Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Michael,

>  > > HH: Liz gave one reason, and I gave another. But
> >  > if you want a third reason, your translation
> >  > doesn't have YHWH as a possible object. If LW
> >  > means "for itself," then there is no object for
> >  > the verb "choose."
>  > >
> >  Harold,
> >  This is what I've been trying to say all along.
> >  LW means "for itself/himself." There's no object for
> >  "choose." To have "Him" be the object as Michael
> >  wants, it would have to be BW.
> >  Liz
>
>
> Liz and Harold (...anyone?),
>
> Please assume that I am totally dense and walk me
> through this, okay?  I am actually trying to learn
> from those with more experience in the language.
> Therefore, letís not work off my *translation* which
> we all agree could use some work.  Letís please argue
> and instruct from the MT of Psa. 33:12.
>
> Now here are my observations.  Tell me exactly where
> my reasoning is faulty:
>
> 1.  HGWY and H(M are in synonymous parallelism ñ both
> referring back to )$RY.
>
> 2.  The first stiche is a verbless clause; the second
> is not.
>
> 3.  The verb in the second stiche is ms; YHWH and (M
> are both ms.
>
> 4.  Therefore the same syntactic rules apply to either
> YHWHís ìchoosingî or H(Mís ìchoosing.î  If one
> requires a prefixed B- then so does the other.
>
> 5.  But this is poetry and terse, therefore object
> markers and prepositions are sometimes missing.
>
> 6.  Consequently, in our little poetry world, what
> applies syntactically to the ms YHWH theoretically
> applies to the ms H(M.  If YHWH can ìchooseî
> something/one LW, then so can H(M ìchooseî
> something/one LW.  And visa-versa.
>
> 7.  Therefore, the verse is syntactically ambiguous.
>
> 8.  So the question must now go beyond the range of
> syntax.  Karl R. has offered some helpful thoughts
> concerning who (or Who) usually does the choosing in
> Israelís and YHWHís covenant relationship.  It is
> YHWH.  Usually.
>
> 9.  However, it is not always YHWH Who chooses;
> sometimes people choose Him in the TaNaKH.  And it is
> not always Israel who is YHWHís NXLH (i.e.
> inheritance); sometimes YHWH is described as Israelís
> or the Levitesí, or someoneís ìinheritance.î
>
> 10. Therefore I wonder why this verse is consistently
> translated one way, with Israel ending up as YHWHí
> NXLH.

HH: You seem to be assuming that everything is 
pretty much equal, so it is just a matter of 
seeing which subject and object is most 
appropriate. But the grammar works differently in 
each case.

)$RY HGWY )$R YHWH )LHYW
H(M BHR LNXLH LW

HH: If God is the subject of the second clause, everything goes smoothly:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (which the Lord is its God),
The people He chose as an inheritance for Himself.

HH: If the people is the subject, things do not proceed well.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord
The people which chose as an inheritance for itself.

HH: The verb "chose" is missing an object. How 
would you alter the preceding statement?

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard