Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Peter Kirk" <Peter_Kirk AT sil.org>]

I remember seeing a discussion of this pattern in W. Watson "Classical
Hebrew Poetry", JSOT 1984.

Peter Kirk

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayton Bauman [mailto:claytonb AT kfalls.sykes.com]
> Sent: 15 December 2001 20:10
> To: Biblical Hebrew
> Subject: Hebrew sentence pattern
>
>
> I have a question about the phrasing used in some passages
>
> Proverbs 6:16; 30:15,18,20,29
> Amos 2:4,6
>
> In these passages (I would assume there are others, these are just the
> ones I've found) there is a phrase pattern used: "x, yeah (x+1)." For
> example, Solomon says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven
> are an abomination unto him:" In Amos, he says that He will judge for
> three, yea four sins etc.
>
> What is the significance (if any) of this pattern? Is it a form of
> reaffirmation or a way to add force? Or was/is it just a Hebrew turn of
> phrase?
>
> I would appreciate if anyone who has an answer would post a reply.
>
> Clayton
>