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2006-02-06T09:13:00.000-05:00

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2006-02-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

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Friday's Translation (Genesis 15)

2006-02-03T10:37:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (15:7-17): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים לָתֶת לְךָ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃ 8 וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִה בַּמָּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה׃ 9 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו קְחָה לִי עֶגְלָה מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת וְעֵז מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת וְאַיִל מְשֻׁלָּשׁ וְתֹר וְגוֹזָל׃ 10 וַיִּקַּח־לוֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה וַיְבַתֵּר אֹתָם בַּתָּוֶךְ וַיִּתֵּן אִישׁ־בִּתְרוֹ לִקְרַאת רֵעֵהוּ וְאֶת־הַצִפֹּר לֹא בָתָר׃ 11 וַיֵּרֶד הָעַיִט עַל־הַפְּגָרִים וַיַּשֵּׁב אֹתָם אַבְרָם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 7
אור name (of place): “Ur”
כשדי name: “Chaldea”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The final word, לְרִשְׁתָּהּ, is parsed as a Qal infinitive construct (ירשׁ) with a 3fs suffix referring to הָאָרֶץ “land.”

Vocabulary

Verse 8
במה “whereby, how” (BDB, 552)
Verse 9
עגלה “heifer” (BDB, 722)
שׁלשׁ “three-year old” (BDB, 1026)
תור “turtledove” (BDB, 1076)
גוזל “young (bird)” (BDB, 160)
Verse 10
בתר verb (Piel imperfect): “cut in two” (BDB, 144)
בֶתֶר noun: “half, piece” (BDB, 144)
צפור “bird” (BDB, 861)
Verse 11
עיט “bird of prey” (BDB, 743)
פצר “corpse” (BDB, 803)
נשׁב verb: “drive away” (BDB, 674)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 8

The noun phrase, אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִה, is a vocative of address
The word, אִירָשֶׁנָּה, is parsed as a Qal imperfect 1cs with a 3fs suffix.

Verse 9

The final he of the imperative, קְחָה, is a paragogic he.

Verse 10

The phrase, לִקְרַאת רֵעֵהוּ, is enigmatic probably meaning “toward one another.”
The final clause uses waw plus non-verb to indicate disjunction, “but.”

Verse 11

The word, עיט, is a collective singular, “birds of prey”

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation vocative paragogic he disjunctive waw collective singular

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 5)

2006-02-02T12:45:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (5:1-4): Font

וְאַתָּ֨ה בֶן־אָדָ֜ם קַח־לְךָ֣ ׀ חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּ֗ה תַּ֤עַר הַגַּלָּבִים֙ תִּקָּחֶ֣נָּה לָּ֔ךְ וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ עַל־רֹאשְׁךָ֖ וְעַל־זְקָנֶ֑ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֛ מֹאזְנֵ֥י מִשְׁקָ֖ל וְחִלַּקְתָּֽם׃ 2 שְׁלִשִׁ֗ית בָּא֤וּר תַּבְעִיר֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר כִּמְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֣י הַמָּצ֑וֹר וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֗ית תַּכֶּ֤ה בַחֶ֙רֶב֙ סְבִ֣יבוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ תִּזְרֶ֣ה לָר֔וּחַ וְחֶ֖רֶב אָרִ֥יק אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ 3 וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִשָּׁ֖ם מְעַ֣ט בְּמִסְפָּ֑ר וְצַרְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בִּכְנָפֶֽיךָ׃ 4 וּמֵהֶם֙ ע֣וֹד תִּקָּ֔ח וְהִשְׁלַכְתָּ֤ אוֹתָם֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הָאֵ֔שׁ וְשָׂרַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֵ֑שׁ מִמֶּ֥נּוּ תֵצֵא־אֵ֖שׁ אֶל־כָּל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 1
חד verb: “sharp” (BDB, 292)
תער “razor” (BDB, 789)
גלב “barber” (BDB, 162)
זקן “beard” (BDB, 278)
מאזן “balance, scale” (BDB, 24)
משׁקל “weight” (BDB, 1054)
חלק verb (Piel waw-consecutive perfect 2ms with 3mpl suffix): “divide”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The first two clauses form a chiastic structure (A—B / B—A):

Object Phrase IO Verb Subject
וְאַתָּ֨ה בֶן־אָדָ֜ם קַח־לְךָ֣ ׀ חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּ֗ה
תַּ֤עַר הַגַּלָּבִים֙ תִּקָּחֶ֣נָּה לָּ֔ךְ
IO Verb Object Phrase

Vocabulary

Verse 2
שׁלשׁית “third”
בער verb: “burn”
אור “flame” (BDB, 22)
מצור noun: “siege” (BDB, 848)
זרה verb: “scatter” (BDB, 279)
ריק verb (Hiphil): “empty out, draw out” (BDB, 937)
Verse 3
מעט “little, small number” (as in amount)
צור verb: “confine, secure” (BDB, 848)
נכף “extremity (of one’s garment)”
Verse 4
שׁרף “burn”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

The inseparable preposition kaf, כִּמְלֹ֖את, is temporal “when.”

The verb, תַּכֶּ֤ה, is the Hiphil form of נכה “smite, strike.”

The final phrase is an idiom “to draw a sword against” meaning to go to war (cf. הֲרִיקֹתִי אַחֲרֵיכֶם חָרִב Leviticus 26:33)

Verse 3

The particle, אוֹתָ֖ם, is the direct object marker spelled plene. The long spelling of the direct object marker occurs 1652x in the MT. This particular form with the 3mpl suffix (128x in the MT) is found previously in Ezekiel 3:9, 17; 4:9. The following verse demonstrates the usage in its plene and defective forms.

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation plene preposition idiom chiasm

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 4)

2006-02-01T05:10:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (4:1-5): Font

וַיַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵן֙ לֹֽא־יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לִ֔י וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ 2 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוָ֖ה [מַזֶּה] בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה׃ 3 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו׃ 4 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה שְׁלַח֙ יָֽדְךָ֔ וֶאֱחֹ֖ז בִּזְנָב֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיַּ֣חֲזֶק בּ֔וֹ וַיְהִ֥י לְמַטֶּ֖ה בְּכַפּֽוֹ׃ 5 לְמַ֣עַן יַאֲמִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֛יךָ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתָ֑ם אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵאלֹהֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1
הן pronoun (3mpl): “they”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The verb, ראה “see,” in the Niphal stem means “appear.”

Vocabulary

Verse 2
מטה noun: “staff”
Verse 3
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ verb (Hiphil imperative ms with 3ms suffix): “throw it”
נחשׁ noun: “serpent” (BDB, 638)
נוס verb: “flee”
Verse 4
אחז verb (Qal imperative ms): “take hold”
זנב noun: “tail” (BDB, 275)
כף noun: “hand, palm”
Verse 5
אמן verb (Hiphil): “believe, trust”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

Qere: מַה־זֶּ֣ה. The Qere is a verbless clause, “what is that/this (in your hand).”

Verse 3

The final he on אַ֔רְצָה is a directional he that indicates the direction toward which the staff was to be thrown.
The repetitious structure of command/instruction and fulfillment (i.e. הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה) is common in the text.
The verb, היה, plus lamed indicates something coming into existence or “becoming.” (i.e. lamed revaluationis; Ernst Jenni, Die Hebraischen Prapositionen, vol. 3 [Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1992-2000])

Verse 5

The sequence, אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתָ֑ם אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵאלֹהֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב, is in apposition to the divine name.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation apposition repetition directional he lamed

And It Shall Be Called…

2006-01-31T17:44:00.000-05:00

Tyler Williams at Codex has asked for responses to his recent post, Old Testament/First Testament/Hebrew Bible/Tanak: What's in a Name? Quite a Bit Actually!.

Typically, I refer to the “Old Testament” Hebrew (and Aramaic) text as “the Torah” and the “Old Testament” Greek text as “the Septuagint” (even though I have to admit that I am not always consistent). Of course, each of these appellations has difficulties, but in my opinion these have less than most of the other options.

Using the Hebrew word, תורה, is superior for several reasons.

The scripture refers to itself as such (unlike "TANAKH").
It does not relegate the Hebrew scriptures to second-class status (unlike "Old Testament").
It acknowledges (contra “Old Testament” and "First Testament") that the text is scripture to more than one religious group.
It can be used and understood in any context (Jewish, Muslim and Christian) to refer to the Jewish canon (unlike “Scriptures”).

The primary difficulty with this label is its inexactness. When using the word Torah, is one speaking of the entire Jewish canon (2 Kings 17:13), the Pentateuch (Nehemiah 8:14), only Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 4:8; 17:18; 28:58; 31:24) or some special part of the covenant document (Leviticus 14:54; Deuteronomy 1:5; 4:44)? Normally, this question can be solved by understanding the context of the use. For example: “The sixth book of the Torah is Joshua.” “Jewish tradition explains that Moses was the author of the Torah.” “The Torah was given to the Israelites at Sinai.” Some specification may be needed with a statement such as “This word is used in the Torah to mean ___.” However, most usages are understandable and clear in context.

NOTE: A similar problem arises with the use of the term, “Septuagint” [LXX]. Originally, the first five books only were entitled "the Septuagint." Later this label was used to refer to the entire Greek translation of the Jewish canon (i.e. “Old Greek”). The LXX was expanded further to include the Apocrypha, or Deuterocanonical, writings; today it is used by some to identify Hexaplaric texts.

For more information see Karen H. Jobes and Moises Silva, Invitation to the Septuagint (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2000) pp. 29-38.

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 3)

2006-01-31T13:42:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:1-5): Font

וְהַנַּ֧עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל מְשָׁרֵ֥ת אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י עֵלִ֑י וּדְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֤ה יָקָר֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין חָז֖וֹן נִפְרָֽץ׃ ס 2 וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְעֵלִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ב בִּמְקֹמ֑וֹ וְעֵינוֹ הֵחֵ֣לּוּ כֵה֔וֹת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְאֽוֹת׃ 3 וְנֵ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ טֶ֣רֶם יִכְבֶּ֔ה וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל שֹׁכֵ֑ב בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן אֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ4 וַיִּקְרָ֧א יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ 5 וַיָּ֣רָץ אֶל־עֵלִ֗י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הִנְנִי֙ כִּֽי־קָרָ֣אתָ לִּ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹֽא־קָרָ֖אתִי שׁ֣וּב שְׁכָ֑ב וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 1
יקר adjective: “rare” (BDB, 429)
חזון noun: “vision” (BDB, 302)
פרץ verb (Niphal participle ms): “spread” (BDB, 829)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The proper name, שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל, is in apposition to the word נער “boy.”
The verbal construction of the first clause is periphrastic (מְשָׁרֵ֥ת Piel participle).
The adjective, יקר, is functioning as a substantive.
One would expect a copulative (i.e. waw) to precede the final clause, אֵ֥ין חָז֖וֹן נִפְרָֽץ. The lack of a connector, called asyndeton, can indicate an epexegetical comment explaining the previous remarks. Answering the question: “Why was the word of the Lord rare in those days?” Because “visions were not spread” (i.e. they were infrequent).

Vocabulary

Verse 2
הֵחֵ֣לּוּ verb (Hiphil perfect 3mpl חלל): “defile, profane”
כהה “dim” (BDB, 462)
Verse 3
נר “lamp” (BDB, 632)
טרם “not yet” (BDB, 382)
כבה “extinguish” (BDB, 459)
היכל “temple”
Verse 4
הִנֵּֽנִי exclamation (הנה + pronoun): “Here am I”
Verse 5
רוץ verb (Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “run”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

The waw in the second clause should be understood as continuative from the previous phrase, “that.”
The clause, וְעֵלִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ב בִּמְקֹמ֑וֹ, is periphrastic.
The Kethib reads a singular subject with a plural verb: “His eye (were defiled);” whereas, the Qere reads a plural subject and verb: וְעֵינָיו֙ “His eyes were defiled.”
The final clause exhibits asyndeton indicating an epexegetical (explanative) remark.

Verse 3

The first clause begins with a disjunctive waw (waw plus non-verb).
The relative particle, אֲשֶׁר, plus שָׁ֖ם is understood as “where.”
This verse causes some confusion if one does not distinguish correctly the position, or relevance, of each clause within the overall structure. Translating this verse word-for-word results in the following English rendering: “Now the lamp of God had not yet gone out and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God resided.” This understanding seems to indicate that Samuel was sleeping in the place of the ark of God! A more careful reading of the text, however, demonstrates a very different story. The clause, וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל שֹׁכֵ֑ב, is a disjunctive phrase functioning as a parenthetical comment that is place in the middle of one idea. The verse should be understood thusly: “Now the lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God resided; yet Samuel was asleep.” The point of the text is not that Samuel slept in the Most Holy place, but that he was asleep before the lamp in the temple burned out.

Verse 4

The Lord calls out and Samuel responds.

Verse 5

The small פ indicates an open paragraph (i.e. space was left at the end of the line) in the Leningradensis B19a Codex. The small ס indicates a closed paragraph (i.e. only a small gap was left at the end of the paragraph before the next paragraph began on the same line).

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation disjunctive waw epexegetical Kethib Qere periphrastic waw substantive apposition asyndeton

Monday's Translation (Joshua 3)

2006-01-30T15:07:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:9-13): Font

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גֹּ֣שׁוּ הֵ֔נָּה וְשִׁמְע֕וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃ 10 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֛י אֵ֥ל חַ֖י בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵ֣שׁ יוֹרִ֣ישׁ מִ֠פְּנֵיכֶם אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִ֨י וְאֶת־הַחִתִּ֜י וְאֶת־הַחִוִּ֗י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְאֶת־הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י וְהָאֱמֹרִ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ 11 הִנֵּה֙ אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲד֖וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֹבֵ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ 12 וְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר אִ֔ישׁ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט׃ 13 וְהָיָ֡ה כְּנ֣וֹחַ כַּפּ֣וֹת רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹשְׂאֵי֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהוָ֜ה אֲד֤וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מֵ֤י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ יִכָּ֣רֵת֔וּן הַמַּ֥יִם הַיֹּרְדִ֖ים מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְיַעַמְד֖וּ נֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד׃

Vocabulary

Verse 9
נגשׁ verb (Qal imperative mpl): “come near”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The enclitic, הֵ֔נָּה, is emphatic.

Vocabulary

Verse 10
חי adjective: “living”
Verse 11
ירדן name: “Jordan”
Verse 12
שׁבט noun: “tribe”
Verse 13
נוח verb (Qal infinitive construct): “rest”
כף “sole (of foot)”
גד noun: “heap” (BDB, 622)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

The final letter of the verb, תֵּֽדְע֔וּן, is a paragogic nun.
The word, כִּ֛י, is being used like the relative “that.”
The verbal structure, infinitive absolute plus finite verb (same root), is emphatic, “he will surely dispossess.” The object of the transitive verb is marked by the direct object marker, את.

Verse 11

The noun phrase, אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲד֖וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ, is used here and in verse 13.
The hireq-yod suffix is the gentilic ending.
The word, פנים, literally means “face,” but can indicate “presence” figuratively.

Verse 12

The numerals eleven through nineteen are written without the copulative waw (GKC 97d). Thus, שְׁנֵ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר is “twelve” (cf. 1 Kings 7:25).
The repetition of a phrase with a number indicates a distributive usage (GKC 134q). The phrase, אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט, should be understood as “one man from each tribe.”

Verse 13

The preposition kaf is acting temporally as “when.”
The final letter of יִכָּ֣רֵת֔וּן is a paragogic nun.
The phrase, הַיֹּרְדִ֖ים מִלְמָ֑עְלָה, is an asyndetic relative clause.

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation preposition kaf paragogic nun asyndeton number repetition distributive gentilic ending infinitive absolute

Friday's Translation (Genesis 15)

2006-01-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (15:1-6): Font

אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָם בַּמַּחֲזֶה לֵאמֹר אַל־תִּירָא אַבְרָם אָנֹכִי מָגֵן לָךְ שְׂכָרְךָ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד׃ 2 וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִה מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִי וְאָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ עֲרִירִי וּבֶן־מֶשֶׁק בֵּיתִי הוּא דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר׃ 3 וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם הֵן לִי לֹא נָתַתָּה זָרַע וְהִנֵּה בֶן־בֵּיתִי יוֹרֵשׁ אֹתִי׃ 4 וְהִנֵּה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר לֹא יִירָשְׁךָ זֶה כִּי־אִם אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ הוּא יִירָשֶׁךָ׃ 5 וַיּוֹצֵא אֹתוֹ הַחוּצָה וַיֹּאמֶר הַבֶּט־נָא הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וּסְפֹר הַכּוֹכָבִים אִם־תּוּכַל לִסְפֹּר אֹתָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֶךָ׃ 6 וְהֶאֱמִן בַּיהוָה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1
אחר preposition/adverb: “after, afterwards”
מחזה noun: “vision” (BDB, 303)
מגן “shield”
שכר noun: “reward” (BDB, 969)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The negation, אַל, is used with the jussive modality.
The verbless clause, אָנֹכִי מָגֵן לָךְ, is an epexegetical remark.

Vocabulary

Verse 2
ערירי “childless” (BDB, 792)
בן־משׁק “acquisition, possession” (BDB, 606); idiomatic “heir” (GKC, 128v)
דמשק name: “Damascus”
אליעזר name: “Eliezer” (meaning: “God is my helper”)
Verse 3
הֵן shortened form of הנּה
Verse 4
מעה “inward parts” (BDB, 588)
Verse 5
כוכב “star” (BDB, 456)
חוץ “outside”
Verse 6
חשׁב verb (Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3fs): “account”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

The noun phrase, אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִה, is a vocative of address.
The pointing of the Divine Name indicates that the reading, i.e. Qere, used the word, אלהים, and not the normal substitution, אדני, for this perpetual Kethib-Qere; lest, the word, אדני “lord,” would be repetitious.
The clause connector waw can be a simple copulative (i.e. “and”) or be a conditional/circumstantial clause indicator (e.g. “since”).
The verb, הוֹלֵךְ, is periphrastic and spelled plene.
The noun phrase, דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר, is left fronted and replaced by the 3ms suffix, הוּא, functioning as the predicate nominative of the clause.

Verse 3

The final two words make up a substantival, participial phrase (participle and object of the participle, יוֹרֵשׁ אֹתִי), possibly best rendered as “my heir.”

Verse 4

The combination of particles, כי־אם, is a limiting factor—“but, but rather.”

Verse 5

The particle, אִם, initiates an indirect question (GKC 150i).

Verse 6

The subject (3fs) of the final clause is צְדָקָה “righteousness.”

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation waw fronting periphrastic plene Kethib Qere vocative epexegetical jussive negation

Dr. Cathey Rhapsodizes the Death of Rhapsode

2006-01-26T09:09:00.000-05:00

Our friend, Joe Cathey, provides an excellent evaluation of the new title, Biblical Narrative and the Death of the Rhapsode, for the Review of Biblical Literature. Sounds like a little light reading for those down times during the spring semester. Would you agree Joe?

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 4)

2006-01-26T08:01:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (4:13-17): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה כָּכָה יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־לַחְמָם טָמֵא בַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אַדִּיחֵם שָׁם׃ 14 וָאֹמַר אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הִנֵּה נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה וּנְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה לֹא־אָכַלְתִּי מִנְּעוּרַי וְעַד־עַתָּה וְלֹא־בָא בְּפִי בְּשַׂר פִּגּוּל׃ ס 15 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְךָ אֶת־[צְפוּעֵי] הַבָּקָר תַּחַת גֶּלְלֵי הָאָדָם וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת־לַחְמְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם׃ ס 16 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן־אָדָם הִנְנִי שֹׁבֵר מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם בִּירוּשָׁלִַם וְאָכְלוּ־לֶחֶם בְּמִשְׁקָל וּבִדְאָגָה וּמַיִם בִּמְשׂוּרָה וּבְשִׁמָּמוֹן יִשְׁתּוּ׃ 17 לְמַעַן יַחְסְרוּ לֶחֶם וָמָיִם וְנָשַׁמּוּ אִישׁ וְאָחִיו וְנָמַקּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָם׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 13
ככה “thus” (BDB, 462)
טמא “unclean”
נדח verb (Hiphil): “thrust out, banish” (BDB, 623)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The relative particle, אשׁר, points to a syntactic value within the relative clause. In this case it corresponds to the place of banishment, i.e. “where.”

Vocabulary

Verse 14
אההּ “Alas” (BDB, 13)
נבלה “carcass” (BDB, 615)
טרפה “animal torn” (BDB, 383)
נעורים “youth” (BDB, 655)
פגול “waste, refuse” (BDB, 803)
Verse 15
צפוע “dung” (BDB, 861)
גל “dung” (BDB, 165)
Verse 16
משׁקל “weight” (BDB, 1054)
דאגה “anxiety” (BDB, 178)
משורה “measure” (BDB, 601)
שׁממון noun: “horror” (BDB, 1031)
Verse 17
חסר verb: “lack, need” (BDB, 341)
שׁמם verb (Niphal): “be appalled”
מקק verb: “pine away” (BDB, 596)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 14

The particle, אֲהָהּ, marks a vocative noun phrase. It may be accompanied by a name (Lord God: Joshua 7:7, Judges 6:22, 2 Kings 6:15, Jeremiah 1:6, 4:10, 14:13, 32:17, Ezekiel 9:8, 11:13, 21:5), title (my master: 2 Kings 6:5; my daughter: Judges 11:35) or by itself (2 Kings 3:10, Joel 1:15).
The compound direct object of the second clause is נְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה.

Verse 15

Qere: צְפִיעֵי.
The prepositional object, עֲלֵיהֶם “over them,” is plural because its referent is plural, גֶּלְלֵי הָאָדָם “human dung(s)”.
One has to ask whether or not animal dung is more clean than human feces (Deut. 23:14).

Verse 16

The noun phrase, מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם, is used five times several of which are found in the Book of Ezekiel (Lev. 26:26; Ps. 105:16; Ezek. 4:16, 5:16, 14:13). The parallel usage (cf. Ps 105:16; Ezekiel 14:13) indicates that the idiom, “breaking the staff of bread,” refers to famine.

Verse 17

The three clauses together are connected by the sequenced waw-consecutive perfects and are the result (לְמַעַן) of Israel’s rebellion.

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation idiom waw-consecutive preposition vocative relative

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 3)

2006-01-25T07:01:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:15-22): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כֹּה־תֹאמַר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם זֶה־שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר׃ 16 לֵךְ וְאָסַפְתָּ אֶת־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם נִרְאָה אֵלַי אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב לֵאמֹר פָּקֹד פָּקַדְתִּי אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־הֶעָשׂוּי לָכֶם בְּמִצְרָיִם׃ 17 וָאֹמַר אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם אֶל־אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי אֶל־אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ׃ 18 וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ וּבָאתָ אַתָּה וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִיִּים נִקְרָה עָלֵינוּ וְעַתָּה נֵלֲכָה־נָּא דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר וְנִזְבְּחָה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ׃ 19 וַאֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי לֹא־יִתֵּן אֶתְכֶם מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לַהֲלֹךְ וְלֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה׃ 20 וְשָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת־יָדִי וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת־מִצְרַיִם בְּכֹל נִפְלְאֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יְשַׁלַּח אֶתְכֶם׃ 21 וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־חֵן הָעָם־הַזֶּה בְּעֵינֵי מִצְרָיִם וְהָיָה כִּי תֵלֵכוּן לֹא תֵלְכוּ רֵיקָם׃ 22 וְשָׁאֲלָה אִשָּׁה מִשְּׁכֶנְתָּהּ וּמִגָּרַת בֵּיתָהּ כְּלֵי־כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב וּשְׂמָלֹת וְשַׂמְתֶּם עַל־בְּנֵיכֶם וְעַל־בְּנֹתֵיכֶם וְנִצַּלְתֶּם אֶת־מִצְרָיִם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 15
זכר “memorial” (BDB, 271)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The final two clauses are ideal examples of Hebrew parallelism. Notice the parallel sentence structure (verbless clause typology: S—P—M) and the synonyms, “eternity” and “generation to generation.”

זֶה־שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם

וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר

Vocabulary

Verse 16
פקד verb: “visit, care about”
Verse 17
כנעני name: “Canaanite”
חתי name: “Hittite”
אמרי name: “Amorite”
פרזי name: “Perizzite”
חוי name: “Hivite”
יבוסי name: “Jebusite”
עני “affliction” (BDB, 777)
זוב verb: “flow” (BDB, 264)
חלב “milk” (BDB, 316)
דבשׁ “honey”
Verse 18
קרה verb: “encounter” (BDB, 899)
Verse 20
נפלאות “wonderful acts” (BDB, 810)
Verse 21
ריקם “emptily, empty-handed” (BDB, 938)
Verse 22
שׁכן “neighbor” (BDB, 1015)
גור verb (Qal participle): “sojourning”
שמלה “clothes” (BDB, 971)
נצל verb: “plunder”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 16

The first word is לֵךְ which is easily confused for the lamed preposition with 2nd person pronoun. Differentiate these forms by examining the vowel pointing carefully. The 2ms suffix with the lamed preposition would be pointed shewa-qames (לְךָ), and the 2fs suffix would be qames-shewa (לָךְ). The imperative form of הלך “go” is distinguished by the “i-class” vowel (i.e. sere or segol) with the lamed.
The waw-consecutive perfect, וְאָסַפְתָּ, continues the imperative mood of the previous verb.
The noun phrase, אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם, is in apposition to the divine name.
Sequencing in Hebrew, as in English, can repeat the copulative (e.g. Bob and Mary and Sue) or place it on the third element of a list (e.g. Bob, Mary and Sue). The later use is found in this verse, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב.
Infinitive absolute plus finite verb marks an intensification of the verbal action.
The final clause has a double object: אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־הֶעָשׂוּי לָכֶם.
The beth preposition, בְּמִצְרָיִם, is instrumental, “by.”

Verse 17

The first two verbs are 1cs, וָאֹמַר אַעֲלֶה.
The gentilic ending, כנעני, can refer to either the people or the land.
The list of nationalities demonstrates the first type of sequencing found in the comment above: וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי.

Verse 18

The noun phrase, אַתָּה וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, is the compound subject of the verb, וּבָאתָ; the elders are included even though the verb is 2ms. Notice the number of the following verb, וַאֲמַרְתֶּם, is plural.

Verse 19

The verb, נתן, can mean “permit” or “grant” especially when sequenced with a lamed.

Verse 20

The verb, הִכֵּיתִי, comes from the doubly weak root, נכה “smite.”

Verse 22

The participle, וּמִגָּרַת, is a substantive.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation doubly weak substantive sequencing apposition lamed gentilic ending beth direct object waw consecutive parallelism typology

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2006-01-24T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:27-30): Font

הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים וְגָדַעְתִּי אֶת־זְרֹעֲךָ וְאֶת־זְרֹעַ בֵּית אָבִיךָ מִהְיוֹת זָקֵן בְּבֵיתֶךָ׃ 32 וְהִבַּטְתָּ צַר מָעוֹן בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יֵיטִיב אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה זָקֵן בְּבֵיתְךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִים׃ 33 וְאִישׁ לֹא־אַכְרִית לְךָ מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי לְכַלּוֹת אֶת־עֵינֶיךָ וְלַאֲדִיב אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ וְכָל־מַרְבִּית בֵּיתְךָ יָמוּתוּ אֲנָשִׁים׃ 34 וְזֶה־לְּךָ הָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר יָבֹא אֶל־שְׁנֵי בָנֶיךָ אֶל־חָפְנִי וּפִינְחָס בְּיוֹם אֶחָד יָמוּתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם׃ 35 וַהֲקִימֹתִי לִי כֹּהֵן נֶאֱמָן כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבִי וּבְנַפְשִׁי יַעֲשֶׂה וּבָנִיתִי לוֹ בַּיִת נֶאֱמָן וְהתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי־מְשִׁיחִי כָּל־הַיָּמִים׃ 36 וְהָיָה כָּל־הַנּוֹתָר בְּבֵיתְךָ יָבוֹא לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לוֹ לַאֲגוֹרַת כֶּסֶף וְכִכַּר־לָחֶם וְאָמַר סְפָחֵנִי נָא אֶל־אַחַת הַכְּהֻנּוֹת לֶאֱכֹל פַּת־לָחֶם׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 31
גדע verb: “hew, cut off” (BDB, 154)
זקן “old”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The waw, וְגָדַעְתִּי, is used as a temporal marker, “when.”
The adjective, זקן, is used substantively for an old person.

Vocabulary

Verse 32
נבט verb (Hiphil): “look, regard”
צר “distress” (BDB, 865)
מעון “dwelling (BDB, 732)
Verse 33
מעם preposition: “from, from beside”
אדב verb (Hiphil): “cause to grieve” (BDB, 9)
מרבית “increase” (BDB, 916)
Verse 34
חפני name: “Hophni”
פינחס name: “Phinehas”
Verse 35
נאמן “faithfulness”
משׁיח “anointed” (BDB, 603)
Verse 36
יתר verb (Niphal participle): “remain, be left”
השׁתחות verb (Hishtaphel infinitive construct): “bow down, worship”
אגורה “payment” (BDB, 8)
ספח verb (imperative): “attach to” (BDB, 705)
כהנה “priesthood” (BDB, 464)
פת “bit, morsel” (BDB, 837)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 32

The phrase, כָּל־הַיָּמִים, is adverbial.

Verse 33

The direct object of the first clause, אִישׁ, is fronted.
The lamed with pronominal suffix indicates to whom the action refers (cf. Joüon 130g). Other examples of this phenomenon: Gen 17:12 וּבֶן־שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים יִמּוֹל לָכֶם כָּל־זָכָר “the eight day old son shall be circumcised to you every male” or “all your males who are eight days old shall be circumcised”; Deut. 23:3גַּם דּוֹר עֲשִירִי לֹא־טָבֹא לֹו בִּקְהַל יהוה “even his tenth generation shall not enter”.
The phrase, לְכַלּוֹת אֶת־עֵינֶיךָ, is found elsewhere in the MT only in Leviticus 26:16, where it is understood as “exhausting the eyes” or “failing of the eyes.” Other possibilities may include that it comes from that it comes from the root כִּלָּיוֹן “failing” (BDB, 479; cf. Deut 28:65) or that it is a non-extant root from which חכלילי (cf. Gen 49:12) is derived.
The initial he of the Hiphil stem, וְלַאֲדִיב, has apocopated, though normally it is extant with the infinitive construct with a inseparable prefix (Joüon 54b).
The accusative is used to show the manner of the verbal action. Thus, “they will die in the prime of life” (cf. GKC 118q). Another explanation is an adverbial understanding of the noun modifying the intransitive verb מות, i.e. “they will die as men.”

Verse 34

The preposition, אֶל, can be rendered “concerning.”

Verse 36

The participle, הַנּוֹתָר, is a substantive.

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation preposition substantive Hiphil apocopation adverb lamed fronting waw

Carnivals & Such

2006-01-23T15:52:00.000-05:00

Tyler Williams at Codex has announced officially the (re)initiation of the Biblical Studies Carnival.  You may submit your favorite biblical studies posts to the Carnival’s website.

Paleojudaica announces the new blog, named “Targuman.”  Check it out at http://targuman.blogspot.com/ .

Also, Dr. Cathey officially announces his participation in the summer 2006 dig at Tel-Gezer.  Information about volunteering for the project (June 4 – July 7) is available here.

Monday's Translation (Joshua 3)

2006-01-23T07:05:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:5-8): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל־הָעָם הִתְקַדָּשׁוּ כִּי מָחָר יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה בְּקִרְבְּכֶם נִפְלָאוֹת׃ 6 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים לֵאמֹר שְׂאוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית וְעִבְרוּ לִפְנֵי הָעָם וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית וַיֵּלְכוּ לִפְנֵי הָעָם׃ ס 7 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אָחֵל גַּדֶּלְךָ בְּעֵינֵי כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּן כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיִיתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁה אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ׃ 8 וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִים נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן־הַבְּרִית לֵאמֹר כְּבֹאֲכֶם עַד־קְצֵה מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן בַּיַּרְדֵּן תַּעֲמֹדוּ׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 5
התקדשׁו verb (Hithpael imperative mpl): “Sanctify yourselves”
מחר adverb: “tomorrow”
נפלאות “wonderful acts” (BDB, 810)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The particle, כי, is marking a causal clause, “for.”
The masculine noun, מחר, is functioning adverbially.

Vocabulary

Verse 6
שאו verb (imperative from נשא): “take up”
ארון הברית noun phrase: “the Ark of the Covenant”
Verse 7
חלל verb (Hiphil imperfect 1cs): “begin”
הייתי verb (Qal perfect 1cs from היה)
Verse 8
קצה noun: “edge, end, proximity”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 6

Notice the fulfillment of the commands as waw-consecutive imperfects.
The verb, הלך, is used as equivalent to עבר.
The ark is referred to as the ארון העדת “ark of testimony.”

Verse 7

The temporal phrase, הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, is functioning adverbially.
Paragogic nun: יֵדְעוּן.

Verse 8

The inseparable preposition, כ, is used temporally.

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation preposition paragogic nun ki clause

Friday's Translation (Genesis 14)

2006-01-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (14:18-24): Font

וּמַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן וְהוּא כֹהֵן לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן׃ 19 וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ וַיֹּאמַר בָּרוּךְ אַבְרָם לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃ 20 וּבָרוּךְ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר־מִגֵּן צָרֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר מִכֹּל׃ 21 וַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ־סְדֹם אֶל־אַבְרָם תֶּן־לִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻשׁ קַח־לָךְ׃ 22 וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל־מֶלֶךְ סְדֹם הֲרִימֹתִי יָדִי אֶל־יְהוָה אֵל עֶלְיוֹן קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃ 23 אִם־מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ־נַעַל וְאִם־אֶקַּח מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָךְ וְלֹא תֹאמַר אֲנִי הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי אֶת־אַבְרָם׃ 24 בִּלְעָדַי רַק אֲשֶׁר אָכְלוּ הַנְּעָרִים וְחֵלֶק הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ אִתִּי עָנֵר אֶשְׁכֹּל וּמַמְרֵא הֵם יִקְחוּ חֶלְקָם׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 18
מלכי־צדק name: “Melchizedek”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The phrase, מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם, is in apposition to the proper name, Melchizedek.

Vocabulary

Verse 19
קנה verb: “acquire, create” (BDB, 888)
Verse 20
מגן verb: “deliver” (BDB, 171)
צר “adversary, foe”
מעשר noun: “tithe, a tenth part” (BDB, 78)
Verse 21
רכושׁ “property” (BDB, 940)
Verse 22
קנה verb: “acquire, create” (BDB, 888)
Verse 23
חוט “thread, cord” (BDB, 296)
שרוך “thong” (BDB, 976)
נעל “sandal” (BDB, 653)
עשׁר verb (Hiphil): “make rich” (BDB, 799)
Verse 24
בלעד idiom (with 1cs suffix): “not at all” (BDB, 116)
חלק “portion, booty”
עָנֵר name: “Aner”
אֶשְׁכֹּל name: “Eschol”
וּמַמְרֵא name: “Mamre”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 19

The participle, קֹנֵה, is substantive and is in apposition to the previous phrase
The figure of speech, שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, is a merismatic of every created thing (i.e. the entire universe).

Verse 20

This verse is the first time that the word tithe is used in the MT. It is not found again until Leviticus 27 with the giving of the Torah.

Verse 21

The verbal forms of תֶּן and קַח are imperatives. The verb, לקח, acts like a first yod ( י-פ) verb.
The quotation, תֶּן־לִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻשׁ קַח־לָךְ, is a chiasm of the form: A-B-B’-A’.

Verse 22

The idiom, הֲרִימֹתִי יָדִי אֶל־יְהוָה, means to take an oath by lifting up one’s hand.

Verse 23

The verb from the second clause, אֶקַּח, is gapped in the first clause,אִם־מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ־נַעַל.

Verse 24

The first word, בִּלְעָדַי, is a verbless clause, “I will take nothing at all.”
After a negative, רק means “except” or “save.”
The names of Abraham’s comrades, עָנֵר אֶשְׁכֹּל וּמַמְרֵא, are fronted in the last clause. Notice also the sequence of three names with only the last with the copulative.

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation substantive participle apposition chiasm gapping idiom fronting sequencing

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 4)

2006-01-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (4:9-12): Font

וְאַתָּה קַח־לְךָ חִטִּין וּשְׂעֹרִים וּפוֹל וַעֲדָשִׁים וְדֹחַן וְכֻסְּמִים וְנָתַתָּה אוֹתָם בִּכְלִי אֶחָד וְעָשִׂיתָ אוֹתָם לְךָ לְלָחֶם מִסְפַּר הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה שׁוֹכֵב עַל־צִדְּךָ שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת וְתִשְׁעִים יוֹם תֹּאכֲלֶנּוּ׃ 10 וּמַאֲכָלְךָ אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכֲלֶנּוּ בְּמִשְׁקוֹל עֶשְׂרִים שֶׁקֶל לַיּוֹם מֵעֵת עַד־עֵת תֹּאכֲלֶנּוּ׃ 11 וּמַיִם בִּמְשׂוּרָה תִשְׁתֶּה שִׁשִּׁית הַהִין מֵעֵת עַד־עֵת תִּשְׁתֶּה׃ 12 וְעֻגַת שְׂעֹרִים תֹּאכֲלֶנָּה וְהִיא בְּגֶלְלֵי צֵאַת הָאָדָם תְּעֻגֶנָה לְעֵינֵיהֶם׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 9
חטין noun: “wheat” (BDB, 334)
שערה “barley” (BDB, 972)
פול “beans” (BDB, 806)
עדשׁה “lentils” (BDB, 727)
דתן “millet” (BDB, 191)
כסמת “spelt” (BDB, 493)
שׁכב verb (Qal participle): “lay”
צד “side” (BDB, 841)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The sequencing of elements in biblical Hebrew is varied. Options include: listing of elements each with a waw (e.g. Genesis 1:14, 8:22, 10:2, 12:16), listing elements in pairs i.e. waw with the second word of the pair (e.g. Genesis 1:30, 5:30, 14:16, 22:24), listing with a waw associated only with the final element (Genesis 5:32), and listing elements in various combinations of the previous sequence types.

Vocabulary

Verse 10
מאכל “food” (BDB, 38)
משׁקול “weight” (BDB, 1054)
שׁקל “shekel, measurement of weight”
Verse 11
משורה “measure” (BDB, 601)
הין “liquid measurement” (BDB, 228)
Verse 12
עגה “cake of bread” (BDB, 728)
שערה “barley” (BDB, 972)
גל “dung” (BDB, 165)
צאה “filth, excrement” (BDB, 844)
עוג verb: “bake” (BDB, 728)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

The idiom, מֵעֵת עַד־עֵת, could be understood as “from time to time” i.e. “occasionally,” or it may mean “daily.”

Verse 11

Some suggest that a hin is approximately 6 liters.

Verse 12

Cooking food with excrement was a violation of the purity laws. See Deuteronomy 23:14 (English 23:13) for further rules governing excrement.

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation hin idiom sequencing waw

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 3)

2006-01-18T17:04:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:11-14): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וְכִי אוֹצִיא אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם׃ 12 וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי־אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ וְזֶה־לְּךָ הָאוֹת כִּי אָנֹכִי שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת־הָעָם מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּעַבְדוּן אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים עַל הָהָר הַזֶּה׃ 13 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָא אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם וְאָמְרוּ־לִי מַה־שְּׁמוֹ מָה אֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם׃ 14 וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה תֹאמַר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶהְיֶה שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 11
מצרים name: “Egypt”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

Notice the two clauses joined by the copulative and marked by כי elaborating on the main question, מִי אָנֹכִי.
The imperfect can indicate modality (particularly in first position in the sentence). In this instance it expresses potential action or possibility (“who am I that I could go”). See also Exodus 16:7 (תַלִּינוּ) and Numbers 11:12 (תֹאמַר).
The Hiphil stem can be understood as causative; therefore, נצא “go out” in Qal becomes “bring out” in Hiphil.

Vocabulary

Verse 12
אות noun: “sign, pledge”
Verse 14
אהיה verb (Qal imperfect 1cs): “I am” or “I will be”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 12

The clause, וְזֶה־לְּךָ הָאוֹת, is verbless.
The beth preposition is temporal, “when.”
The 2ms suffix is functioning as the “subject” of the infinitive, בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ.
Paragogic nun: תַּעַבְדוּן.

Verse 13

As in many Greek verbs of movement, the Hebrew word בוא can refer to coming or going.
The phrase, אָנֹכִי בָא, is a periphrastic construction without the “to be” verb.
See the DH post about the name of God.

Verse 14

The final usage of אֶהְיֶה is as a nominative (proper name?).

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation imperfect beth preposition periphrastic paragogic nun infinitive verbless clause ki hiphil

Walking the Bible

2006-01-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

***UPDATE***

The third and final show will be aired on most PBS stations on Wednesday, January 18 2006 at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central). See here for your local airtimes.

When was he last time that you watched a documentary in a field you knew well and were not disappointed? What about a television show on a biblical theme and you were not overwhelmed with unknown scholars, ancient scholarship, and humorous hypotheses?

“Walking the Bible” was not such a disappointment. The website for the show describes the series:

Best selling author Bruce Feiler begins his epic, ten thousand mile odyssey to explore the greatest stories ever told, in the settings where they actually occurred…Dramatic scripture readings interspersed throughout all three programs bring us closer to these Biblical settings. As Bruce Feiler "walks the Bible," he discovers that his journey is turning into a very different kind of pilgrimage.

Upon the suggestion of a fellow blogger (I remembered!), I tuned in last night to an encore presentation of the second part of this three part series on PBS. I found the host, Bruce Feiler, honest and well-balanced, even insightful at times, in his approach and explanation of the biblical story. According to our local listings, part two will be airing several more times this weekend, and part three will be shown next week. I recommend seeing it.

What did you think about the show? Is anyone familiar with the books on which it is based?

File under: Biblical Hebrew Walking the Bible Bruce Feiler documentary

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2006-01-17T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:27-30): Font

וַיָּבֹא אִישׁ־אֱלֹהִים אֶל־עֵלִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי אֶל־בֵּית אָבִיךָ בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּמִצְרַיִם לְבֵית פַּרְעֹה׃ 28 וּבָחֹר אֹתוֹ מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִי לְכֹהֵן לַעֲלוֹת עַל־מִזְבְּחִי לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת לָשֵׂאת אֵפוֹד לְפָנָי וָאֶתְּנָה לְבֵית אָבִיךָ אֶת־כָּל־אִשֵּׁי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 29 לָמָּה תִבְעֲטוּ בְּזִבְחִי וּבְמִנְחָתִי אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי מָעוֹן וַתְּכַבֵּד אֶת־בָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי לְהַבְרִיאֲכֶם מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־מִנְחַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעַמִּי׃ 30 לָכֵן נְאֻם־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמוֹר אָמַרְתִּי בֵּיתְךָ וּבֵית אָבִיךָ יִתְהַלְּכוּ לְפָנַי עַד־עוֹלָם וְעַתָּה נְאֻם־יְהוָה חָלִילָה לִּי כִּי־מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 27
גלה verb: “uncover oneself, reveal”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The he preceding the infinitive absolute, הֲנִגְלֹה, is an interrogative he marking a question.

Infinitive absolute (with a finite verb) is used to strengthen a question (GKC, 113q).

The beth preposition, בִּהְיוֹתָם, is used temporally “when” (GKC, 114e).

Verse 28
אפוד noun: “ephod” (BDB, 65)
קטרת noun: “smoke (of sacrifice), incense”
Verse 29
בעט verb: “kick at” (BDB, 127)
מעון noun: “dwelling” (BDB, 732)
ברא verb (Hiphil infinitive construct w/ 2mpl suffix): “make fat” (BDB, 135)
Verse 30
חלילה “far be it (from)” (BDB, 321)
בזה verb (Qal participle w/ 1cs suffix): “despiser” (BDB, 102)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 28

The infinitive absolute, וּבָחֹר, continues the interrogative from verse 27.
The infinitive construct, לָשֵׂאת, from the root נשא should be understood as “bear, carry” or even “wear.”

Verse 29

The waw-consecutive imperfect, וַתְּכַבֵּד, continues the question לָמָּה.
The phrase, מִמֶּנִּי, should be understood as a comparative, “more than me.”

Verse 30

The infinitive absolute and finite combination, אָמוֹר, initiates a question.
The plene form of the infinitive absolute of אמר is only found very rarely in the MT (Numbers 6:23; 1 Samuel 2:30; Jeremiah 23:17).
The strong negative oath is marked by חָלִילָה. Compare this antithetical and converse statement to the blessing found in Genesis 12:3 (DH post).

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation infinitive absolute plene preposition min beth interrogative he oath curse

Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar Online

2006-01-17T00:56:00.000-05:00

Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, also known as GKC (Gesenius, Kautzsch, and Cowley), is available on Google Print.

***Update***
Thanks to our friend, Charles Harton, at Awilum for the link to the online version (.pdf) of the very useful Gesenius Kautzsch Cowley (GKC) grammar of biblical Hebrew!

File under: Biblical Hebrew Grammar Gesenius Google Print

Monday's Translation (Joshua 3)

2006-01-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:1-4): Font

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהַשִּׁטִּים וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן הוּא וְכָל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּלִנוּ שָׁם טֶרֶם יַעֲבֹרוּ׃ 2 וַיְהִי מִקְצֵה שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַיַּעַבְרוּ הַשֹּׁטְרִים בְּקֶרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה׃ 3 וַיְצַוּוּ אֶת־הָעָם לֵאמֹר כִּרְאוֹתְכֶם אֵת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם נֹשְׂאִים אֹתוֹ וְאַתֶּם תִּסְעוּ מִמְּקוֹמְכֶם וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו׃ 4 אַךְ רָחוֹק יִהְיֶה בֵּינֵיכֶם וּ[בינו]ֹ כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה בַּמִּדָּה אַל־תִּקְרְבוּ אֵלָיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּדְעוּ אֶת־הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ־בָהּ כִּי לֹא עֲבַרְתֶּם בַּדֶּרֶךְ מִתְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 1
שׁכם verb (Hiphil): “rise early”
שׁטים name (0f place): “Shittim”
ירדן name (of place): “Jordan (River)”
לון verb: “remain, stop”
טרם “before” (BDB, 382)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

The clause, וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן הוּא וְכָל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, has the typology (i.e. sentence structure) verb—modifier—subject phrase, where “he and all the sons of Israel” is the compound subject.

Verse 2
קצה “end”
שטר “official” (BDB, 1009)
קרב “midst, middle”
Verse 3
ארון ברית construct phrase: “ark of the covenant”
לוים name: “Levites”
Verse 4
רחוך “distance”
תמול שׁלשׁום “previously, formerly” (BDB, 1069)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

Elapsed time in a narrative is commonly marked by a waw-consecutive imperfect (root היה).

Verse 3

The preposition, כְּ, is being used to initial a temporal clause, i.e. “when.”
The 3ms suffixes (אֹתוֹ, אַחֲרָיו) refer to the ark.

Verse 4

The phrase, בין … בין, should be understood as between ___ and ___ .
Qere: וּבֵינָיו.
The phrase, כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה בַּמִּדָּה, is understood as a measurement (“like by measure a thousand cubits”).
The article ה can be understood as “the” or even “this” (בַּדֶּרֶךְ “on this path/way before”).

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation article narrative measurement preposition ki typology suffix Kethib Qere

Friday's Translation (Genesis 14)

2006-01-13T10:27:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (14:13-17): Font

וַיָּבֹא֙ הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְרָ֣ם הָעִבְרִ֑י וְהוּא֩ שֹׁכֵ֨ן בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י מַמְרֵ֣א הָאֱמֹרִ֗י אֲחִ֤י אֶשְׁכֹּל֙ וַאֲחִ֣י עָנֵ֔ר וְהֵ֖ם בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְרִית־אַבְרָֽם׃ 14 וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אָחִ֑יו וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ שְׁמֹנָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף עַד־דָּֽן׃ 15 וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃ 16 וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט אָחִ֤יו וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ הֵשִׁ֔יב וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעָֽם׃ 17 וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒ אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדָר־לָעֹ֔מֶר וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֶל־עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 13
פליט noun: “fugitive” (BDB, 812)
אלון noun: “tree, terebinth” (BDB, 18)
ממרא name: “Mamre”
אשׁכל name: “Eshcol”
ענר name: “Aner”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The word, הָעִבְרִ֑י, is in apposition to the proper name “Abram.” Notice the use of the gentilic suffix. Also, this marks the first occurrence of the word Hebrew in the MT.
-The beth preposition is functioning as a locative (i.e. “at,” “by”).
-See this page for a description and some good pictures of the terebinth tree mentioned in this verse.
-The final clause is a verbless clause with the typology S—PN.
-The idiom, בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְרִית־אַבְרָֽם (lit. “owners of a covenant with Abram”), means “to have an alliance with” or “to be allied to.”

Verse 14
שׁבה verb (Niphal): “be taken captive” (BDB, 985)
ריק verb (Hiphil): “lead forth” (BDB, 937)
חניך “trained, experienced” (BDB, 335)
יליך “born” (BDB, 409)
דן name: “Dan”
Verse 15
חלק verb: “divided”
חובה name: “Hobah”
שמאל “left, left of”
דמשק name: “Damascus”
Verse 16
רכושׁ “property” (BDB, 940)
Verse 17
אמק noun: “valley”
שׁוה name: “Shaveh”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 14
-The term, אח, can mean more than a brother. It can also refer to a step-brother or even a close relative.
-The preposition, עד, is used to designate progress or duration as in “until, unto.”
Verse 15
-The phrase, ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו, is left fronted.
-The word, לַ֛יְלָה, is functioning as an adverb, “by night” or “at night”
-The basic orientation of the Ancient Near East was eastward, the direction from which the sun rose. The temples were pointed in this direction (i.e. the front gates opened east). If you are facing east and something is “left,” then it is to the north. Likewise, “right” would be south, and “behind” west.
Verse 17
-The entire phrase, אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדָר־לָעֹ֔מֶר וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ, is a temporal prepositional phrase.

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation gentilic suffix apposition verbless clause beth preposition terebinth idiom fronting adverb direction

The Divine Name Revealed. But When?

2006-01-12T19:53:00.000-05:00

There is much scholarly debate concerning when the divine name, or Tetragrammaton, was given to the people of God. Some contend that Exodus chapter three represents the inauguration of the self-revelation of God’s proper name; whereas, others argue that the name was revealed earlier in the history of mankind. Although the debate may not be solvable in this summary posting, a précis of the two main opinions is appropriately coordinated with the DH readings from Exodus chapter 3 (available here and here). The central text is Exodus 6:2-3, which says:

וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 3 וָאֵרָא אֶל־אַבְרָהָם אֶל־יִצְחָק וְאֶל־יַעֲקֹב בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם׃

God spoke with Moses, saying to him: “I am YHWH. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but by my name, YHWH, I did not make myself known to them.” (Author’s translation)

The first hypothesis maintains that the divine name was made known first in the Book of Exodus when YHWH revealed himself to Moses. This argument asserts that the revealed name of God was El Shaddai before the Exodus and YHWH after the Exodus. This understanding easily explains why YHWH was unknown to Pharaoh in Exodus 5:2. The Hebrews could not make known the divine name to Pharaoh if it had not been revealed previously to them. Thus, one of the purposes of the Exodus event was to reveal the divine name not only to the Hebrews but to make it known to the Egyptians (Exodus 7:5).

Conversely, another claim is that the divine name was known by the people of God prior to the Exodus account. In favor of this acumen are several rationales ranging from direct references to Yahweh in the Book of Genesis to the Yahwistic element in Moses’ mother’s name, Jochebed (Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59). What then of the clear statement in Exodus 6:2-3? The favored interpretation of this text is not that YHWH did not let His name be known at all, but only that the significance of the divine name as a symbol of deliverance was not known by his people. This problem appears to be irreconcilable with the current information as both arguments have difficulties and advantages.

Any thoughts? Evidence for one side or the other?

For further study see R.W. Moberly, The Old Testament of the Old Testament: Patriarchal Narratives and Mosaic Yahwehism (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992) 5-78; or for a more specific overview of these arguments see B. S. Childs, Exodus (London: SCM, 1974). Also, U. Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Genesis, 2 vols., translated by Israel Abrahams (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1989).

UPDATE: The excellent, inimitable Better Bibles Blog has mentioned this article along with several other worthy article. Check out the other resources here.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew divine name Tetragrammaton YHWH

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 4)

2006-01-12T13:06:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (4:4-8): Font

וְאַתָּ֤ה שְׁכַב֙ עַל־צִדְּךָ֣ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔י וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ אֶת־עֲוֹ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו מִסְפַּ֤ר הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עָלָ֔יו תִּשָּׂ֖א אֶת־עֲוֹנָֽם׃ 5 וַאֲנִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּֽי לְךָ֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י עֲוֹנָ֔ם לְמִסְפַּ֣ר יָמִ֔ים שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת וְתִשְׁעִ֖ים י֑וֹם וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ עֲוֹ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 6 וְכִלִּיתָ֣ אֶת־אֵ֗לֶּה וְשָׁ֨כַבְתָּ֜ עַל־צִדְּךָ֤ [הַיְמוֹנִי] שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן בֵּית־יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם י֧וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֛ה י֥וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֖ה נְתַתִּ֥יו לָֽךְ׃ 7 וְאֶל־מְצ֤וֹר יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ תָּכִ֣ין פָּנֶ֔יךָ וּֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ חֲשׂוּפָ֑ה וְנִבֵּאתָ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 8 וְהִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי עָלֶ֖יךָ עֲבוֹתִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־תֵהָפֵ֤ךְ מִֽצִּדְּךָ֙ אֶל־צִדֶּ֔ךָ עַד־כַּלּוֹתְךָ֖ יְמֵ֥י מְצוּרֶֽךָ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 4
שׁכב verb (Qal imperative): “lie down”
צד “side” (BDB, 841)
שמאלי “on the left” (BDB, 970)
מספר noun: “number”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The phrase, מִסְפַּר הַיָּמִים, is an adverbial modifier. Parallel to the following verse, it could be translated “according to the number of days.”
-The 3mpl suffix, ם ָ, refers to בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל. Sometimes a plural suffix refers to a singular referent if the referent is made up of multiple individuals.

Verse 6
צד “side” (BDB, 841)
ימני “right hand” (BDB, 412)
Verse 7
מצור noun: “siege” (BDB, 848)
חשף verb (Qal participle fs): “strip, lay bare” (BDB, 362)
Verse 8
עבת “rope, cord” (BDB, 721)
הפך verb: “turn”
צד “side” (BDB, 841)
מצור noun: “siege” (BDB, 848)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 6
-Qere: הַיְמָנִי.
-The repetition of the phrase, יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה “a day for a year,” should be understood properly as a distributive usage (i.e. “every, all”). This exact phrase is found in Numbers 14:34.
Verse 7
-The syntax of the phrase, וּֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ חֲשׂוּפָ֑ה (found in Isaiah 52:10), is difficult to understand. Is it a part of the previous phrase (RSV, NASB, ESV, JPS) or an independent verbless clause (KJV, NKJV) or a dependent phrase attached to the following clause (NRS, NIV)? The accent, ‘athnah (a strong disjunctive accent), makes the last of the three readings nearly impossible and the second unlikely.
Verse 8
-The form, עֲבוֹתִ֑ים, is written with plene spelling (i.e. with a historically long vowel or “full” spelling).

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation repetition adverb pronominal suffix Kethib Qere plene accent system

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 3)

2006-01-11T14:57:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:6-10): Font

וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב וַיַּסְתֵּר מֹשֶׁה פָּנָיו כִּי יָרֵא מֵהַבִּיט אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים׃ 7 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה רָאֹה רָאִיתִי אֶת־עֳנִי עַמִּי אֲשֶׁר בְּמִצְרָיִם וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי מִפְּנֵי נֹגְשָׂיו כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת־מַכְאֹבָיו׃ 8 וָאֵרֵד לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ מִן־הָאָרֶץ הַהִוא אֶל־אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה אֶל־אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ אֶל־מְקוֹם הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי׃ 9 וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה צַעֲקַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָה אֵלָי וְגַם־רָאִיתִי אֶת־הַלַּחַץ אֲשֶׁר מִצְרַיִם לֹחֲצִים אֹתָם׃ 10 וְעַתָּה לְכָה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וְהוֹצֵא אֶת־עַמִּי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 6
יצחק name: “Isaac”
יעקב name: “Jacob”
סתר verb (Hiphil): “hide from, conceal”
נבט verb: “look upon”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-Each “the God of” construct phrase is in apposition to the predicate nominative, אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ, of the first verbless clause (S—PN).

Verse 7
עני “affliction” (BDB, 777)
צעקה “cry of distress” (BDB, 858)
נגשׁ “taskmaster” (BDB, 620)
מכאוב “pain” (BDB, 456)
Verse 8
נצל verb (Niphal): “be delivered, deliver oneself”
רחב “wide, broad, spacious” (BDB, 932)
זוב verb: “flow” (BDB, 264)
חלב “milk” (BDB, 316)
דבשׁ “honey”
כנעני name: “Canaanite”
חתי name: “Hittite”
אמרי name: “Amorite”
פרזי name: “Perizzite”
חוי name: “Hivite”
יבוסי name: “Jebusite”
Verse 9
צעקה “cry of distress” (BDB, 858)
לחץ verb: “oppress” (BDB, 537)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7
-Infinitive absolute plus finite verb, רָאֹה רָאִיתִי, emphasizes the verb “I have surely seen.”
Verse 8
-The gentilic ending is used to indicate a class (or race) of people.
Verse 10
-The same word, מצרים, used for the people of Egypt in verse 9 is used for the land of Egypt in verse 10. Context is the determining factor.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation apposition infinitive absolute gentilic ending

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2006-01-10T07:34:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:22-26): Font

וְעֵלִי זָקֵן מְאֹד וְשָׁמַע אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּן בָּנָיו לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁכְּבוּן אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים הַצֹּבְאוֹת פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃ 23 וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם לָמָּה תַעֲשׂוּן כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ אֶת־דִּבְרֵיכֶם רָעִים מֵאֵת כָּל־הָעָם אֵלֶּה׃ 24 אַל בָּנָי כִּי לוֹא־טוֹבָה הַשְּׁמֻעָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ מַעֲבִרִים עַם־יְהוָה׃ 25 אִם־יֶחֱטָא אִישׁ לְאִישׁ וּפִלְלוֹ אֱלֹהִים וְאִם לַיהוָה יֶחֱטָא־אִישׁ מִי יִתְפַּלֶּל־לוֹ וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ לְקוֹל אֲבִיהֶם כִּי־חָפֵץ יְהוָה לַהֲמִיתָם׃ 26 וְהַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל הֹלֵךְ וְגָדֵל וָטוֹב גַּם עִם־יְהוָה וְגַם עִם־אֲנָשִׁים׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 22
זקן “old” (BDB, 278)
שׁכב verb: “lay with” (as in copulation)
צבא verb: “serve” (BDB, 838)
אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד “tent of meeting” (=tabernacle)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The final nun at the end of יַעֲשׂוּן is called a paragogic nun (see here for a description of the difference between paragogic and energic nun). There is little definitive information on the function or usage of this phenomenon.
-The first clause is verbless with the sentence typology S—PN.
-The two phrases initiated by the direct object marks together form a compound object.

Verse 24
שׁמועה “report” (BDB, 1035)
Verse 25
פלל verb: “pray, mediate”
חפץ verb: “delight in, take pleasure”
Verse 26
גדל “becoming great” (BDB, 152)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 23
-The word, מאת, is a compound of מן “from” and את “with.”
Verse 24
-The verbless clause, לוֹא־טוֹבָה הַשְּׁמֻעָה, is of the typology PN—S.
-The noun, בָּנָי, is a vocative of address.
Verse 25
-The two-part condition is set up by אם “if” clauses.
Verse 26
-The waw plus non-verb indicates a break in the narrative and a parenthetical note.

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause vocative if clauses energic nun compound object

Monday's Translation (Joshua 2)

2006-01-09T10:40:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:21-24): Font

וַתֹּאמֶר כְּדִבְרֵיכֶם כֶּן־הוּא וַתְּשַׁלְּחֵם וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַתִּקְשֹׁר אֶת־תִּקְוַת הַשָּׁנִי בַּחַלּוֹן׃ 22 וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ הָהָרָה וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים עַד־שָׁבוּ הָרֹדְפִים וַיְבַקְשׁוּ הָרֹדְפִים בְּכָל־הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלֹא מָצָאוּ׃ 23 וַיָּשֻׁבוּ שְׁנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּרְדוּ מֵהָהָר וַיַּעַבְרוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן וַיְסַפְּרוּ־לוֹ אֵת כָּל־הַמֹּצְאוֹת אוֹתָם׃ 24 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כִּי־נָתַן יְהוָה בְּיָדֵנוּ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ וְגַם־נָמֹגוּ כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפָּנֵינוּ׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 21
קשׁר verb: “bind” (BDB, 905)
תקוה noun: “cord” (BDB, 876)
שׁני “scarlet” (BDB, 1040)
חלון “window” (BDB, 319)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The preposition כ is functioning as “according to.”
-The verbless clause, כֶּן־הוּא, can be understood as “It will be so [thus].”

Verse 22
רדפ participle (Qal masculine plural): “pursuers”
Verse 23
נון name (of person): “Nun”
ספר verb (Piel imperfect 3mpl): “recount, report”
Verse 24
מוג verb (Niphal): “melt away” (BDB, 556)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 22
-The participle, הָרֹדְפִים, is a substantive.
-The verb, בקשׁ “to seek,” only occurs in the Piel (and Pual) stem.
Verse 23
-The participle, הַמֹּצְאוֹת, is a substantive translated as “those things found out.”
Verse 24
-The idiom, “all the inhabitants of the land have melted before us,” means they have become disparaged, helpless, or fearful.
-The word, פנה (plural פנים), has a wide range of usage from meaning “face” to the front of something to the presence of a person(s). See BDB 816 for further usages.

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause substantive kaf preposition idiom

Friday's Translation (Genesis 14)

2006-01-06T10:01:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (14:8-12): Font

וַיֵּצֵא מֶלֶךְ־סְדֹם וּמֶלֶךְ עֲמֹרָה וּמֶלֶךְ אַדְמָה וּמֶלֶךְ [צְבוֹיִם] וּמֶלֶךְ בֶּלַע הִוא־צֹעַר וַיַּעַרְכוּ אִתָּם מִלְחָמָה בְּעֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּים׃ 9 אֵת כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר מֶלֶךְ עֵילָם וְתִדְעָל מֶלֶךְ גּוֹיִם וְאַמְרָפֶל מֶלֶךְ שִׁנְעָר וְאַרְיוֹךְ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּסָר אַרְבָּעָה מְלָכִים אֶת־הַחֲמִשָּׁה׃ 10 וְעֵמֶק הַשִׂדִּים בֶּאֱרֹת בֶּאֱרֹת חֵמָר וַיָּנֻסוּ מֶלֶךְ־סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה וַיִּפְּלוּ־שָׁמָּה וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים הֶרָה נָּסוּ׃ 11 וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־כָּל־רְכֻשׁ סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה וְאֶת־כָּל־אָכְלָם וַיֵּלֵכוּ׃ 12 וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־לוֹט וְאֶת־רְכֻשׁוֹ בֶּן־אֲחִי אַבְרָם וַיֵּלֵכוּ וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב בִּסְדֹם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 8
סדם name: “Sodom”
עמרה name (of place): “Gomorrah”
אדמה name (of place): “Admah”
צבוים name (of place): “Zeboiim”
בלע name (of place): “Bela”
צער name (of place): “Zoar”
שדים name (of place): “Siddim”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-Qere: צְבֹיִים.
-The verbless clause, הִוא־צֹעַר, is a renaming of the city Bala (“that is Zoar”). The feminine pronoun is used because the referent is a city (cities in Hebrew are feminine; much like ships in English are feminine [e.g. The U.S.S. Ronald Regan is a large vessel; she is an aircraft carrier]).

Verse 9
כדרלעמר name (of person): “Chedorlaomer”
עילם name (of place): “Elam”
תדעל name (of person): “Tidal
גוים name (of place): “Goiim”
אמרפל name (of person): “Amraphel”
שׁנער name (of place): “Shinar”
אריוך name (of person): “Arioch”
אלסר name (of place): “Ellasar”
Verse 10
עמק noun: “valley, vale”
שדים name (of place): “Siddim”
באר noun: “pit” (BDB, 91)
חמר noun: “asphalt” (BDB, 330)
Verse 11
רכושׁ plene noun: “property” (BDB, 940)
אכל noun: “food” (BDB, 38)
Verse 12
רכושׁ “property” (BDB, 940)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 9
-The direct object marker is used as the preposition “against.”
-Remember Shinar is an archaic appellation for Assyria (cf. Genesis 10:10, 11:2; Joshua 7:21; Daniel 1:2; Zechariah 5:11).
Verse 10
-The repetition of the term, באר, is used hyperbolically to mean an overwhelming amount (GKC 123 e)
-The participle, וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים, is a substantive (i.e. functions as a noun, “those surviving”)
Verse 12
-The final (periphrastic) clause, וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב בִּסְדֹם, is a good example of a disjunction waw indicating a “parenthetical” comment.

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause direct object renaming Kethib Qere substantive participle repetition disjunctive waw Shinar

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 4)

2006-01-05T07:10:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (4:1-3): Font

וְאַתָּה בֶן־אָדָם קַח־לְךָ לְבֵנָה וְנָתַתָּה אוֹתָהּ לְפָנֶיךָ וְחַקּוֹתָ עָלֶיהָ עִיר אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃ 2 וְנָתַתָּה עָלֶיהָ מָצוֹר וּבָנִיתָ עָלֶיהָ דָּיֵק וְשָׁפַכְתָּ עָלֶיהָ סֹלְלָה וְנָתַתָּה עָלֶיהָ מַחֲנוֹת וְשִׂים־עָלֶיהָ כָּרִים סָבִיב׃ 3 וְאַתָּה קַח־לְךָ מַחֲבַת בַּרְזֶל וְנָתַתָּה אוֹתָהּ קִיר בַּרְזֶל בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין הָעִיר וַהֲכִינֹתָה אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ אֵלֶיהָ וְהָיְתָה בַמָּצוֹר וְצַרְתָּ עָלֶיהָ אוֹת הִיא לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 1
לבנה “brick” (BDB, 527)
חקק verb: “inscribe, engrave” (BDB, 349)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-Jerusalem, the name of the city, is appositional to the word for city. The direct object marker demonstrates the grammatical position of the proper noun.

Verse 2
מצור noun: “siege” (BDB, 848)
דיק “siege wall” (BDB, 189)
סללה “mound” (BDB, 700)
כר “battering ram” (BDB, 305)
Verse 3
מחבת “plate” (BDB, 290)
רזל “iron”
קיר “wall”
מצור “siege” (BDB, 848)
צור verb: “besiege” (BDB, 848)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2
-The verbal combination of נתן with מצור is unique to the MT. Elsewhere, the second verb, בנה “build,” is used (Deut 20:20, 28:53, 57; 2 Chron 11:5, 14:5; Zech 9:3). This may be a poetic device, or word pair.
-The word, סָבִיב, is functioning as an adverb describing the placement of the siegecraft.
Verse 3
-The use of בין… בין means “between ___ and ___.”
-The final clause, אוֹת הִיא לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל, is verbless with the typology P[אוֹת]—S[הִיא]—M[לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל].

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause typology apposition idiom poetic device word pair

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 3)

2006-01-04T07:08:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:1-5): Font

וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת־צֹאן יִתְרוֹ חֹתְנוֹ כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן וַיִּנְהַג אֶת־הַצֹּאן אַחַר הַמִּדְבָּר וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה׃ 2 וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהוָֹה אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת־אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל׃ 3 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אָסֻרָה־נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶה הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה מַדּוּעַ לֹא־יִבְעַר הַסְּנֶה׃ 4 וַיַּרְא יְהוָה כִּי סָר לִרְאוֹת וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו אֱלֹהִים מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי׃ 5 וַיֹּאמֶר אַל־תִּקְרַב הֲלֹם שַׁל־נְעָלֶיךָ מֵעַל רַגְלֶיךָ כִּי הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹמֵד עָלָיו אַדְמַת־קֹדֶשׁ הוּא׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1
יתרו name: “Jethro”
חתן “father-in-law” (BDB, 368)
מדין name (of place): “Midian”
נהג verb: “drive” (BDB, 624)
חרבה name (of place): “Horeb”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The first clause uses a periphrastic verbal construction (GKC 116 r).
-The bound phrase, כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן, is in apposition to the proper noun, Jethro.
-The apposition in this clause is abnormal. Typically, the place name is given first followed by the descriptive phrase (e.g. חֹרֵבָה הַר הָאֱלֹהִים); however, it is reversed in this example, הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה.
-Notice how the narrative is continued utilizing the waw-consecutive imperfect forms and the same subject, Moses.

Verse 2
לבה noun: “flame” (BDB, 529)
סנה “thorn bush (blackberry bush)” (BDB, 702)
Verse 3
סור verb: “turn aside”
Verse 5
הלם “here, hither” (BDB, 240)
נשׁל verb (Qal imperative): “draw off” (BDB, 675)
נעל “sandal” (BDB, 653)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2
-Notice the slight morphological variance between וַיֵּרָא (Niphal) and וַיַּרְא (Qal).
-The periphrastic construction with beth preposition, בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ “[was] burning with fire,” is found elsewhere in the Pentateuch (Deut. 4:11; 5:23; 9:15).
Verse 5
-The prefix form with the negative, אַל־תִּקְרַב, is jussive (GKC 109 c).
-The final clause, אַדְמַת־קֹדֶשׁ הוּא, is a verbless clause of the form P—S.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation apposition verbless clause periphrastic waw

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2006-01-03T09:59:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:18-21): Font

וּשְׁמוּאֵל מְשָׁרֵת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה נַעַר חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד׃ 19 וּמְעִיל קָטֹן תַּעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ אִמּוֹ וְהַעַלְתָה לוֹ מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה בַּעֲלוֹתָהּ אֶת־אִישָׁהּ לִזְבֹּחַ אֶת־זֶבַח הַיָּמִים׃ 20 וּבֵרַךְ עֵלִי אֶת־אֶלְקָנָה וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאָמַר יָשֵׂם יְהוָה לְךָ זֶרַע מִן־הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת תַּחַת הַשְּׁאֵלָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁאַל לַיהוָה וְהָלְכוּ לִמְקֹמוֹ׃ 21 כִּי־פָקַד יְהוָה אֶת־חַנָּה וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שְׁלֹשָׁה־בָנִים וּשְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל עִם־יְהוָה׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 18
שׁרת verb (Piel participle): “minister”
חגר verb (Qal passive participle: “gird” (BDB, 291)
אפוד noun: “ephod, priestly garment” (BDB, 65)
בד “white linen” (BDB, 94)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The first clause, וּשְׁמוּאֵל מְשָׁרֵת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה, is a periphrastic construction with the object marked by את.
-Notice the disjunctive waw (waw+nonverb) which marks a break in the narrative.
-The exact phrase, אפוד בד, is used only in Samuel and Chronicles (1 Samuel 22:18 [worn by the priests Doeg the Edomite killed], 2 Sam 6:14 [David’s ark dance], 1 Chronicles 15:27 [description of David’s garments when the ark returned to Jerusalem; parallel to 2 Samuel 6]); מכנסי בד is found in Leviticus and Exodus as descriptive of this priestly undergarment.

Verse 19
מעיל noun: “robe” (BDB, 591)
קטן “small”
Verse 20
שׁאלה “thing/one asked for” (BDB, 982)
Verse 21
חנה name: “Hannah”
הרה verb: “to conceive” (BDB, 247)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 19
-The typology (i.e. sentence order of syntactic units) of the first clause is O—V—IO—S.
-The temporal idiom, מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה, is used to mean “regularly” or “yearly,” distributive usage (cf. 1 Sam 1:3; Exodus 13:10; Judges 11:40, 21:19).
-The beth preposition is used temporally “when.”
Verse 20
-Notice the parallel with this verse and Genesis 4:25—the promise of a replacement for a lost son.
Verse 21
-The final he of the waw-consecutive imperfect verb, הרה, is apocopated (lost due to the retraction of stress).
-The name Samuel is in apposition to the word, child, הַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל.

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation idiom beth apocopation apposition disjunctive waw periphrastic

Monday's Translation (Joshua 2)

2006-01-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:17-20): Font

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ הָאֲנָשִׁים נְקִיִּם אֲנַחְנוּ מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵךְ הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ׃ 18 הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ בָאִים בָּאָרֶץ אֶת־תִּקְוַת חוּט הַשָּׁנִי הַזֶּה תִּקְשְׁרִי בַּחַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר הוֹרַדְתֵּנוּ בוֹ וְאֶת־אָבִיךְ וְאֶת־אִמֵּךְ וְאֶת־אַחַיִךְ וְאֵת כָּל־בֵּית אָבִיךְ תַּאַסְפִי אֵלַיִךְ הַבָּיְתָה׃ 19 וְהָיָה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא מִדַּלְתֵי בֵיתֵךְ הַחוּצָה דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשׁוֹ וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְקִיִּם וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה אִתָּךְ בַּבַּיִת דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשֵׁנוּ אִם־יָד תִּהְיֶה־בּוֹ׃ 20 וְאִם־תַּגִּידִי אֶת־דְּבָרֵנוּ זֶה וְהָיִינוּ נְקִיִּם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 17
נקי adjective: “free from, exempt from obligations” (BDB, 667)
שׁבת verb (Hiphil perfect 2fs with 1cpl suffix): “swear”
שׁבועה noun: “oath” (BDB, 989)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The quotation is a verbless clause.
-The final relative clause is הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ “that which you swore to us.”

Verse 18
תקוה noun: “cord” (BDB, 876)
חוט noun: “thread” (BDB, 296)
שׁני “scarlet” (BDB, 1040)
קשׁר verb: “bind” (BDB, 905)
חלון noun: “window” (BDB, 319)
Verse 19
נקי adjective: “free from” (BDB, 667)
דלת “door”
Verse 20
שׁבועה noun: “oath” (BDB, 989)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 18
-The second feminine imperfect verbs, תִּקְשְׁרִי and תַּאַסְפִי, function as future instructions (commands) for the woman to bind and gather.
Verse 19
-The oath formula contrasts two results: דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשׁוֹ (death) or דָּמוֹ בְרֹאשֵׁנוּ (life).

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause oath formula quotation

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2005-12-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:11-17): Font

וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶלְקָנָה הָרָמָתָה עַל־בֵּיתוֹ וְהַנַּעַר הָיָה מְשָׁרֵת אֶת־יְהוָה אֶת־פְּנֵי עֵלִי הַכֹּהֵן׃ 12 וּבְנֵי עֵלִי בְּנֵי בְלִיָּעַל לֹא יָדְעוּ אֶת־יְהוָה׃ 13 וּמִשְׁפַּט הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת־הָעָם כָּל־אִישׁ זֹבֵחַ זֶבַח וּבָא נַעַר הַכֹּהֵן כְּבַשֵּׁל הַבָּשָׂר וְהַמַּזְלֵג שְׁלֹשׁ־הַשִּׁנַּיִם בְּיָדוֹ׃ 14 וְהִכָּה בַכִּיּוֹר אוֹ בַדּוּד אוֹ בַקַּלַּחַת אוֹ בַפָּרוּר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה הַמַּזְלֵג יִקַּח הַכֹּהֵן בּוֹ כָּכָה יַעֲשׂוּ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל הַבָּאִים שָׁם בְּשִׁלֹה׃ 15 גַּם בְּטֶרֶם יַקְטִרוּן אֶת־הַחֵלֶב וּבָא נַעַר הַכֹּהֵן וְאָמַר לָאִישׁ הַזֹּבֵחַ תְּנָה בָשָׂר לִצְלוֹת לַכֹּהֵן וְלֹא־יִקַּח מִמְּךָ בָּשָׂר מְבֻשָּׁל כִּי אִם־חָי׃ 16 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הָאִישׁ קַטֵּר יַקְטִירוּן כַּיּוֹם הַחֵלֶב וְקַח־לְךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר תְּאַוֶּה נַפְשֶׁךָ וְאָמַר [לוֹ] כִּי עַתָּה תִתֵּן וְאִם־לֹא לָקַחְתִּי בְחָזְקָה׃ 17 וַתְּהִי חַטַּאת הַנְּעָרִים גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה כִּי נִאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים אֵת מִנְחַת יְהוָה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 11
הרמתה name (of place): “Ramath”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The verbal construction found in the second clause, הָיָה מְשָׁרֵת, is called a periphrastic construction. It combines the verb, “to be,” with a participle to form a finite verb. Many times in Hebrew the “to be” verb is not present, but implied. In English, the “to be” verb is called a “linking verb.”
-The last noun of the verse, הַכֹּהֵן, is in apposition to the previous name, עֵלִי.

Verse 12
בלטעל “worthlessness, good for nothing” (BDB, 116)
Verse 13
בשׁל verb: “boil” (BDB, 143)
מזלג noun: “fork” (BDB, 272)
שׁן noun: “tooth”
Verse 14
כיור “pot” (BDB, 468)
דוד “kettle” (BDB, 188)
קלחת “caldron” (BDB, 886)
פרור “pot” (BDB, 807)
מזלג “fork” (BDB, 272)
ככה “thus” (BDB, 462)
Verse 15
בטרם “before” (BDB, 382)
חלך “fat”
קטר “burn”
בשׁל verb: “boil” (BDB, 143)
צלה verb: “roast” (BDB, 852)
Verse 16
אוה verb: “desire” (BDB, 16)
הזקה “force” (BDB, 308)
Verse 17
נאץ verb: “spurn” (BDB, 610)
מנחת noun: “offering”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 12
-The first clause, וּבְנֵי עֵלִי בְּנֵי בְלִיָּעַל, is a verbless clause of the form S—P.
-In Hebrew, the expression, “a son of,” normally in construct to a following noun means idiomatically “to have the characteristics of.” Therefore, a sacrificial bull is said to be “a son of the herd,” or Abraham is “a son of one hundred years.”
-Notice also the clear pun using the assonance between the Eli’s name, עלי, and the word for worthlessness, בליעל.
Verse 13
-The person called נַעַר הַכֹּהֵן is not a son of Eli, but a servant of Eli’s sons, who are referred to as the priests in the first part of the verse. Eli’s sons are not called נער until verse 17.
Verse 14
-A relative clause can function in conjunction with fronting to heighten, or emphasize, a part of the clause. See כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה הַמַּזְלֵג.
-The word, הַבָּאִים, is a substantive participle.
Verse 15
-The word, יַקְטִרוּן, demonstrates the so-called “energic nun.” The form and function of which is unknown.
Verse 16
-The clause should be understood as a negative; thus לו should not be understood as the lamed preposition and 3ms pronominal suffix, but as the negative—Qere לֹא.

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation fronting lamed verbless clause energic nun periphrastic apposition pun idiom Kethib Qere substantive participle “a son of” relative

Monday's Translation (Joshua 2)

2005-12-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:14-16): Font

וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהּ הָאֲנָשִׁים נַפְשֵׁנוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם לָמוּת אִם לֹא תַגִּידוּ אֶת־דְּבָרֵנוּ זֶה וְהָיָה בְּתֵת־יְהוָה לָנוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְעָשִׂינוּ עִמָּךְ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת׃ 15 וַתּוֹרִדֵם בַּחֶבֶל בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן כִּי בֵיתָהּ בְּקִיר הַחוֹמָה וּבַחוֹמָה הִיא יוֹשָׁבֶת׃ 16 וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הָהָרָה לֵּכוּ פֶּן־יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם הָרֹדְפִים וְנַחְבֵּתֶם שָׁמָּה שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים עַד שׁוֹב הָרֹדְפִים וְאַחַר תֵּלְכוּ לְדַרְכְּכֶם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 14
תחת “below, under, instead of”
נגד verb (Hiphil): “tell”
בתת verb (+ preposition): “give”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The inseparable preposition and 3fs suffix, לה, refers to the woman, Rahab.
-The quotation begins with an oath formula, נַפְשֵׁנוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם לָמוּת.
-The preposition beth is used as a temporal marker with היה.
-The final clause עָשִׂינוּ עִמָּךְ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת is idiomatic: “We will make with you loving-kindness (חסד) and truth (אמת).”

Verse 15
חבל “cord, rope” (BDB, 286)
חלון “window” (BDB, 319)
חומה “wall”
Verse 16
פצע verb: “fall upon” (BDB, 803)
רדפ “pursuers”
נחבא verb: “hide yourself” (BDB, 285)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 15
-Fronting the prepositional phrase (“By/alongside the wall”) relates the last clause, וּבַחוֹמָה הִיא יוֹשָׁבֶת, to the clause prior to it. One might call it “resumptive fronting.”
Verse 16
-The order of the quotation is based on a command clause (הָהָרָה לֵּכוּ) followed by the grounds for the command (פֶּן־יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם הָרֹדְפִים).
-The last clauses follow a hypothetical sequential order marked by the copulative (“thus” ו), preposition (“until” עד), and copulative/preposition (“then afterwards” ואחר).

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation sequencing quotation fronting beth oath formula idiom

No More Vowel Shifts

2005-12-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Some DH readers have complained that the vowels in the Hebrew text are shifting left of the consonants. This problem seems to be unique to Firefox.

Stephen has a patch to fix the “vowel shifting” problem in Firefox and other Mozilla based programs. Go here for details.

UPDATE
This fix is for version 1.0.6 and beta version 1.6. I have tested the 1.0.6 version, and it works wonderfully; however, I have not tried the beta.

Also, I am compiling a "Best of Hebrew Study Tools" post. Please help by add to the comments your most prized tool, and we can be envious of one another this holiday season!

File under: Biblical Hebrew Firefox fix

Friday's Translation (Genesis 14)

2005-12-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

As I am traveling this weekend and marking papers for final grades, please excuse the tardiness of the Genesis 14 vocabulary and syntax helps. It will be posted later in the weekend. Sorry for the delay. -WERBEH

Hebrew Text (14:1-6): Font

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל מֶלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָר אַרְיוֹךְ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּסָר כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר מֶלֶךְ עֵילָם וְתִדְעָל מֶלֶךְ גּוֹיִם׃ 2 עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה אֶת־בֶּרַע מֶלֶךְ סְדֹם וְאֶת־בִּרְשַׁע מֶלֶךְ עֲמֹרָה שִׁנְאָב מֶלֶךְ אַדְמָה וְשֶׁמְאֵבֶר מֶלֶךְ [צְבֹיִים] וּמֶלֶךְ בֶּלַע הִיא־צֹעַר׃ 3 כָּל־אֵלֶּה חָבְרוּ אֶל־עֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּים הוּא יָם הַמֶּלַח׃ 4 שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה עָבְדוּ אֶת־כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה מָרָדוּ׃ 5 וּבְאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה בָּא כְדָרְלָעֹמֶר וְהַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־רְפָאִים בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם וְאֶת־הַזּוּזִים בְּהָם וְאֵת הָאֵימִים בְּשָׁוֵה קִרְיָתָיִם׃ 6 וְאֶת־הַחֹרִי בְּהַרְרָם שֵׂעִיר עַד אֵיל פָּארָן אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּדְבָּר׃ 7 וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־עֵין מִשְׁפָּט הִוא קָדֵשׁ וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־כָּל־שְׂדֵה הָעֲמָלֵקִי וְגַם אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִי הַיֹּשֵׁב בְּחַצְצֹן תָּמָר׃

Vocabulary
Verse 1-7
There are many names in this passage.

Syntax & Miscellaneous
Verse 2
-Qere: צְבוֹיִים.

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 3)

2005-12-15T08:57:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:22-27): Font

וַתְּהִי עָלַי שָׁם יַד־יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי קוּם צֵא אֶל־הַבִּקְעָה וְשָׁם אֲדַבֵּר אוֹתָךְ׃ 23 וָאָקוּם וָאֵצֵא אֶל־הַבִּקְעָה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁם כְּבוֹד־יְהוָה עֹמֵד כַּכָּבוֹד אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָר וָאֶפֹּל עַל־פָּנָי׃ 24 וַתָּבֹא־בִי רוּחַ וַתַּעֲמִדֵנִי עַל־רַגְלָי וַיְדַבֵּר אֹתִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֹּא הִסָּגֵר בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ׃ 25 וְאַתָּה בֶן־אָדָם הִנֵּה נָתְנוּ עָלֶיךָ עֲבוֹתִים וַאֲסָרוּךָ בָּהֶם וְלֹא תֵצֵא בְּתוֹכָם׃ 26 וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ אַדְבִּיק אֶל־חִכֶּךָ וְנֶאֱלַמְתָּ וְלֹא־תִהְיֶה לָהֶם לְאִישׁ מוֹכִיחַ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה׃ 27 וּבְדַבְּרִי אוֹתְךָ אֶפְתַּח אֶת־פִּיךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִֹה הַשֹּׁמֵעַ יִשְׁמָע וְהֶחָדֵל יֶחְדָּל כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 22
בקעה noun: “plain” (BDB, 132)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The double command in the second clause, קוּם צֵא, does not use a copulative; whereas the fulfillment of the command in verse 23 connects the finite verbs with a waw. This phenomenon occurs in other places particularly with imperatives.

Verse 23
כבר name: “Chebar (Canal)”
Verse 24
סגר verb: “shut, close up”
Verse 25
עבת noun: “cord”
Verse 26
דבק verb (Hiphil): “cleave, overtake”
חך noun: “roof of mouth” (BDB, 335)
נאלם “be dumb, be silent” (BDB, 47)
יכח “judge, rebuke, reprove”
מרי “rebellion” (BDB, 598)
Verse 27
חדל “lacking, forebearing” (BDB, 293)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 23
-The preposition, על, in the phrase, עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָר, means “beside.”
Verse 24
-The beth inseparable preposition should be understood as “into” in the clause, וַתָּבֹא־בִי רוּח.
Verse 25
-The word, עֲבוֹתִים, exhibits plene spelling (“the use of historic long vowels”). This type of spelling is found frequently in the text of the MT (see J. Barr, Variable Spelling of the Hebrew Bible [Oxford University Press: 1989])
-The single word, וַאֲסָרוּךָ, is an entire clause with a phrase connector, waw, the finite verb and subject, and the object as a pronominal suffix—“And they will bind you.”
Verse 26
-The participle, מוֹכִיחַ, is a substantive participle, possible “judge” or “reprover.”
-The final clause, בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה, is a verbless clause of the structure P—S, where the predicate is a two member bound phrase.
Verse 27
-The final clause of verse 27 is identical to that of 26.

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause preposition beth plene waw substantive participle construct phrase double command

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 2)

2005-12-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:23-25): Font

וַיְהִי בַיָּמִים הָרַבִּים הָהֵם וַיָּמָת מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַיֵּאָנְחוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן־הָעֲבֹדָה וַיִּזְעָקוּ וַתַּעַל שַׁוְעָתָם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים מִן־הָעֲבֹדָה׃ 24 וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת־נַאֲקָתָם וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־בְּרִיתוֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יִצְחָק וְאֶת־יַעֲקֹב׃ 25 וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּדַע אֱלֹהִים׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 23
אנח verb: “sigh” (BDB, 58)
זעק verb: “call, cry out”
שׁועה “cry for help” (BDB, 1003)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The idiom, וַיְהִי בַיָּמִים הָרַבִּים הָהֵם, is common for an extended temporal break in narrative.

Verse 24
נאק “groaning” (BDB, 611)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 24
-The word, את, is used not as the direct object marker but as the preposition “with” in the phrase, וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־בְּרִיתוֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יִצְחָק וְאֶת־יַעֲקֹב.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation direct object marker temporal idiom

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2005-12-13T07:14:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:6-10): Font

יְהוָה מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה
מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל׃
7 יְהוָה מוֹרִישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁיר
מַשְׁפִּיל אַף־מְרוֹמֵם׃
8 מֵקִים מֵעָפָר דָּל
מֵאַשְׁפֹּת יָרִים אֶבְיוֹן
לְהוֹשִׁיב עִם־נְדִיבִים
וְכִסֵּא כָבוֹד יַנְחִלֵם
כִּי לַיהוָה מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ
וַיָּשֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶם תֵּבֵל׃
9 רַגְלֵי [חֲסִידוֹ] יִשְׁמֹר
וּרְשָׁעִים בַּחֹשֶׁךְ יִדָּמּוּ
כִּי־לֹא בְכֹחַ יִגְבַּר־אִישׁ׃
10 יְהוָה יֵחַתּוּ [מְרִיבוֹ] [עָלוֹ]
בַּשָּׁמַיִם יַרְעֵם
יְהוָה יָדִין אַפְסֵי־אָרֶץ
וְיִתֶּן־עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ
וְיָרֵם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 6
שׁאול name: “Sheol, grave”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The verbal sequence contains three periphrastic participles (i.e. participles that function as finite verbs, ellipses of the linking verb) followed by a finite verb.
-The parallel words, “death”/“go down to Sheol” and “live”/“raised up,” are a merism indicating that the Lord is in control of everything in life from beginning to end or life to death. This figure of speech is found frequently in Hebrew poetry.

Verse 7
עשׁר verb (Hiphil): “make rich” (BDB, 799)
שׁפל verb (Hiphil): “humiliate, lay low” (BDB, 1050)
Verse 8
עפר “dust”
דל noun: “poor” (BDB, 195)
אשׁפת noun: “heap of trash, ash” (BDB, 1046)
אביון “needy, poor”
נדיב “noble” (BDB, 622)
מצוק “support, pillar” (BDB, 848)
תבל “world” (BDB, 385)
Verse 9
חסיד “pious” (BDB, 339)
דמם verb: “be silent” (BDB, 199)
גבר verb: “prevail” (BDB, 149)
Verse 10
רעם verb (Hiphil): “thunder” (BDB, 947)
דין verb: “execute judgment” (BDB, 192)
אפס “end” (BDB, 67)
משׁיח “anointed” (BDB, 603)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7
-The parallelism and word pairs continue from verse six.
Verse 8
-The verbless clause plus lamed, לַיהוָה מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ, can indicate possession.
Verse 9
-Qere: חֲסִידָיו.
Verse 10
-Qere: מְרִיבָיו.
-Qere: עָלָיו.

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation merism poetry verbless clause Kethib Qere parallelism periphrastic participle

Monday's Translation (Joshua 2)

2005-12-12T08:19:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:10-13): Font

כִּי שָׁמַעְנוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִישׁ יְהוָה אֶת־מֵי יַם־סוּף מִפְּנֵיכֶם בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם וַאֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם לִשְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן לְסִיחֹן וּלְעוֹג אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱרַמְתֶּם אוֹתָם׃ 11 וַנִּשְׁמַע וַיִּמַּס לְבָבֵנוּ וְלֹא־קָמָה עוֹד רוּחַ בְּאִישׁ מִפְּנֵיכֶם כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הוּא אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת׃ 12 וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁבְעוּ־נָא לִי בַּיהוָה כִּי־עָשִׂיתִי עִמָּכֶם חָסֶד וַעֲשִׂיתֶם גַּם־אַתֶּם עִם־בֵּית אָבִי חֶסֶד וּנְתַתֶּם לִי אוֹת אֱמֶת׃ 13 וְהַחֲיִתֶם אֶת־אָבִי וְאֶת־אִמִּי וְאֶת־אַחַי וְאֶת־אַחוֹתַי וְאֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְהִצַּלְתֶּם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵינוּ מִמָּוֶת׃

Vocabulary

Verse 10
יבשׁ verb (Hiphil): “dry up”
ים סוף name: “Red Sea”
האמר name: “Amorites”
סיחן name: “Sihon”
עוג name: “Og”
חרם verb (Hiphil): “devoted to destruction” (BDB, 335)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The phrase, אֵת אֲשֶׁר, indicates that a relative clause is the object of the verb.

Verse 11
נמס verb: “melt, become fearful” (BDB, 587)
ממעל “above” (BDB, 751)
Verse 12
אות “sign”
חסד “loving-kindness, covenant love”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 13
-Qere: אַחְיוֹתַי. Plural with pronominal suffix attached.

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation Kethib Qere relative clause

Friday's Translation (Genesis 13)

2005-12-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Guest Blogger: B. Preston from Post tenebras lux is a very promising first year Hebrew student.

Hebrew Text (13:14-18)

וַֽיהוָ֞ה אָמַ֣ר אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם אַחֲרֵי֙ הִפָּֽרֶד־לֹ֣וט מֵֽעִמֹּ֔ו שָׂ֣א נָ֤א עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְאֵ֔ה מִן־הַמָּקֹ֖ום אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֣ה שָׁ֑ם צָפֹ֥נָה וָנֶ֖גְבָּה וָקֵ֥דְמָה וָיָֽמָּה׃ 15 כִּ֧י אֶת־כָּל־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לְךָ֣ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עֹולָֽם׃ 16 וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֖ כַּעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אִם־יוּכַ֣ל אִ֗ישׁ לִמְנֹות֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ גַּֽם־זַרְעֲךָ֖ יִמָּנֶֽה׃ 17 ק֚וּם הִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בָּאָ֔רֶץ לְאָרְכָּ֖הּ וּלְרָחְבָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ אֶתְּנֶֽנָּה׃ 18 וַיֶּאֱהַ֣ל אַבְרָ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֛א וַיֵּ֛שֶׁב בְּאֵלֹנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּחֶבְרֹ֑ון וַיִּֽבֶן־שָׁ֥ם מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 14

פרד “to separate, divide” (Strong’s, 6504)
נשא “to lift, lift up, carry ” (Qal imperative)
ימין “south, right hand, right side”
ימ “west, westward, sea”
Verse 15
נתן “(he) gave”
Verse 16
ים “to put, set, place, make”
מנה “number, count, reckon”
Verse 17
הלך “walk, went, has gone”
ארך “length, forbearance” (Strong’s 753)
רחב “breadth, width, expanse” (Strong’s 7341)
Verse 18
בוא “to come, go, enter”
אלון “tree, strong tree, oak”
ממרא “Mamre”
חברון “Hebron”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 15
-The preposition/conjunction, עד, can express a temporal, degree, terminative, emphatic, locative but here when combined with עולם denotes “forever.”

File under: Guest Biblical Hebrew preposition conjunction

Disorder of Hebrew Acrostics

2005-12-09T07:18:00.000-05:00

Comment/Question by our friend Talmida concerning the Origin and Order of the Hebrew Alphabet:

Do you think that the acrostics were intentionally imperfect in the psalms missing a letter or two? I wondered if the psalms hadn't been revised or edited in some way.

I would be surprised if the deletions (i.e. the exclusion of one or more entire cola/lines) were a product of intentional editorial abbreviation. The acrostic pattern of the psalm would have been recognized by the editor/redactor/scribe and much more readily completed rather than deleted. Additionally, both of the major textual “rules” support the shorter and more difficult reading of the acrostics witnessed by MT . Textual critics refer to these phenomena as lectio bevior potior (“the shorter reading is to be preferred”) and lectio difficilior praeferenda (“the more difficult reading is to be preferred”). It should be noted, however, that these “rules” are not absolute and could be otherwise. Unintentional deletion also seems unlikely on account of the similarity of the phenomena in separate psalms (for further reading on Hebrew text criticism see: Emanuel Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible [Fortress Press: Minneapolis, 1992] and R.W. Klein, Textual Criticism of the OT—The Septuagint after Qumran [Guides to Biblical Scholarship, OT Series 4: Philadelphia, 1974]).

The following observations should be made about the order of the Hebrew alphabet as witnessed by acrostics in the MT.

Irregularity of deletion. The letter deleted varies between psalms. Psalm 145 omits nun, Psalm 34 skips waw, Psalm 25 leaves out kaf (waw is dubious), and Psalm 9-10 exclude daleth, mem, nun, samek and sade. This irregularity may point to random omission; however based upon the normal understanding of text criticism mentioned above, random deletion seems unlikely.
Fluidness of the alphabetical order. As with the Tel-Zayit abecedary, several of the acrostics demonstrate letter reversal (cf. Psalm 10 [pe/ayin]; Lamentation 2-4 [pe/ayin], but Lamentation 1 [ayin/pe]). This could be the product of regional differences or variation in memorization traditions, but either way it seems unlikely to be purely editorial in nature.

The original question still remains. If these readings are original, what is the purpose of skipping certain letters? Two suggestions are as follows:

First, form is not always the determiner of content. The psalmist was not bound to the acrostic pattern at all costs; therefore he may have excluded a letter for functional reasons unknown to the contemporary reader.

Second, assuming that part of the purpose of an acrostic is to aid in memorization, the deletion of an element could help differentiate between similar texts.

File under: Biblical Hebrew Poetry Alphabet Tel-Zayit Acrostics Psalms Text Criticism

Origin and Order of the Hebrew Alphabet

2005-12-08T09:09:00.000-05:00

NEW UPDATE

Prior to the discovery of a proto-Hebrew alphabet at Tel-Zayit (DH post), the order of the biblical Hebrew alphabet was known through several sources:

Cognate Languages. The Hebrew writing system (cf. GKC Table of Alphabets) was derived from and shares the same order as the Phoenician alphabet; likewise Ugaritic and Greek originated from Phoenician. Of course, the Greek letters changed slightly from their origin in Phoenician and added vowels that were created from consonants: alpha from aleph, epsilon from he, eta from chet, iota from yod, omicron from ayin, and upsilon from waw.

Abecedarian Psalms. This type of psalm uses an alphabetical acrostic as a poetic pattern or device. Just as today’s school children learn the alphabet by memorizing “A is for Apple, B is for Ball, C is for Cat, etc.” or Dr. Seuss’s ABC, the Hebrews used abecedary for easier memorization of poetic literature.

Psalm 119 is the most well-known of this type of psalm. It contains twenty-two strophes (i.e. units of poetry); one for each of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight lines, or verses, in the strophe begins with the letter of the alphabet (8 lines x 22 strophes/letters = 176 verses). Example (Psalm 119:1-10):

אַשְׁרֵ֥י תְמִֽימֵי־דָ֑רֶךְ הַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗ים בְּתֹורַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

אַ֭שְׁרֵי נֹצְרֵ֥י עֵדֹתָ֗יו בְּכָל־לֵ֥ב יִדְרְשֽׁוּהוּ׃
אַ֭ף לֹֽא־פָעֲל֣וּ עַוְלָ֑ה בִּדְרָכָ֥יו הָלָֽכוּ׃
אַ֭תָּה צִוִּ֥יתָה פִקֻּדֶ֗יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֥ר מְאֹֽד׃
אַ֭חֲלַי יִכֹּ֥נוּ דְרָכָ֗י לִשְׁמֹ֥ר חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃
אָ֥ז לֹא־אֵבֹ֑ושׁ בְּ֝הַבִּיטִ֗י אֶל־כָּל־מִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
אֹ֭ודְךָ בְּיֹ֣שֶׁר לֵבָ֑ב בְּ֝לָמְדִ֗י מִשְׁפְּטֵ֥י צִדְקֶֽךָ׃
אֶת־חֻקֶּ֥יךָ אֶשְׁמֹ֑ר אַֽל־תַּעַזְבֵ֥נִי עַד־מְאֹֽד׃
בַּמֶּ֣ה יְזַכֶּה־נַּ֭עַר אֶת־אָרְחֹ֑ו לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃
בְּכָל־לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Psalm 112 uses one letter per line (verses contain several lines, or cola, of Hebrew poetry):

הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ

אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה
בְּ֝מִצְוֹתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד׃
גִּבֹּ֣ור בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֹ֑ו
דֹּ֭ור יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ׃
הֹון־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵיתֹ֑ו
וְ֝צִדְקָתֹ֗ו עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃
זָ֘רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ אֹ֖ור לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים
חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃
טֹֽוב־אִ֭ישׁ חֹונֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה
יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃
כִּֽי־לְעֹולָ֥ם לֹא־יִמֹּ֑וט
לְזֵ֥כֶר עֹ֝ולָ֗ם יִהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק׃
מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א
נָכֹ֥ון לִ֝בֹּ֗ו בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה׃
סָמ֣וּךְ לִ֭בֹּו לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א
עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו׃
פִּזַּ֤ר ׀ נָ֘תַ֤ן לָאֶבְיֹונִ֗ים
צִ֭דְקָתֹו עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד
קַ֝רְנֹ֗ו תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֹֽוד׃
רָ֘שָׁ֤ע יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ וְכָעָ֗ס
שִׁנָּ֣יו יַחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס
תַּאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃

Other abecedary psalms include Psalm 111, Psalm 37 (every other verse), and Psalm 25. Apparently, it was not imperative to develop a “perfect” alphabet acrostic. Some examples of imperfect acrostics are Psalm 145 (omits nun), Psalm 34 (omits waw), Psalm 25 (omits kaf and waw is dubious), and Psalm 9-10 (excludes several letters).

Other acrostics. Another notable acrostic concludes the book of Proverbs. Verses 10-31 delineate the ABCs of the virtuous woman. Other acrostic poetic devices are used in Lamentations 1-4.

(For more information see Brug, J.F. “Biblical Acrostics and Their Relationship to Other Ancient Near Eastern Acrostics,” in The Bible in the Light of Cuneiform Literature: Scripture in Context III. Ancient Near Eastern Texts and Studies 8. William W. Hallo, et al, eds. [Lewiston: Edwin Mellen, 1990], 283-305; ISBN 0889462194)

***UPDATE 1***
Talmida has posted on the Proverbs 31 passage mentioned above. Check it out here.

***UPDATE 2***
FORWARD Online Newspaper answers the question concerning why the English abecedary begins with A-B-C and not the Phoenician order A-B-G.

File under: Biblical Hebrew Poetry Alphabet Tel-Zayit Acrostics Psalms Phoenician Greek

Thursday's Translation (Ezekiel 3)

2005-12-08T08:01:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (3:17-22): Font

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ 17 בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם צֹפֶ֥ה נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֤ מִפִּי֙ דָּבָ֔ר וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֥ אֹותָ֖ם מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ 18 בְּאָמְרִ֤י לָֽרָשָׁע֙ מֹ֣ות תָּמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א הִזְהַרְתֹּ֗ו וְלֹ֥א דִבַּ֛רְתָּ לְהַזְהִ֥יר רָשָׁ֛ע מִדַּרְכֹּ֥ו הָרְשָׁעָ֖ה לְחַיֹּתֹ֑ו ה֤וּא רָשָׁע֙ בַּעֲוֹנֹ֣ו יָמ֔וּת וְדָמֹ֖ו מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ 19 וְאַתָּה֙ כִּֽי־הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ רָשָׁ֔ע וְלֹא־שָׁב֙ מֵֽרִשְׁעֹ֔ו וּמִדַּרְכֹּ֖ו הָרְשָׁעָ֑ה ה֚וּא בַּעֲוֹנֹ֣ו יָמ֔וּת וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ ס 20 וּבְשׁ֨וּב צַדִּ֤יק מִצִּדְקֹו֙ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֔וֶל וְנָתַתִּ֥י מִכְשֹׁ֛ול לְפָנָ֖יו ה֣וּא יָמ֑וּת כִּ֣י לֹ֤א הִזְהַרְתֹּו֙ בְּחַטָּאתֹ֣ו יָמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א תִזָּכַ֗רְןָ צִדְקֹתָו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְדָמֹ֖ו מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ 21 וְאַתָּ֞ה כִּ֧י הִזְהַרְתֹּ֣ו צַדִּ֗יק לְבִלְתִּ֥י חֲטֹ֛א צַדִּ֖יק וְה֣וּא לֹא־חָטָ֑א חָיֹ֤ו יִֽחְיֶה֙ כִּ֣י נִזְהָ֔ר וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 17
צפה “watchman” (BDB, 859)
זחר verb (Hiphil): “give a warning” (BDB, 264)
Verse 18
רשׁע adjective: wickedness (BDB, 957)
בקשׁ “require”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The beth preposition is temporal “when” (see also verse 20)
-The repetition of a finite verb with infinitive absolute with the same root, מֹ֣ות תָּמ֔וּת, is an emphatic usage (“You shall surely die”).
-Waw is used for conjunction, disjunction, and other transition words.

Verse 20
עול “unrighteousness” (BDB, 732)
מכשׁול “stumbling block” (BDB, 506)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 19
-The conditional, כי, is in second position.
-The verb, ישׁב, can mean “turn from” or even “repent.”
Verse 20
-Notice the similarity between 18-19 (רשׁע) and 20-21 (צדיק).

File under: Ezekiel Biblical Hebrew Translation repetition infinitive absolute beth preposition waw

The Lighter Side of West

2005-12-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

Jim West’s satiric humor saved me from fits of uncontrollable anger because of stories such as this!

File under: Christmas

A Dog Eat Blog World

2005-12-07T08:05:00.000-05:00

Jim West has turned DH onto the new biblioblog, Karamat. Apparently, Kevin Wilson has named his blog after his dog!

File under: Karamat biblioblog Hebrew

Wednesday's Translation (Exodus 2)

2005-12-07T06:35:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:16-22): Font

וּלְכֹהֵ֥ן מִדְיָ֖ן שֶׁ֣בַע בָּנֹ֑ות וַתָּבֹ֣אנָה וַתִּדְלֶ֗נָה וַתְּמַלֶּ֙אנָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣רְהָטִ֔ים לְהַשְׁקֹ֖ות צֹ֥אן אֲבִיהֶֽן׃ 17 וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָרֹעִ֖ים וַיְגָרְשׁ֑וּם וַיָּ֤קָם מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֣ושִׁעָ֔ן וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹאנָֽם׃ 18 וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה אֶל־רְעוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַדּ֛וּעַ מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן בֹּ֖א הַיֹּֽום׃ 19 וַתֹּאמַ֕רְןָ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י הִצִּילָ֖נוּ מִיַּ֣ד הָרֹעִ֑ים וְגַם־דָּלֹ֤ה דָלָה֙ לָ֔נוּ וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־הַצֹּֽאן׃ 20 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֹתָ֖יו וְאַיֹּ֑ו לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ן אֶת־הָאִ֔ישׁ קִרְאֶ֥ן לֹ֖ו וְיֹ֥אכַל לָֽחֶם׃ 21 וַיֹּ֥ואֶל מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶת־הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּתֵּ֛ן אֶת־צִפֹּרָ֥ה בִתֹּ֖ו לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ 22 וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו גֵּרְשֹׁ֑ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 16
מדין name (of place): Midian
דלה verb: “draw [water]” (BDB, 194)
רהט “trough” (BDB, 923)
שׁקה verb (Hiphil infinitive construct): “water, cause to drink”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The first clause, לְכֹהֵ֥ן מִדְיָ֖ן שֶׁ֣בַע בָּנֹ֑ות, is verbless and the lamed preposition is functioning as a possessive.
-The word, צֹ֥אן, is a collective singular.

Verse 17
גרשׁ verb: “drive out” (BDB, 176)
ישׁע verb: “help”
Verse 18
רעואל name: “Reuel”
Verse 19
נצל verb: “deliver”
Verse 20
אי interrogative (with 3ms suffix): “where” (BDB, 32)
עזב verb: “leave, forsake”
Verse 21
יואל verb (Hiphil): “be willing” (BDB, 383)
צפרה name: “Zipporah”
Verse 22
גרשׁם name: “Gershom”
נכרי “foreign” (BDB, 648)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 17
-Notice the gender shift from feminine verbs to masculine plural suffixes, then back in verse 8.
Verse 18
-Other places in Exodus, Reuel is named Jethro (3:1; 4:18; 18:1-12)
Verse 19
-The repetition of routes, as in דָּלֹ֤ה דָלָה֙, is a Hebrew literature form.
Verse 20
-The single unit, וְאַיֹּו, is a complete clause—“where is he?”
-The verb, קִרְאֶן, is a feminine imperative/command form.
Verse 21
-The word, את, is not used as the indirect object in this clause, but as the preposition “with.”
-In the phrase, צִפֹּרָ֥ה בִתֹּ֖ו, the second word—“his daughter”—is in apposition to her name.
Verse 22
-This verse follows the standard naming formula.

File under: Exodus Biblical Hebrew Translation verbless clause lamed collective singular repetition interrogative apposition name formula

Aantekeningen dij de Bijbel Update

2005-12-06T16:26:00.000-05:00

Our friend Jan at the Dutch blog Aantekeningen dij de Bijbel provides several very helpful Tanach links that are used frequently at Daily Hebrew. Additionally, check out his comments on the disparity between the honor of Leah and obscurity of Rachel.

File under: Aantekeningen bij de Bijbel Tanach link Leah Rachel

Tuesday's Translation (1 Samuel 2)

2005-12-06T07:18:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:1-5): Font

וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל חַנָּה֙ וַתֹּאמַ֔ר
עָלַ֤ץ לִבִּי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה
רָ֥מָה קַרְנִ֖י בַּֽיהוָ֑ה
רָ֤חַב פִּי֙ עַל־אֹ֣ויְבַ֔י
כִּ֥י שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃
2 אֵין־קָדֹ֥ושׁ כַּיהוָ֖ה
כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ
וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר כֵּאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
3 אַל־תַּרְבּ֤וּ תְדַבְּרוּ֙ גְּבֹהָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה
יֵצֵ֥א עָתָ֖ק מִפִּיכֶ֑ם
כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל דֵּעֹות֙ יְהוָ֔ה
[וְלֹא] נִתְכְּנ֖וּ עֲלִלֹֽות׃
4 קֶ֥שֶׁת גִּבֹּרִ֖ים חַתִּ֑ים
וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים אָ֥זְרוּ חָֽיִל׃
5 שְׂבֵעִ֤ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ
וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ
עַד־עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה
וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1
עלץ verb: “rejoice” (BDB, 763)
קרן noun: “horn”
רחב verb: “to grow wide” (BDB, 931)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-Beginning with the second line, the literary form shifts from prose to poetry. The text has been divided into cola to help the reader distinguish each poetic line.
-The expression “my mouth grows wide” is idiomatic for bold, verbose speaking.
-Notice the long forms (cf. plene spelling - Joshua 2:8) in the poetic section: אֹ֣ויְבַ֔י (verse 1), קָדֹ֥ושׁ (verse 2)

Verse 2
בלת “except” (BDB, 116)
צור “rock”
Verse 3
עתק “arrogant” (BDB, 801)
תכן verb: “estimated, weighed” (BDB, 1067)
עלילה “deed” (BDB, 760)
Verse 4
קשת noun: “bow”
חת “shattered” (BDB, 369)
כשל “ones who stumble, feeble”
אזר verb: “gird on” (BDB, 25)
Verse 5
שכע “ones who are full” (BDB, 960)
שכר verb: “hire out” (BDB, 968)
רעב “hungry” (BDB, 944)
עקר “barren” (BDB, 785)
אמלל verb: “grow feeble” (BDB, 51)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2
-Each of the three lines contains a divine comparison in an A-B-A pattern (כ – בלת – כ).
Verse 3
-The repetition of a word, גְּבֹהָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה, demonstrates intensification thus “very proud.” Therefore in Isaiah 6 the threefold exclamation, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” indicates the superlative degree—“Most Holy.”
-The Kethib consonants could be read as waw copulative plus negative. However, the Qere [וְלֹ֥ו] suggests the proper reading as waw, lamed preposition, and 3ms pronominal suffix. In this case the pronunciation would not vary.
-The verbless clause, אֵ֤ל דֵּעֹות֙ יְהוָ֔ה, follows the form P-S (Predicate-Subject).

File under: Samuel Biblical Hebrew Translation Kethib Qere verbless clause repetition idiom plene poetry

Monday's Translation (Joshua 2)

2005-12-05T06:57:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (2:7-9): Font

וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים רָדְפ֤וּ אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן עַ֖ל הַֽמַּעְבְּרֹ֑ות וְהַשַּׁ֣עַר סָגָ֔רוּ אַחֲרֵ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָצְא֥וּ הָרֹדְפִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ 8 וְהֵ֖מָּה טֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן וְהִ֛יא עָלְתָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽג׃ 9 וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכִֽי־נָפְלָ֤ה אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְכִ֥י נָמֹ֛גוּ כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 7
רדף verb: “pursue”
מעבר noun: “ford”
שׁער “gate” סגר verb: “shut”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-Verse seven begins with a disjunctive waw (waw + non-verb)
-The preposition phrase, אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙, combines the preposition “after” with the inseparable 3mpl pronominal suffix, “them.”
-The relative marker, כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר, is used as a temporal marker, “when.”

Verse 8
טרם adverb: “not yet”
גג noun: “roof” (BDB, 150)
Verse 9
אימה noun: “terror, dread” (BDB, 33)
נוג verb: “melt” (BDB, 556)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 8
-The verb in the second clause, עָלְתָ֥ה, demonstrates scriptio plena, or plene. This term means “written fully” in reference to the use of a long vowel with a mater (also known as “historically long vowels”). Other examples include sere-yod, hireq-yod, holem-waw, and sureq. Conversely, scriptio defectiva, or defective spelling, lacks the mater.
Verse 9
-The verb “to give” requires an object and an indirect object, נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ. One gives someone (object) something (indirect object). The lamed distinguishes the indirect object (the what) from the direct object (the who) marked with the direct object marker.
-Notice the series of three כִּי “because” clauses.

File under: Joshua Biblical Hebrew Translation disjunctive waw relative pronominal suffix plene

All I Want for Christmas is…

2005-12-02T08:33:00.000-05:00

a Dutch grammar and lexicon to read the discussion by Jan Pieter van de Giessen at Aantekeningen bij de Bijbel on the likelihood that the Star of Bethlehem was the planet Uranus. In the mean time, taalthuis and babelfish will have to do.

File under: Star Bethlehem Christmas Dutch

Friday's Translation (Genesis 13)

2005-12-02T07:13:00.000-05:00

Hebrew Text (13:10-13): Font

וַיִּשָּׂא־לֹ֣וט אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כָּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן כִּ֥י כֻלָּ֖הּ מַשְׁקֶ֑ה לִפְנֵ֣י ׀ שַׁחֵ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־סְדֹם֙ וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֔ה כְּגַן־יְהוָה֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה צֹֽעַר׃ 11 וַיִּבְחַר־לֹ֣ו לֹ֗וט אֵ֚ת כָּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע לֹ֖וט מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃ 12 אַבְרָ֖ם יָשַׁ֣ב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן וְלֹ֗וט יָשַׁב֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַיֶּאֱהַ֖ל עַד־סְדֹֽם׃ 13 וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סְדֹ֔ם רָעִ֖ים וְחַטָּאִ֑ים לַיהוָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃

Vocabulary

Verse 10
ככר noun: “round (region), plain”
ירדן “Jordan (river)”
משׁקה “well irrigated” (BDB, 1052)
שׁחת verb: “destroy”
גן noun: “garden” (BDB, 171)
צער name (of place): Zoar

Syntax & Miscellaneous

-The word, לִפְנֵ֣י, is used as a temporal marker—“before.”
-The reader is invited to understand these three destructive events as analogous (שַׁחֵ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־סְדֹם֙ וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֔ה כְּגַן־יְהוָה֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם). Notice the placement of the “future” destruction of Egypt (i.e. the Exodus) with the Genesis destruction events.

Verse 11
פרד verb (Niphal): “divide” (BDB, 825)
Verse 12
כנען name (of place/people): “Canaan”
Verse 13
חטא noun: “sinner” (BDB, 308)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 11
-The idiom, אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו, is very common in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 1:16). Since Hebrew does not have a reciprocal pronoun (e.g. “each other”), this phrase functions as a reciprocal relationship.
Verse 12
-The preposition, עַד, can express a temporal (Genesis 3:9 “until, before”), degree (2 Kings 24:20 “to the point”), terminative (1 Samuel 9:9 “as far as”), Inclusive/conjunctive (1 Samuel 5:9 “both…and”), emphatic (Exodus 14:28 “even”), or in this case locative (Deuteronomy 4:11 “near, by”).
Verse 13
-Marked by a disjunctive waw, this background (or parenthetical) remark is a verbless clause.

File under: Genesis Biblical Hebrew Translation reciprocal pronoun preposition disjunctive waw destruction analogy