Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David Stabnow" <dstabno AT lifeway.com>]

Lawrence May wrote: "How is 'Discourse Analysis' different from an
interpretation based on context?"

Because it is not just the semantic context, which is what most people
think of as context, but also the "formal" context -- that is, the verb
forms and sentence structure in the context.

E.g., one or more X-QATAL clauses before a string of WAYYIQTOL clauses
would probably indicate recovered information (Gen 39:1) or staging
(45:16).  But X-QATAL in the midst of a series of WAYYIQTOL clauses might
be comparison/contrast (Gen 45:22-23) or it may indicate that the peak of
the episode is near (43:15 or 44:3-4 or 45:1b, 3b).  And X-QATAL at the end
of a series of WAYYIQTOL clauses sometimes indicates closure (Gen 46:7),
especially if it is followed by an aperture for the next episode (Gen
45:14-15).

Dave Stabnow
Bible Translation Editor
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Nashville, Tennessee
615-251-5851
david.stabnow AT lifeway.com

    Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for God's glory.  (1 Cor 10:31, HCSB)