Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Steve Doel" <steve.doel AT wycliffe-hall.oxford.ac.uk>]

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