[b-hebrew] Qohelet chapter 12

B. M. Rocine brocine at twcny.rr.com
Tue Apr 22 22:10:48 EDT 2008


Hi folks,

I am not a big fan of emendations to the text, but I would consider, in 
the case of 12:1's BWoR)eYKf
 
bet-holem vav-resh-aleph-seghol-yod-khof-qamets "your creators"

to be possibly B:RiY)Kf

bet-shewa-resh-hireq-yod-aleph-khof-qamets "your health".

The context clearly supports "your health," and the graphic distinction 
between the two is slight.  I have not looked into any 
traditions/commentaries which may or may not support this emendation.

Shalom,
Bryan

Ron Snider wrote:
>> I am not in the habit of looking at foreign translations of the HB.  
>> In my Qoren edition of the TN"K the word BOR)-EY-KA is written with a  
>> yod [so also in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia] and I see it as  
>> plural. Indeed, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth"  
>> does not make as much sense as "Keep in mind your forebears [some  
>> old, some dead] in the days of your youth".
>> I would relate this BR) to the BAR, 'son, child', of Proverbs 31:2
>>
>>     
>
> I do agree that the participle is plural, other than than I disagree 
> completely with the rest of your response.  First, the Qal stem is only 
> used of the creative activity of God in the OT.  Second, the plural may 
> well be plural since Elohiym is plural.  Third, the term is never used 
> in the Qal of human creations, which rules out the idea of forebears.  
> Fourth, immediate context from the previous verses suggests that this is 
> advice to a young person with respect to how he lives his life and the 
> fact that God will ultimately judge every action.  Fifth, remembering 
> your forbears has nothing to do with whether or not one grows old and 
> enjoys life, Solomon has already stated repeatedly in this book that 
> real life comes from God.  Eccles. 2:25-26, 5:18-20, 7:14, 9:1,9
>
> Lastly, while you may not feel the need to consult other translations, 
> when you digress dramatically from the orthodox understanding of a 
> verse, the burden of proof is on you to document your assertions.  One 
> cannot merely say that the word means something and expect others to 
> simply accept it without proof.  Since this term only appears in the Qal 
> partciple plural one time, proof is probably not available.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Ron Snider,
> Pastor-teacher
>
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>   

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



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