Deuteronomy 32:11-12

32:11 Like an eagle that stirs up ¹  its nest,

that hovers over its young,

so the Lord ²  spread out his wings and took him, ³ 

he lifted him up on his pinions.

32:12 The Lord alone was guiding him, ⁴ 

no foreign god was with him.

[32:11]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is an imperfect, indicating habitual or typical behavior. The parallel verb (cf. “hovers” in the next line) is used in the same manner.

[32:11]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:11]  ³ tn The form of the suffix on this and the following verb forms (cf. “lifted him up”) indicates that the verbs are preterites, not imperfects. As such they simply state the action factually. The use of the preterite here suggests that the preceding verb (cf. “spread out”) is preterite as well.

[32:12]  ⁴ tn The distinctive form of the suffix on this verb form indicates that the verb is an imperfect, not a preterite. As such it draws attention to God’s continuing guidance during the period in view.