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  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)
  • To: b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: Gen 6:3a
  • Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 09:41:07 +0000


On Mon 20 Mar 2000 (17:58:36), lizfried AT umich.edu wrote:
> There seem to be two hapax in this half verse.
> Does anyone have an idea what this verse means?

Dear Liz,

You seem to be referring to the verb DuWN B: (strive with), which elsewhere
is written as DiYN. `ayin Yodh verbs were originally `ayin Waw, according
to my seminary professor. Also you seem to have difficulty with the ambiguous
combination B:$aGGaM.

What we have in Gen 6:3a is
Lo' YaDoWN RuWaXiY Ba'aDaM L:`oLaM...

In the Qal Imperfect the original medial Waw reappears; hence YaDoWN.

... B:$aGGaM HuW' Ba&aR...

The word B:$aGGaM is a combination of the prefixed preposition B:
(=by reason of) plus the abbreviated relative pronoun 'a:$eR ($a)
plus the particle GaM, with the G reduplicated with Daghesh Forte
for euphony. It stands for B:'a$er GaM "By reason of which also...".

An alternative parsing of B:$aGGaM is the infinitive of $aGaG ($aGaH), to
err or to wander, with the 3 pl pronominal suffix -aM, "in their [man's]
erring he [mankind] is flesh". This treats 'aDaM as singular and plural
at the the same time with the gender-inclusive plural "their"; indicating
both the individual and the collective responsibility of sinful Man/Woman
for their condition. YHWH then gives 120 years' warning of the coming Flood
(compare 1 Peter 3:20). But here I go "erring" off into Theology....

Shalom
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm







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