Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - ps 139:3

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Myron Kauk" <myronkauk AT integrityonline30.com>
  • To: b-hebrew
  • Subject: ps 139:3
  • Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 10:31:17


I am working on ps 139 and ran across the verb HIS:KAN:TFH (hiph pf 2ms
from KSN)in v 3.

Most of the translations seem to translate this something like "you are
intimately acquainted" (e.g. NAS, NIV, KJV, RSV, NET Bible, etc).

But BDB (p 698) gives the meaning as "to be of use or service, benefit" and
in the hiphil "to be used".

I have checked other occurences of KSN (Num. 22:30, 1 Ki. 1:2, 1 Ki. 1:4,
Job 15:3, Job 22:2, Job 22:21, Job 34:9, Job 35:3, Ps. 139:3, Eccl. 10:9,
Isa. 22:15, Isa. 40:20) and found that with the exception of ps 139:3 the
meaning found in BDB prevails.

Can anyone explain the justification for the translation "to be acquainted
with" in Ps 139:3 or am I correct to render this verse something like "My
wanderings and my lying down you sift, and all my ways you cause to be of
use."

Shalom,

Myron C. Kauk
myronkauk AT integrityonline30.com



  • ps 139:3, Myron Kauk, 08/27/1999

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page