TIP OF THE DAY 137: Greek and Hebrew time markers

MJ. Smith

 I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day (when it doesn't time out)

QUESTION: In Biblical Hebrew how is time marked in written texts?

SOFTWARE: The smart All search was given a chance but it misinterpreted the question thinking it was about the dating of the texts.

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

In Biblical Hebrew, time is marked and structured in written texts through several linguistic and scribal methods, reflecting both the language's evolution and its religious functions.

Key Features of Time Marking in Biblical Hebrew:

Verb Tense and Aspect:

Biblical Hebrew primarily uses two main verb forms, the qatal (perfect) and yiqtol (imperfect), to indicate completed and incomplete actions, respectively. These forms often convey temporal nuances such as past, present, or future, depending on context and syntax.

The waw-consecutive construction (e.g., wayyiqtol) is a unique feature of Biblical Hebrew used to narrate sequential actions, often marking past events.

Temporal Vocabulary:

Specific words and phrases are used to denote time explicitly, such as "yom" (day), "shavua" (week), or "shanah" (year). Temporal markers like "ba-yom ha-hu" ("on that day") or "le-olam" ("forever") help situate events in time.

Cantillation Marks:

The Masoretic Text includes cantillation marks (te'amim), which guide pronunciation and phrasing but also serve as a form of punctuation. These marks help readers interpret the text's rhythm and pauses, indirectly aiding in understanding temporal sequences.

Paragraph Breaks:

In the Torah, two types of paragraph breaks—petuchah (open) and setumah (closed)—are used to segment the text. These breaks often mark shifts in narrative time or thematic focus, such as transitions between days in the Creation story.

Chronological Structuring:

Biblical texts frequently use genealogies, lists of kings, or sequences of events to provide a chronological framework. For example, the genealogies in Genesis establish timelines by listing ages and generations.

Eras of Writing:

Over time, the writing system evolved from Paleo-Hebrew to Aramaic script (square script) during the post-exilic period. This change reflects broader cultural shifts but does not directly alter how time is marked linguistically.

Absence of Modern Numerals:

Time-related numbers were written using letters as numerals rather than modern digits. For example, years were often indicated by combinations of Hebrew letters.

These features demonstrate that while Biblical Hebrew lacks modern grammatical tense systems or explicit punctuation for marking time, it relies on a combination of verb forms, temporal expressions, structural breaks, and cantillation to convey temporal relationships effectively.

QUESTION: In Biblical (Koine) Greek how is time marked in written texts?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

In Biblical (Koine) Greek, time is marked in written texts through a combination of verb forms, temporal expressions, and contextual indicators. Here are the primary ways time is expressed:

1. Verb Tense and Aspect

Koine Greek verbs convey both aspect (the nature of an action) and time (when the action occurs), but time is only explicitly marked in the indicative mood. Outside the indicative, verb forms primarily reflect aspect rather than temporal reference.

The main aspects are:

Perfective (completed action): Aorist tense.

Imperfective (ongoing action): Present and imperfect tenses.

Stative (resulting state): Perfect tense.

For example:

Aorist indicative: Marks a past, completed action.

Present indicative: Indicates an ongoing or habitual action, often in the present.

2. Temporal Deixis

Time is often indicated contextually rather than grammatically. Temporal deixis involves words or phrases that anchor events to a specific point in time, such as:

ὅτε ("when"),

ἄρτι ("just now"),

πάλιν ("again"),

νῦν ("now").

Prepositions like ἐκ ("from") and ἀπό ("since") are also used to mark the starting point of a temporal span.

3. Case Usage for Time

The Greek cases (accusative, genitive, dative) are used to express different temporal nuances:

Accusative: Indicates duration (e.g., "for three days").

Genitive: Marks kind or quality of time (e.g., "during the night").

Dative: Specifies a point in time (e.g., "on the third day").

4. Temporal Expressions

Temporal phrases like "ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ" ("on the day") or "μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας" ("after three days") are common in Biblical texts to explicitly mark time.

5. Narrative Context

In narrative texts, such as the Gospels, sequences of events often imply temporal progression without explicit markers. The use of particles like "καὶ" ("and") or "τότε" ("then") helps indicate chronological order.

6. Punctuation and Structure

While Koine Greek lacks modern punctuation, certain structures like conjunctions and phrases provide clues for shifts in time. For example, "ἐγένετο" ("it came to pass") is frequently used to introduce a new event or time period.

In summary, Koine Greek relies on a combination of verb forms, temporal deixis, case usage, and contextual cues to mark time in written texts. This system is flexible and allows for nuanced expression of both explicit and implicit temporal relationships.