Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bryant J. Williams III" <bjwvmw AT com-pair.net>]

Dear List,

A question appeared regarding the etymology of "suph?"

My Hebrew professors at Northwest Baptist Seminary, Dr. Richard Patterson 
(later
professor emeritus at Liberty) and colleague, Dr Herman Austel, both related
"suph" to the Egyptian word, "twfi" meaning "marsh plant, papyrus." This is
found in TWOT, Vol. 2, p. 620, #1479, "suph". The author of the article was 
Dr.
Patterson. The article also says that,

"The word enters prominently into the problem of the route of the Exodus in 
the
territory of "yam suph" "sea of reeds." In a narrow sense, this term refers to
the area of the Exodus crossing, possibly either the Bitter Lakes (southern
crossing) or Lake Timsah (central crossing). More broadly, it refers to the 
area
including the modern Gulf of Suez (Num 33:10-11) and the Gulf of Aqaba (I Kgs
9:26). The KJV "Red Sea" stems from the LXX which included a still wider area.
There is no warrant for the idea that the water was shallow an no miracle was
involved. Any deep sea may have reeds on its edge and both the Bitter Lakes 
and
Lake Timsah are large and deep bodies of water."

En Xristw,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III


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