Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bryan Rocine" <brocine AT earthlink.net>]

Hi Myron,

You wrote:
> 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."
>

Since the root is used in finacial matters (Isa 40:20), and
even a steward seems to be named by the root (Isa 22:15, 1
Ki 1:2, 4), might we think of the sense in Psa 139:3 as an
auditor whose responsibility it is to make an endeavor
profitable?  I.e. the translation would be, "my wandering
and my lying down you sift, and my paths you audit."  Maybe
this idea of auditing suggests familiarity.  Just my two
shqalayim.  ;-)

Shalom,
Bryan


B. M. Rocine
Associate Pastor
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206

(office) 315.437.6744
(home) 315.479.8267