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b-hebrew - Re: Gen 2:17: Dying thou shalt die

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  • From: "Steve Doel" <steve.doel AT wycliffe-hall.oxford.ac.uk>
  • To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Gen 2:17: Dying thou shalt die
  • Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 13:56:42 +0100



Bill wrote:
<< The literal of Gen 2:17 seems to be:

...dying thou shalt die...

which is generally translated "thou shalt surely die"
* is this a fairly certain translation? could it be taken unidiomatically?
* does the construct appear elsewhere in Scripture?
* does anyone respectable champion another reading?
>>

Bill, the infinitive absolute often stands immediately before the finite
verb in order to strengthen the verbal idea. For other examples (in Genesis)
featuring the 2ms of the finite verb, compare 2:16; 2:17; 15:3; 20:7. For
further "You shall surely die" examples, try Gen 20:7; 1 Sam 22:16; 1 Ki
2:37; Ez 33:14....

Yours,
Steve Doel





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