Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <Yigal-Levin AT utc.edu>]

Hi Jim,

The Vulgate, as well, has "quasi simplicia", which the NRSV takes as "like
delicious morsels". The opposing tradition, followed by Rashi and other
Jewish commentators, understand "mithlahamym" as coming from the root HLM,
meaning "to strike" (as in Prov. 18:6 - "A fool's lips bring strife, and a
fool's mouth invites a flogging" [NRSV]"). Along this line the KJV
translated "The words of a talebearer are as wounds" and the NJPS "The
words of a querulous man are as bruising". This is also how "mithlahamym"
is used in modern Hebrew, although I'd have to look up when this was
introduced and by whom. 
Since the whole chapter compares the "words" of the foolish to those of the
wise, but in no particular order, and I'm not sure what a "Nirgan" is, it's
hard to tell.

Yigal


At 01:19 PM 6/24/2003 -0400, Jim West wrote:
>The word "mithlahamym" occurs only here.  Its a tough one- an oddity.
>Anyone care to try an explanation (and i already know it means something
>like dainty morsel- and the LXX has "soft" for it.).
>
>Thanks
>
>Jim
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>Jim West
>Quartz Hill School of Theology
>Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
>
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Dr. Yigal Levin
Dept. of Philosophy and Religion
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga TN 37403-2598
U.S.A.