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b-hebrew - [b-hebrew] Definite Article 7:14

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  • From: JoeWallack AT aol.com
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Definite Article 7:14
  • Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:12:40 EDT


On Mar 22, 2007, at 7:21 PM, Harold Holmyard wrote:

> Dear Joseph,
>
> If you don't like Gesenius, I will give you the same information from
> Waltke-O'Connor, Biblical Hebrew Syntax (1990) #15.5.1e, quoting:
> The article may also mark nouns definite in the imagination,
> designating either a particular person or thing necessarily understood to
be
> present or vividly portraying someone or something whose identity is not
> otherwise indicated . . . . In some cases the proper English
> rendering is indefinite:
>
> Gen 18:7 He gave (it) to _a servant_.


JW:
Yes, looking for examples in the Hebrew Bible is excellent evidence for
meaning. Regarding Genesis 18:7 though a better question than how the
Hebrew definite article was translated is how it should
have been translated. For reference purposes:

(_http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/gen18.pdf_
(http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/gen18.pdf) )

_http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0118.htm_
(http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0118.htm)

ז וְאֶל-הַבָּקָר, רָץ אַבְרָהָם; וַיִּקַּח בֶּן-בָּקָר
רַךְ וָטוֹב, וַיִּתֵּן אֶל-הַנַּעַר, וַיְמַהֵר,
לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתוֹ. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender
and
good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.

This wasn't just any old lad, was it? It was Abraham's servant. The Definite
article is what makes that clear. Once again, it sounds okay either way in
English so I don't see an Indefinite translation forced or even preferred
here.


Some Jewish Tradition appears to have attached some significance to the
definite article here:

(_http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=8213&showrashi=true_
(http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=8213&showrashi=true) )



"7. And to the cattle did Abraham run, and he took a calf, tender and good,
and he gave it to the youth, and he hastened to prepare it.

a calf, tender and good There were three calves, in order to feed
them three tongues with mustard. — [from B.M. 86b]

to the youth This was Ishmael, to train him to perform mitzvoth. —
[from Aboth d’Rabbi Nathan, ch. 13]"


Since we all agree that the Hebrew definite article for the most part,
serves
the same purpose as the English definite article, I'm still looking for
really good
multiple examples of Hebrew usage that would clearly have an Indefinite
English
translation in order to support an Indefinite English translation for 7:14.
This is
all before we look at the surrounding Specific context of 7:14.



Joseph




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