Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Peter Kirk" <peterkirk AT ozemail.com.au>]

I see that BDB classifies this word MF(OWZ under the root (WZ although
noting "MT sfs. as if from (ZZ, but prob. erron.", thus suggesting a
sense related to (WZ "take or seek refuge" rather than (ZZ "be strong".
Of course the difference is a subtle one, and a fortress is both a
strong place and a place of refuge. Also we must be careful to
understand the word according to its usage rather than its etymology.
But it does suggest that the gloss in the subject line "the strong" is
rather speculative.

For the sense "fortress", see also Is 23:11,14, cf.v.4, Ezk 24:25,
30:15, Dan 11:7,10,19,31,39. There seems to be plenty of evidence in
this chapter alone where the context strongly indicates a sense like
"fortress".

Peter Kirk
peter.r.kirk AT ntlworld.com
http://web.onetel.net.uk/~peterkirk/
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-hebrew-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Ian Hutchesson
> Sent: 05 February 2003 06:17
> To: b-hebrew list
> Subject: [b-hebrew] god of the strong (Dan 11:38)
> 
> 
> Hello!
> 
> Could someone tell me why the RSV and a number of other versions
> (including the old JPS) translates m`zym in Dan 11:38 as fortresses?
> I note in the following verse the phrase mbcry m`zym means "strong
> holds" (= fortresses) and one can see the thought process of passing
> from "strong" to "strong hold", but why translate m`zym as fortresses?
> Neither the LXX and the Vulgate even translate it, merely
> transliterating, perhaps indicating the thought that it is a name to
them.
> 
> Is there something I'm missing here?
> 
> 
> Ian
>