Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

This BDB list is exactly the sort of lexicography to which I object. This is 
not giving the meaning of the word, rather it is a list of possible 
translations. In other words, entries like this show that BDB is a 
translator’s dictionary, not a dictionary for a student who wants to learn to 
think in Biblical Hebrew.

Every time I studied a foreign language, I studied it with the goal of 
thinking in that language. I have the same goal while reading Tanakh in 
B-Hebrew.

For example, does the B-prefix mean “with”? I can’t think of one time except 
in the very narrow context where “with” is used as a sign of instrumentality. 
As a sign of instrumentality, “with” is occasionally the short, easy way to 
give an English translation than to give a more awkward but accurate meaning 
of the Hebrew: but here we are talking English style and not Hebrew meaning.

I’d rather have a paragraph describing the uses of a word, than a list of 
possible words that can be used to translate it.

As for Genesis 1:26–7, we need to read it in the context of CLM (tselem). 
Does CLM necessarily mean a physical copy? My understanding is “No”. My 
understanding is that the root meaning of CLM is “shadow” from which the 
image of an object is cast. By way of extension, it also is used to refer to 
a physical object used to image a god, hence an idol. CLMWT from the same 
root seems to have the meaning “(fearful) shadows” (translated in Psalm 23:4 
as “shadow of death”).

Therefore, when the text reads that man was created “in the image of God” the 
Hebrew meaning is that man was created with many of the attributes of God: 
his creativity, emotions, sense of beauty, logical thought, recognition of 
justice yet ability to love and forgive. Quite an image!

A similar use of BCLM is found in Genesis 5:3.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: Polycarp66 AT aol.com

> In a message dated 1/14/2004 12:12:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> klbarney AT yahoo.com writes:
> 
> > I have a friend who is arguing that the inseparable
> > beth in Gen. 1:26 does not mean "in" (IE man was
> > created *in* the image of God), but rather "as" (IE
> > man was created *as* the image of God).  The parallel
> > suggested for this usage is Exod. 6:3, where the
> > preposition does indeed appear to have this type of a
> > connotation.
> > 
> > (The point of this argument is to say that God doesn't
> > have an image of his own, and he created man to be his
> > image, as a representation of him, or something like
> > that.)
> > 
> 
> _____
> 
> The BETH preposition does not have only one usage.  In fact, almost no word 
> does (unless you wish to consider that words used once or infrequently are 
> such 
> though it is more likely that we simply haven't sufficient representatives 
> of 
> the word).  In BDB has a lengthy list from which this has been excerpted.
> 
> I.  IN
> 
> 1. in
> 
> 2.
> a. among 
> b. some of 
> 
> 3. within
> 
> 4. into
> 
> 5. time
> 
> 6. of state or condition within which an action takes place
> 
> 7. introducing the object
> a. in which the subject consists or shows itself
> b. secondary predicate
> c. a pred. as accus.
> d. comparison -- in the form of , as
> 
> II. With -- proximity
> 
> 1. at, by
> 
> 2. on
> 
> 3. with vbs of touching etc.
> 
> 4. with vbs implying hostility
> a. against
> b. down to, upon
> 
> III.  
>  
> 1. with
> a. accompaniment
> b. with what one brings with one (B.:):YN without
> c. concommitant conditions
> 
> 2. instrument or means
> a. with, by
> b. idiomatic with certain vbs "with", "by means of"
> c. through
> d. allied -- as to swear "in the name of "
> e. B.aM.fH or B.aM.eH = "how?"
> 
> 3. cost or price
> a. buying, betrothing, etc.
> b. selling, etc.
> 
> 4. object treated as instrument "shake with the head"
> 
> 5. causal "through", "on account of"
> 
> As Yul Brynner in "The King and I" was accustomed to say, "Et cetera, et 
> cetera, et cetera."  The point being that one should never look at one 
> passage and 
> decide that the usage found therein is determinative for all others.  The 
> usage in Ex 6.3 is actually more like the usage of Kaf (K.) though 
> prepositions 
> frequently overlap in their usage as in Greek.
> 
> gfsomsel
> 
> _______________________________________________
> b-hebrew mailing list
> b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew

-- 
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm