08816 Perfect

The Perfect expresses a completed action.

1) In reference to time, such an action may be:

   1a) one just completed from the standpoint of the present
         "I have come" to tell you the news

   1b) one completed in the more or less distant past
         in the beginning God "created"
         "I was (once) young" and "I have (now) grown old" but
           "I have not seen" a righteous man forsaken

   1c) one already completed from the point of view of another
       past act
         God saw everything that "he had made"

   1d) one completed from the point of view of another action
       yet future
         I will draw for thy camels also until "they have done"
           drinking

2) The perfect is often used where the present is employed in
   English.

   2a) in the case of general truths or actions of frequent
       occurrence -- truths or actions which have been often
       experienced or observed
          the grass "withereth"
          the sparrow "findeth" a house

   2b) an action or attitude of the past may be continued into
       the present
          "I stretch out" my hands to thee
          "thou never forsakest" those who seek thee

   2c) the perfect of intransitive verbs is used where English
       uses the present; The perfect in Hebrew in such a case
       emphasises a condition which has come into "complete
       existence" and realisation
          "I know" thou wilt be king
          "I hate" all workers of iniquity

   2d) Sometimes in Hebrew, future events are conceived so
       vividly and so realistically that they are regarded as
       having virtually taken place and are described by the
       perfect.

       2d1) in promises, threats and language of contracts
           the field "give I" thee
           and if not, "I will take it"

       2d2) prophetic language
            my people "is gone into captivity"
               (i.e. shall assuredly go)