Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: 'el 'elohim-->'elohim?

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Lloyd Barre <barre AT c-zone.net>
  • To: Peter_Kirk AT sil.org, b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: 'el 'elohim-->'elohim?
  • Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 15:49:34 -0800


Dear Peter,

For Gen 33:20, I am taking 'el as appositional, in the other cases, where a
form of 'el is adjacent to 'elohim(n), I am following the ususal
understanding as a construct (superlative). The El appellatives as we find
in Genesis (El Shaddai, El Elyon) I take as a personal name in apposition
to a divne attribute, eg. El Elyon="The Most High El."

Lloyd


At 03:24 PM 1/6/99 -0500, Peter_Kirk AT sil.org wrote:
>
>Are you suggesting here that the 'el of 'el 'elohim is a construct
>form (as in Ps 136:2) with the meaning "God of gods"? Or is it in
>apposition, as translators have assumed in Gen 33:20, and presumably
>also in 'el shaddai?
>
>Peter Kirk
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: 'el 'elohim-->'elohim?
>Author: barre AT c-zone.net at internet
>Date: 05/01/1999 19:29
>
>
>Dear List Members,
>
>The common explanation of the plural form of 'elohim as a "plural of
>majesty/intensity" strikes me as somewhat desparate (cp. TDOT "...difficult
>to explain."). I am soliciting input on this issue and seek reactions to
>the possibility that the plural form arose as a result of an elision of the
>superlative construction--'el 'elohim. Related superlative constructions
>are infrequent (Deut 10:17 ('elohe ha'elohim), Josh 22:2 ('el 'elohim), Ps
>136:2 ('elohe ha'elohim), Dan 2:47 ('elah 'elohin), Dan 11:36 ('el
>'elohim). Theres is also the formal title of Gen 33:20 ('el 'elohe
>yisra'el). Is the plural form the remnant of a abbreviation of divine
>titles such as 'el `elyon-->`elyon, 'el shaddai-->shaddai, and Yahweh
>Sabaoth-->yahweh? How do interested list members access this theory over
>against the traditional understanding of how to explain the plural 'elohim
>that is customarily used as the subject of singular verbs?
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>Lloyd Barre
>
>
>
>
>
>
>---
>You are currently subscribed to b-hebrew as: Peter_Kirk AT sil.org
>To unsubscribe, forward this message to
>$subst('Email.Unsub')
>To subscribe, send an email to join-b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu.
>
>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page