04-03-2017, 07:43 PM
Technically it depends on the subjective perspective of the person asking the question in Matthew 13:55. Was the questioner asking about Yahshua in the past tense (i.e., ‘is this not the boy we knew from Nazareth’?) or the present tense (i.e., ‘is this not the man we know from Nazareth’? ). There is no way to know the answer from our perspective as readers (especially because we don't know the background of the questioner), but fortunately either way, the subject of the verb is Yahshua (not Joseph), so the past or present tense designation doesn’t affect the reading of the verse (because the subject, Yahshua, of the verb is so well defined).
Thus, because the tense is subjective to the questioner, the entry in Dukhrana (2:5144) stated as “perfect” tense is correct for the option of the past tense perspective.
I’m glad you followed up with your question, Chuck! I would have never thought so deeply about this verse unless you asked
And yeah, by itself ܗܘܐ can be either present or past tense. If using diacritical marks, there would be a line under the hey in ܗܘܐ to indicate past tense. See e.g., Kiraz, New Syriac Primer, p. 160.
Thus, because the tense is subjective to the questioner, the entry in Dukhrana (2:5144) stated as “perfect” tense is correct for the option of the past tense perspective.
I’m glad you followed up with your question, Chuck! I would have never thought so deeply about this verse unless you asked
And yeah, by itself ܗܘܐ can be either present or past tense. If using diacritical marks, there would be a line under the hey in ܗܘܐ to indicate past tense. See e.g., Kiraz, New Syriac Primer, p. 160.