Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Numberup AT worldnet.att.net]

In the periphrastic genitive  RuaCH  'eLoHiYM, 'eLoHiYM  *acts*  as an 
adjective in that it modifies the construct.

RuaCH lends itself to several diffferent translations, including "wind" 
and "breath."  It could be argued that both of these are "active 
forces."  The "spirit" in Gen. 1:2 is, in context, an "active force."

Solomon Landers

Tony Costa wrote:

> Dear Friends,
>
>  I was just thinking about Gen 1:2 with regards to RuaCH 'eLoHiYM. Is 
> 'eLoHiYM used here without the definite article an adjective or still 
> a noun? While most translations render this verse "the Spirit of God", 
> a few have rendered it "an awesome wind". The NWT (New World 
> Translation of the Holy Scriptures) published by the Watchtower Bible 
> and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses render it God's "active 
> force". Can someone comment on why the preferred reading is "Spirit of 
> God" in this passage, and would "active force" as used in the NWT be a 
> faithful translation of the original Hebrew? Many thanks.
>
>                                              Tony Costa