17.10 Imperfect Vav Consecutive (Iwc): Translation

Usually, translate Iwc as PAST TENSE

  • Often used for the next event in a past-time narrative
    • וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים. . . וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר Genesis 1:3
    • AND God SAID (QIwc3ms)…AND THERE WAS Light (QIwc3ms)
  • In a narrative sequence of verbs, the second (and following) verb uses the opposite form from what we might expect:
    • Iwc in a PAST narrative
      • He did X (the first verb will be P), and then he did Y (the next verb is Iwc), and then he did Z (Iwc)
    • Pwc in a FUTURE narrative
      • He will do X (the first verb is I), then he will do Y (the next verb is Pwc)
  • We will explore additional uses in Lesson 23