The Classical Hebrew verbal system has long puzzled scholars. One of the most intriguing questions has been yiqtol with waw consecutives. In classical Hebrew yiqtol verbs are long considered as imperfects. However the presence of the yiqtol preterites are well accepted among scholars. The typical yiqtol preterite evidence is the yiqtol preterite with waw consecutive. In Hebrew Poetry there are many yiqtol verbs without waw which do not allow normal imperfect or jussive translations. Those are the yiqtol preterites. There has been a great confusion in translation of the yiqtol preterites since the the form of yiqtol imperfects and the form of yiqtol preterites are same in regular verbs. Most of the translators have considered yiqtol verbs without waw consecutives as imperfects. Thus they disregarded the presence of yiqtol preterites in Hebrew Poetry. Studies by Bauer, Polotsky, Moran, Rainey and few other scholars have borne witnesses to the presence of the yiqtol preterites in the Bible. There were yaqtul preterites in El Arnama Letters and the Canaanite verbal system relating to Hebrew yiqtol preterites. One can trace the origin of the yiqtol preterite with the aid of El Amarna verbal system. Comparison between Psalm 18 and Ⅱ Samuel 22 in terms of yiqtol verbs with and without waw consecutive are discussed to validate the presence of yiqtol preterites in Hebrew Poetry. It is difficult to differentiate between yiqtol imperfect and the yiqtol preterite since the forms of yiqtol imperfect and the yiqtol preterite in regular verbs are same. However, it is possible to differentiate between two among some certain weak verbs. Diagnostic markers of yiqtol preterites are discussed. Hiphil weak verbs, Hollow verbs and etc. It has long form with imperfects and the short forms with preterites. Thus morphological evidences for yiqtol preterites are available to some degree. With regular verbs the morphological diagnostic markers are not available. However, through contextual evidences, it is still possible to differentiate between imperfects and preterites in regular verbs. Some contextual validation on yiqtol preterite verbs without waw is discussed. With this study the ambiguous tense translation of the yiqtol form of the Hebrew verb would be resolved to some degree.

The Classical Hebrew verbal system has long puzzled scholars. One of the most intriguing questions has been yiqtol with waw consecutives. In classical Hebrew yiqtol verbs are long considered as imperfects. However the presence of the yiqtol preterites are well accepted among scholars. The typical yiqtol preterite evidence is the yiqtol preterite with waw consecutive. In Hebrew Poetry there are many yiqtol verbs without waw which do not allow normal imperfect or jussive translations. Those are the yiqtol preterites. There has been a great confusion in translation of the yiqtol preterites since the the form of yiqtol imperfects and the form of yiqtol preterites are same in regular verbs. Most of the translators have considered yiqtol verbs without waw consecutives as imperfects. Thus they disregarded the presence of yiqtol preterites in Hebrew Poetry. Studies by Bauer, Polotsky, Moran, Rainey and few other scholars have borne witnesses to the presence of the yiqtol preterites in the Bible. There were yaqtul preterites in El Arnama Letters and the Canaanite verbal system relating to Hebrew yiqtol preterites. One can trace the origin of the yiqtol preterite with the aid of El Amarna verbal system. Comparison between Psalm 18 and Ⅱ Samuel 22 in terms of yiqtol verbs with and without waw consecutive are discussed to validate the presence of yiqtol preterites in Hebrew Poetry. It is difficult to differentiate between yiqtol imperfect and the yiqtol preterite since the forms of yiqtol imperfect and the yiqtol preterite in regular verbs are same. However, it is possible to differentiate between two among some certain weak verbs. Diagnostic markers of yiqtol preterites are discussed. Hiphil weak verbs, Hollow verbs and etc. It has long form with imperfects and the short forms with preterites. Thus morphological evidences for yiqtol preterites are available to some degree. With regular verbs the morphological diagnostic markers are not available. However, through contextual evidences, it is still possible to differentiate between imperfects and preterites in regular verbs. Some contextual validation on yiqtol preterite verbs without waw is discussed. With this study the ambiguous tense translation of the yiqtol form of the Hebrew verb would be resolved to some degree.

yiqtol preterite, waw consecutive, yiqtol imperfect