remains ... see (NET)

Argument Maps

Present Perfect (preferred)

The vast majority of modern versions reflect an analysis where the verbs refer to a completed event in the past and perfect aspect, i.e., the result of that completed event is still relevant to the present. Translations usually bring out this meaning using the equivalent of the English present perfect (ESV, NIV, CEV, GNT, NLT, NEB, REB, NRSV, NJB, JPS1985, HFA, NGÜ, ELB, EÜ, TOB, NBS, NVSR, PDV, NFC, S21, RVR95, NVI, DHH) 


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[Present Perfect]:The qatal verbs in Ps. 98:1-3 refer to a past event and have perfect aspect, i.e., the resulting state of that past event has relevance for the present. 
  +<Typical use of Qatal>: ‘The qātal/perfect often refers to events that happened prior to a point y, and the effects of what happened are still relevant at point y'' (BHRG §19.2.1.2).
  +<Grounding the request>: The combination of כִּי and the qatal verbs in v. 1b suggests that the psalmist is presenting past evidence for why the people should perform the act commanded them in v. 1a.
    +<Expected with כִּי>: In the Psalms, the particle כִּי is very often followed by qatal in order to ground the previous speech act by presenting past evidence that supports the legitimacy of the request.
      + [כִּי in the psalms]: E.g., Psa. 5:11; 6:3, 9; 10:3; 12:2; 16:1; 22:9, 17; 25:19-21; 27:12; 28:6; 31:10-11, 18, 22; 40:13; 41:5 (cf. Locatell 2017:162 :M:)
  +<Battles>: In Psa. 98 the psalmist uses warfare/battle language (e.g., 'has won a victory'), and therefore the verbs should be interpreted as past-tense.
    +<Typical of Genre>: If a song was sung after a battle, the song typically recounted either the victory just won or previous victories (see Longman 1984:269 :A:)
      + [Ex. 15; Jdg. 5]: וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם ‘And Miriam sang to them, “Sing to YHWH, for he has been exceedingly exalted, the horse and its rider he threw into the sea’ (Exod. 15:21); אֶ֣רֶץ רָעָ֔שָׁה גַּם־שָׁמַ֖יִם נָטָ֑פוּ גַּם־עָבִ֖ים נָ֥טְפוּ מָֽיִם׃ ‘The earth trembled, even the heavens showered; the clouds also showered water’ (Judg. 5:4) (see Longman and Reid 2010:44 :M:).
    +<Victory song>: Psalm 98 is a song sung after a victory (Longman 1984 :A:).
      +<Arm imagery>: ‘References to Yahweh's “right hand” and “holy arm” signify his warring activity’ (Longman 1984:269 :A:)
      +<New song>: ‘The designation “new song” occurs seven times in the OT (Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isa. 42:10) and twice in the NT (Rev. 5:9; 14:3), each time in a holy war context’ (Longman 1984:269 :A:)
      +<The use of instruments>: Psalm 98 makes reference to making music with instruments (see vv. 5–6), which implies victory after a battle (cf. 1 Sam. 18:6–7; Ps. 150) (cf. Longman 1984:271 :A:).


Argument Mapn0Present PerfectThe qatal verbs in Ps. 98:1-3 refer to a past event and have perfect aspect, i.e., the resulting state of that past event has relevance for the present. n1כִּי in the psalmsE.g., Psa. 5:11; 6:3, 9; 10:3; 12:2; 16:1; 22:9, 17; 25:19-21; 27:12; 28:6; 31:10-11, 18, 22; 40:13; 41:5 (cf. Locatell 2017:162 🄼)n5Expected with כִּיIn the Psalms, the particle כִּי is very often followed by qatal in order to ground the previous speech act by presenting past evidence that supports the legitimacy of the request.n1->n5n2Ex. 15; Jdg. 5וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם ‘And Miriam sang to them, “Sing to YHWH, for he has been exceedingly exalted, the horse and its rider he threw into the sea’ (Exod. 15:21); אֶ֣רֶץ רָעָ֔שָׁה גַּם־שָׁמַ֖יִם נָטָ֑פוּ גַּם־עָבִ֖ים נָ֥טְפוּ מָֽיִם׃ ‘The earth trembled, even the heavens showered; the clouds also showered water’ (Judg. 5:4) (see Longman and Reid 2010:44 🄼).n7Typical of GenreIf a song was sung after a battle, the song typically recounted either the victory just won or previous victories (see Longman 1984:269 🄰)n2->n7n3Typical use of Qatal‘The qātal/perfect often refers to events that happened prior to a point y, and the effects of what happened are still relevant at point y'' (BHRG §19.2.1.2).n3->n0n4Grounding the requestThe combination of כִּי and the qatal verbs in v. 1b suggests that the psalmist is presenting past evidence for why the people should perform the act commanded them in v. 1a.n4->n0n5->n4n6BattlesIn Psa. 98 the psalmist uses warfare/battle language (e.g., 'has won a victory'), and therefore the verbs should be interpreted as past-tense.n6->n0n7->n6n8Victory songPsalm 98 is a song sung after a victory (Longman 1984 🄰).n8->n6n9Arm imagery‘References to Yahweh's “right hand” and “holy arm” signify his warring activity’ (Longman 1984:269 🄰)n9->n8n10New song‘The designation “new song” occurs seven times in the OT (Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isa. 42:10) and twice in the NT (Rev. 5:9; 14:3), each time in a holy war context’ (Longman 1984:269 🄰)n10->n8n11The use of instrumentsPsalm 98 makes reference to making music with instruments (see vv. 5–6), which implies victory after a battle (cf. 1 Sam. 18:6–7; Ps. 150) (cf. Longman 1984:271 🄰).n11->n8


Gnomic

A few translations interpret the temporal reference of the verbs to be irrelevant and the aspect to be habitual (NET, LUT2017). This is often referred to as the gnomic use of qatal. 


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[Gnomic qatals]:The qatals of Ps. 98:1-3 are indifferent to the parameter of time and have habitual aspect, i.e, they are gnomic. #dispreferred
  +<Gnomic qatals in hymns>: In hymns, qatal forms are sometimes used in "those sentences describing YHWH's regular or repeated action" (Gunkel & Begrich 1998:35 :M:). #dispreferred
   + [Gnomic qatals in hymns]: E.g., Ps. 33:13f — "YHWH looks down (הִבִּ֣יט) from heaven, and looks on (רָ֝אָ֗ה) all the human children. From his dwelling he looks out (הִשְׁגִּ֑יחַ) upon all the inhabitants of the earth" (Gunkel & Begrich 1998:35 :M:). #dispreferred
  -<Rare use of qatal>: ‘Habitual actions are typically referred to by means of the yiqtōl/imperfect or participle' (BHRG §19.2.4), not qatal. 
  -<Uncertain literary environment>: More viable cases of gnomic qatals involve a habitual yiqtol in a parallel line (see GKC §106k :G:; IBHS §31.1.1 :G:) 
  -<Reasons for a new song>: In other places where a congregation is commanded to sing a new song, clear cases of gnomic semantics are never expressed with qatal, but rather yiqtols, participles or verbless clauses
   +['New song' with gnomic semantics]: ‘The Lord goes out (יֵצֵ֔א) like a man of war, he stirs up (יָעִ֣יר) zeal he shouts (יָרִ֙יעַ֙) as well as cries aloud (יַצְרִ֔יחַ); he prevails (יִתְגַּבָּֽר) over his enemies’ (Isa. 42:13); ‘for the word of the Lord is upright, all his works are (done) in faithfulness, he loves (אֹהֵב) righteousness and justice’ (Psa. 33:4–5); cf. Psa 96:5–6; Psa. 144:10; Psa. 149:4


Argument Mapn0Gnomic qatalsThe qatals of Ps. 98:1-3 are indifferent to the parameter of time and have habitual aspect, i.e, they are gnomic. n1Gnomic qatals in hymnsE.g., Ps. 33:13f — "YHWH looks down (הִבִּ֣יט) from heaven, and looks on (רָ֝אָ֗ה) all the human children. From his dwelling he looks out (הִשְׁגִּ֑יחַ) upon all the inhabitants of the earth" (Gunkel & Begrich 1998:35 🄼). n3Gnomic qatals in hymnsIn hymns, qatal forms are sometimes used in "those sentences describing YHWH's regular or repeated action" (Gunkel & Begrich 1998:35 🄼). n1->n3n2'New song' with gnomic semantics‘The Lord goes out (יֵצֵ֔א) like a man of war, he stirs up (יָעִ֣יר) zeal he shouts (יָרִ֙יעַ֙) as well as cries aloud (יַצְרִ֔יחַ); he prevails (יִתְגַּבָּֽר) over his enemies’ (Isa. 42:13); ‘for the word of the Lord is upright, all his works are (done) in faithfulness, he loves (אֹהֵב) righteousness and justice’ (Psa. 33:4–5); cf. Psa 96:5–6; Psa. 144:10; Psa. 149:4n6Reasons for a new songIn other places where a congregation is commanded to sing a new song, clear cases of gnomic semantics are never expressed with qatal, but rather yiqtols, participles or verbless clausesn2->n6n3->n0n4Rare use of qatal‘Habitual actions are typically referred to by means of the yiqtōl/imperfect or participle' (BHRG §19.2.4), not qatal. n4->n0n5Uncertain literary environmentMore viable cases of gnomic qatals involve a habitual yiqtol in a parallel line (see GKC §106k 🄶; IBHS §31.1.1 🄶) n5->n0n6->n0


Conclusion

While qatal verbs can sometimes be used to refer to timeless events, it is unlikely that this is the proper analysis of the qatals here in Psalm 98:1–3. The gnomic usage is rare and restricted to certain literary environments. By contrast, the past-perfect meaning of qatal is widespread as well as expected here. Clauses beginning with כִּי followed by qatal frequently ground preceding speech acts by presenting past events as the basis for the speech act. Psalm 98 also has some distinctive marks of a victory song. In such songs, either the victory just won or generalised statements about past victories seem to be a reoccurring component. For these reasons we analyse the qatals as having past time reference with perfect aspect, i.e., the resulting state of the action completed in the past is still relevant in the present. We have chosen to translate them with English present perfects (e.g., ‘Have won...Has made known...has revealed...etc.).

Research

Translations

Ancient

LXX
v.1 ᾌσατε τῷ κυρίῳ ᾆσμα καινόν, ὅτι θαυμαστὰ ἐποίησεν κύριος· ἔσωσεν αὐτῷ ἡ δεξιὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ βραχίων ὁ ἅγιος αὐτοῦ.
v.2 ἐγνώρισεν κύριος τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ, ἐναντίον τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ.
v.3 ἐμνήσθη τοῦ ἐλέους αὐτοῦ τῷ Ιακωβ καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας αὐτοῦ τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ· εἴδοσαν πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν.[3]
v.1 Sing to the Lord a new song, because the Lord did marvelous things. His right hand saved for him, and his holy arm.
v.2 The Lord made known his deliverance; before the nations he revealed his righteousness.
v.3 He remembered his mercy to Iakob and his truth to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth saw the deliverance of our God.[4]
Jerome (iuxta hebraica)
v.1 Cantate Domino canticum novum quia mirabilia fecit salvavit sibi dextera eius et brachium sanctum eius
v.2 notum fecit Dominus salutare suum in conspectu gentium revelavit iustitiam suam
v.3 recordatus est misericordiae suae et veritatis suae domui Iacob viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nostri[5]
v.1 Sing to the Lord a new song because he did/has done wonderful things; his right hand saved/has saved for itself, and his holy arm.
v.2 The Lord made known/has made known his deliverance; before the nations he revealed/has revealed his justice.
v.3 He remembered/has remembered his mercy to and his truth to the house of Jacob; all the ends of the earth saw/have seen the deliverance of our God.
Peshitta
v.1 ܫܒܚܘ ܠܡܪܝܐ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܚܕܬܐ ܡܛܘܠ ܕܬܕܡܘܪܬܐ ܥܒܕ ܦܪܩܬܗ ܝܡܝܢܗ ܘܕܪܥܗ ܩܕܝܫܐ
v.2 ܚܘܝ ܡܪܝܐ ܦܘܪܩܢܗ݂ ܘܠܥܝܢ ܥܡ̈ܡܐ ܓܠ݂ܐ ܙܕܝܩܘܬܗ
v.3 ܐܬ݁ܕܟܪ ܛܝܒܘܬܗ ܘܗܝܡܢܘܬܗ ܠܕܒܝܬ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ ܘܚܙܘ ܟܠܗܘܢ ܥܒ݂ܪ̈ܝܗ݁ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܦܘܪܩܢܗ ܕܐܠܗܢ[6]
v.1 Sing to the Lord and new song for he did/has done wonderful things; his right hand saved/has saved (for) him, and his holy arm
v.2 The Lord showed/has shown his deliverance; he revealed/has revealed his righteousness before the nations.
v.3 He remembered/has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness to those who are of the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth saw/have seen the deliverance of the Lord.
Targum
v.1 שׁבחו קדם יהוה שׁבח חדת ארום פרישׁן עבד פריקת ליה ימיניה ואדרע שׁכינת קודשׁיה׃
v.2 הודע יהוה פורקניה למיחמיהון דעמיא גלי צדקתיה׃
v.3 דכר טוביה וקושׁטיה לבית ישׂראל וחמון כל סייפי ארעא ית פורקנא דאלהנא׃ [7]
v.1 A psalm of prophecy. Sing before the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and the arm of his holy Shekinah have wrought deliverance for him.
v.2 The Lord has made known his deliverance; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the peoples.
v.3 He has remembered his goodness and truth to the house of Israel; and all the ends of the earth have seen the deliverance of our God[8]

Modern

Gnomic qatals

  • performs... accomplish ... demonstrates ... reveals ... remains ... see (NET)
  • tut... schafft... lässt...verkündigen... macht...offenbar... gedenkt... sehen... (Luther 2017)

Gnomic mixed with perfect qatals

  • accomplit... a remporté... fait connaître... a révélé... a manifesté... a vu (BDS)

Perfect qatals

  • has done... have worked... has made known... has revealed... has remembered'... have seen (ESV)
  • has done... have worked... has made... known and revealed... has remembered... have seen (NIV)
  • has worked... has won... has shown... has... has been... is seen (CEV)
  • has done... has won... announced... made... kept... have seen (GNT)
  • has done... has won... has shown... has announced... has revealed... has remembered... have seen (NLT)
  • has done... have won... has made... known... has displayed... has remembered'... have seen (NEB/REB)
  • has done... have gotten... has made known... has revealed... has remembered... have seen (NRSV)
  • has performed... has made known... revealed... has seen (NJB)
  • has worked... has won... has manifested... has displayed... was mindful... beheld (JPS 1985)
  • hat... getan... hat... errungen... konnten sehen... befreit... erfüllte... ist ...gedrungen... hat ... gerettet (HFA)
  • hat... vollbracht... brachte... hat gezeigt... hat... gedacht... kommt (NGÜ)
  • hat... getan... half... hat... kundgetan... hat... gedacht... haben... gesehen (ELB)
  • hat... vollbracht... hat... Rechte... hat... bekannt gemacht... gedachte... sahen (EÜ)
  • a fait... ont rendu... a fait... a révélé... s'est rappelé... a vu (TOB)
  • a fait... ont donné... a fait connaître... a dévoilé... s'est souvenu... ont vu (NBS)
  • a fait... sauve... a fait connaître... a révélé... s'est souvenu... Ont vu (NVSR)
  • a fait... a remporté... a montré... a fait connaître... s’est souvenu... ont pu voir (PDV)
  • a réalisé... ont donné... a fait connaître ... a révélé... s'est souvenu... a vu (NFC)
  • a fait... ont assuré... a fait connaître... a révélé... s’est souvenu'... a vu (S21)
  • ha hecho... ha salvado... ha hecho... ha descubierto... ha acordado... han visto (RVR95)
  • ha hecho... ha alcanzado... ha hecho... ha acordado... son testigos (NVI)
  • ha hecho... Ha alcanzado... ha anunciado... ha mostrado... ha tenido... ha sido vista (DHH)

Secondary Literature

Gunkel, Hermann. 1998. An Introduction to the Psalms: The Genres of the Religious Lyric of Israel. Translated by James D. Nogalski. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.
IBHS = Waltke, Bruce K., and Michael Patrick O’Connor. 1990. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, Ind: Eisenbrauns.
Locatell, Christian S. 2017. “Grammatical Polysemy in the Hebrew Bible: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach to כי.” PhD Dissertation, Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch.
Longman, Tremper. 1984. “Psalm 98: A Divine Warrior Victory Song.” JETS 27 (3): 267–74.
Longman, Tremper, and Daniel G. Reid. 2010. God Is a Warrior. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic.

References

98:1, 2, 3

  1. ↑ Hebrew text from OSHB, based on the Leningrad Codex.
  2. ↑ NET notes
  3. ↑ Vv. 1–3 from Rahlfs (1931, 249–250)
  4. ↑ NETS
  5. ↑ Weber and Gryson 5th edition
  6. ↑ Walters (1980, 114–115)
  7. ↑ CAL
  8. ↑ Stec (2004, 181–182)
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