Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/519

 probably) occurring in the present or future. In the former case,  is followed by the perfect, in the latter (corresponding to the Greek ἐὰν with the present subjunctive) by the imperfect or its equivalent (frequently in the apodosis also). On the other hand,   is used when the condition is to be represented as not fulfilled in the past, or as not capable of fulfilment in the present or future, and the consequence accordingly as not having occurred or never occurring. In the former case,  and  are necessarily followed by the perfect (mostly also in the apodosis) corresponding to the Greek εἰ with the indicative of an historic tense, and the Latin imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive. In the latter case (which is extremely rare) the perfect, or the participle, or even the imperfect, may be used.

Rem. Since it again frequently depends on the subjective judgement of the speaker (see under a), whether a condition is to be regarded as possible or impossible, we cannot wonder that the distinction between and  is not always consistently observed. Although naturally and  cannot take the place of  and  (on the strange use of  in  see below), yet conversely  is sometimes used where  would certainly be expected; cf. e.g., , , (cf. verse 11). These examples, indeed ( with the imperfect), may without difficulty be explained from the fact that the connexion of with the imperfect was evidently avoided, because the imperfect by its nature indicates a still unfinished action, and consequently (as opposed to ) a still open possibility. But is also used for  in connexion with the perfect, especially when an imprecation is attached by the apodosis to the condition introduced by, e.g.  ff. , &c., cf. ff. The speaker assumes for a moment as possible and even actual, that which he really rejects as inconceivable, in order to invoke the most severe punishment on himself, if it should prove to be the case.

On the frequent addition of an infinitive absolute to the verb in clauses with see  above.

Examples:—

A. 1. with in the protasis to express conditions, &c., which have been completely fulfilled in the past or which will be completely fulfilled in the future (the perfect is here equivalent to the futurum exactum, ). The apodosis takes—

(a) A also, e.g.  ;  (see below on ).

(b), e.g. ... , &c.;  f.30 (in both cases we should expect  rather than ; so also in  f., with an interrogative imperfect in the apodosis);  (the apodosis is in verse 15).

(c) (or optative), e.g.  ff. (see m above);.