Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>]

Shirley A. Moore wrote:

> I am a complete novice at Hebrew, although this list gives me much food
> for thought.
>
> In ECC 12:1, the statement is made "Remember now your Creator,"
>
> Is Creator plural or singular?
>
> Any help is appreciated.

Shirley, grammatically the form is plural. The yodh let's us know this - 
BWR(YK.
It is certainly odd unless the author wishes to say "creators". I don't think 
this is likely. The
LXX understood it as "Creator" (singular), as did the Vulgate. Perhaps it is 
a plural of majesty???

There is the suggestion that the text should be emended to read "BWRK" - 
(borkha) "your cistern" as
a reference to the wife of one's youth. I don't think this has much merit.

Best regards.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GEORGE ATHAS
 Dept of Semitic Studies,
 University of Sydney
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tel Dan Inscription Website is at
http://members.xoom.com/gathas/teldan.htm
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

--- Begin Message ---

• From: George Athas <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>
• To: "Shirley A. Moore" <smoore03 AT mail.orion.org>
• Subject: Re: ECC 12:1
• Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 18:36:05 +1000

Shirley A. Moore wrote:

> I am a complete novice at Hebrew, although this list gives me much food
> for thought.
>
> In ECC 12:1, the statement is made "Remember now your Creator,"
>
> Is Creator plural or singular?
>
> Any help is appreciated.

Shirley, grammatically the form is plural. The yodh let's us know this -
BWR(YK.
It is certainly odd unless the author wishes to say "creators". I don't think
this is likely. The
LXX understood it as "Creator" (singular), as did the Vulgate. Perhaps it is
a plural of majesty???

There is the suggestion that the text should be emended to read "BWRK" -
(borkha) "your cistern" as
a reference to the wife of one's youth. I don't think this has much merit.

Best regards.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GEORGE ATHAS
Dept of Semitic Studies,
University of Sydney
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tel Dan Inscription Website is at
http://members.xoom.com/gathas/teldan.htm
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



--- End Message ---