Morph Meanings

I'd like to know the meanings of some of these used by Logos and if possibly where I can learn about them with ease as looking them up only made me more confused.

1. Nif'al

2. yiqtol (imperfect) - Does that mean there's a perfect as well?

3. construct

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Comments

Dave Hooton

I'd like to know the meanings of some of these used by Logos and if possibly where I can learn about them with ease as looking them up only made me more confused.

If you tried using Morph Search, typed @V, and hovered over the Stem name, TAM name, etc. - then I can only suggest googling!

HJ. van der Wal

Shalom Noel!

The information mentioned by Dave can also be found in the Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology:

1. Nif'al

2a. yiqtol (imperfect)

2b. qātal (perfect)

3. construct

Noel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776354#Comment_776354

Hello. Thanks for trying to help.

Dave, what are Stem and TAM? Don't they only give me the spelling rather than the meanings? Pertaining to the words I asked about, I only asked here as I was unable to understand the result gleaned from Google.

As for the Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology, the cheapest way I've found to get it is to buy the Reformed Starter pack. Apparently it doesn't come with Feature Crossgrade.

If possible could you give me simple definitions for those words according to your understanding?

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776364#Comment_776364

As for the Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology, the cheapest way I've found to get it is to buy the Reformed Starter pack. Apparently it doesn't come with Feature Crossgrade. If possible could you give me simple definitions for those words

In case you're contemplating:

nifʿal — In Biblical Hebrew, ‘stem’ refers to the relationship of the verb’s subject to the action of the verb. That is, stems convey grammatical ‘voice’ relationships. The nifʿal stem is the reflexive counterpart to the qal stem (or the piʿʿēl or hifʿîl stems in cases where the qal stem is unattested or intransitive). It conveys reflexive action, where the subject of the verb both carries out and receives the action of the verb. The nifʿal is also occasionally used for simple passive, where the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb. See J.-M. §51; BHRG §16.3; IBHS §23; GKC §51.

Michael S. Heiser and Vincent M. Setterholm, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology (Lexham Press, 2013; 2013).

the technical terms are linked to other entries in the glossary, and at the end are links to some Hebrew grammars explaining it in more detail - I own Genesius which is shown to the left.

John Fidel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776354#Comment_776354

Here you go. I suggest you consider purchasing the glossary so you can hover over the morphology in the Word by Word section of the Exegetical Guide. In addition you will note references from the Glossary to other Hebrew Grammars. These grammars offer additional explanations that are very helpful.The Gesenius Grammar and the Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar are probably pretty reasonable and may be included in some lower level base packages. The other aspect of using Logos to search for these terms is they are often spelled differently. For example nifʿal can be searched on using niphal, where you may get more hits explaining the term. Hebrew morphology can be somewhat challenging in this regard.

nifʿal — In Biblical Hebrew, ‘stem’ refers to the relationship of the verb’s subject to the action of the verb. That is, stems convey grammatical ‘voice’ relationships. The nifʿal stem is the reflexive counterpart to the qal stem (or the piʿʿēl or hifʿîl stems in cases where the qal stem is unattested or intransitive). It conveys reflexive action, where the subject of the verb both carries out and receives the action of the verb. The nifʿal is also occasionally used for simple passive, where the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb. See J.-M. §51; BHRG §16.3; IBHS §23; GKC §51.

yiqtōl (imperfect) — The prefixed conjugation in Hebrew. The prefixed conjugation denotes the imperfective aspect of the verb. That is, it views the action of the verb from the inside or from the perspective of the action’s unfolding. This imperfective aspect can speak of (depending on context) habitual actions, actions in progress, or even completed actions that have unfolding, ongoing results. The term ‘imperfective’ does not refer to tense, though. Biblical Hebrew does not have tense like English or Greek (time of action is conveyed by context). ‘Imperfective’ refers to the kind of action being described, not the time of the action. An action can be viewed in process in the past (“was walking”), the present (“is walking”), or even the future (“will be walking”). When the context dictates, the prefixed conjugation also conveys the indicative mood, the mood of reality. [Note, some grammars do teach a tense-based view of the Hebrew verb, and this form sometimes is labeled the ‘future’ tense, with the wayyiqtōl labeled the ‘inverted-future’.] See IBHS §31; BHRG §15.2, §19.3; GKC §47, §107; J.-M. §44, §113.

qātal (perfect) — The suffixed conjugation in Hebrew. The suffixed conjugation denotes the perfective aspect of the verb. That is, it views the action of the verb from an outer perspective, the perspective of seeing or thinking of the action of the verb as a whole and complete, without respect to the time of the action. The perfect conjugation conveys the totality of an action without dividing up its chronological processes. The Hebrew perfect, then, is not a tense, a grammatical term that speaks of the time of the verb’s action (past, present, future, etc.). Biblical Hebrew does not have tense like English or Greek (time of action is conveyed by context). Perfective aspect refers to a kind of action, not the time of the action. An action in Hebrew may be viewed or conceived as entire even if that action has not yet taken place. [Note: there are grammars that present a tense, rather than aspect, interpretation of the Hebrew verb.] When the context dictates, the suffix conjugation also conveys the indicative mood, the mood of reality. See BHRG §15.1, §19.2; GKC §44, §106; IBHS §30; J.-M. §42, §112.

construct — The state of the noun, infinitive or participle used to indicate that it is grammatically bound to the nominal that follows it in a (broadly) possessive / genitival construction. The ending of the noun in the construct position will often change from that of its absolute state. The noun in construct has different endings from the absolute form in all numbers and genders except the masculine singular (which has no endings) and the feminine plural where it is the same as the absolute. See BHRG §25; J.-M. §92, §139; IBHS §9.2-7; GKC §89, §§128-130.

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776364#Comment_776364

As for the Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology, the cheapest way I've found to get it is to buy the Reformed Starter pack. Apparently it doesn't come with Feature Crossgrade.

I think this is an oversight on the part of Faithlife and should be in the Feature Crossgrade, and possibly in the Core Crossgrade

Dave, what are Stem and TAM? Don't they only give me the spelling rather than the meanings?

These are the headings in the Morphological popup for the items you were querying i.e. after entering @V

HJ. van der Wal

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776364#Comment_776364

Shalom Noel!

There's a very short paragraph in the Lexham Bible Dictionary describing the Hebrew language.It might be useful to read this section.

Please note that "perfect" and "imperfect" are often called "suffix conjugation" and "prefix conjugation".

Noel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/776380#Comment_776380

Everyone who posted, thank you so much for teaching me. I learned from each of you. Way to go in building up Christ's body.