Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

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>
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