[b-hebrew] NXM

B. M. Rocine brocine at twcny.rr.com
Tue Apr 8 23:28:49 EDT 2008


Hi David,

I read your article with great interest (thanks!) having written my own 
interpretation of Job (for a popular audience), which I hope will be 
published soon.  Of course, we all relish the chance to explain our take 
on the enigmatic book.

Job 42:6 venixamti reads quite naturally as a standard niphal.  Do you 
know of other cases of NXM used as an "intransitive piel"?  I expect "I 
am comforted" would be nuxamti (pual).

All the best,
Bryan

David Kummerow wrote:
> Hi Bryan,
>
> Yes, as you say the texts are pretty clear.
>
> One ambiguous example of which I am aware that has profound meaning 
> difference is Job 42:6. If taken there as a niphal, Job would be 
> "repenting" with the object supplied by "`al `aphar waepher" (see eg 
> Habel's commentary). If taken as a(n example of an intransitive) piel, 
> Job states that he is "comforted" with the location of the comfort 
> specified by "`al `aphar waepher". I personally prefer the second option 
> (see my JHS article) as (a) it provides a nice inclusio with 2:11 
> whereby comfort for Job in the book is only found in God; and (b) it 
> provides a link back to the prologue in that in Job 42:6 Job does 
> exactly what satan said he would never do: accept God for who he is and 
> not for what he can get out of him. That is, Job is comforted by God 
> even in the circumstance of "`al `aphar waepher". A rough rendering of 
> the verse might be: "Therefore, I melt [in reverence] and have been 
> comforted upon dust and ash."
>
> Regards,
> David Kummerow.
>
>
>   
>> Hi Karl,
>>
>> Noah's name isn't derived from NXM, if that's what you are saying.  It
>> is derived from NWX, which is thematic in Gen 8:4 when the ark comes to
>> rest on Ararat.
>>
>> As for NXM, you need to distinguish the stem the word is used in when
>> you are trying to understand its meaning.  When NXM is used in the
>> Niphal stem about forty-eight times it means to regret, to feel sorry
>> about, or to feel grief.  When it is used in the Piel stem about fifty
>> times it has a transitive meaning, to (give) comfort (to) someone.  The
>> texts are pretty clear.
>>
>> BTW, I have no idea what you mean when you say RWC is used in Niphal
>> stem.  I have no knowledge of such a case.  When the root is used
>> transitively it is used in the Hiphil stem, and the corresponding
>> passive Hophal stem.  I admit I didn't follow the whole RWC discussion.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Bryan
>>
>>     
>
>   

-- 
B.M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206
W:  (315) 437-6744



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