Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jason Hare" <jason AT hareplay.com>]

English translations are only attempts at explaining the meaning of the
original. The JPS offered this as their translation in 1917:

"For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evil-doers have inclosed me;
like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet."

I just have to say that this translation makes sense to me given the
context. I don't know that "like a lion are my hands and feet" would make
all that much sense. I can't see this since in the context he is describing
himself as the victim of a type of ambush.

"To be" is not dropped from the Hebrew. It is just not there. Do not think
of it as reverse translation (English to Hebrew). Rather, realize that they
are two distinct languages from two groups of people who think
distinctively. Perhaps this phrase (KA'ARI YADAY V'RAGLAY) made perfect
sense to the original audience. Rather, though, I think that the
justification for the textual emendation can be found to favor this as the
original reading. The emendation would have been made in order to try and
"make sense" out of the confusion.

Regards,
Jason

> Here is a question for you.  The translation you favor reads "Like a lion
> [at] my hands and feet".  However there does not appear to be any "at" in
> the phrase.  Am I missing something in the text or are you offering a
> suggested emendation?  What do you think of the previous comment that the
> verb "to be" in the present tense is often dropped?  Would the translation
> "Like a lion are my hands and feet" make any sense?  Clearly the previous
> commenter did not think so.
>
> dkimbrough AT clwa.org