[b-hebrew] Alter's translation (Was: Daniel 6:27 (time indefinite) II)
Harold R. Holmyard III
hholmyard at ont.com
Tue Nov 22 14:41:01 EST 2005
Dear Herman,
>2005/11/22, Peter Kirk <peter at qaya.org>:> On 22/11/2005 05:42,
>Herman Meester wrote:>> >First of all we would have to be happy that
>Alter respected Hebrew> >syntax unlike virtually all other commonly
>used translation, that in> >fact all misunderstand Genesis'
>ouverture.> >> >>> Well, I can argue that one with you if you like,
>but it is a separate> issue. I don't think you will find any other
>place in the Hebrew Bible> where a WAYYIQTOL verb is preceded by a
>clause subordinate to it, which> seems to be Alter's grammatical
>understanding. The only objection to the> traditional "In the
>beginning God created..." understanding is that the> first word of
>the Bible is indefinite and possibly construct - but then> possibly
>that very first vowel point was really intended to be qamats> rather
>than sheva.
>(I decided not to discuss with English speakers the things that
>aregrammatically correct or not in English, because as a
>non-nativespeaker I wouldn't really be able to judge.)
>However, here I do strongly disagree with those who want to keep
>thetraditional translation "In the beginning G"d created...". It
>issimply not what the Hebrew says.
HH: The way you run your text together with the person you're
responding to sometimes results in a big mass of words and is
confusing. It would be good if you could separate your response from
the person's writing to whom you're responding.
HH: I just ran a search in the OT and there is not one other place
where BR)$YT is followed by a verb.
> If we say that the masoretes made a mistake, thisamounts to
>insult.Does anyone really think that the masoretes didn't see the
>problem ofGen. 1,1-3?
HH: I agree, but perhaps R)$YT can be used definitely without the
article. This happens with numerous basic words in various languages.
In Isa 46:10 the expression MR)$YT means "from the beginning," even
though there is no definite article. R)$YT is used without the
article at Prov 4:7, where it means something like "the first thing"
or "the primary thing."
> First it says that G"d created"heaven and earth", in other words,
>"everything", and then it goed ondescribing al the things that
>happened? I don't think so.
HH: Hebrew narrative often gives summary statements or overviews and
then fills in the details or gives the story in detail. Genesis 1:1
can summarize what the whole chapter will discuss. There is also an
intervening declarative statement in verse 2.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
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