Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Dear Vadim,

> How about otzer?
>
> The translation of confinement (otzer, vs8) as oppression is 
> unwarranted. The word is also translated thus in Psalm 107:39, which 
> is clearly wrong in relation to the princes mentioned there.

HH: The princes are not even mentioned until the following verse, so 
Ps 107:39 does not have to concern princes.

>  Rulers can be pressed (surrounded and wander in wastes) but not 
> oppressed. In the only other instance, Proverbs 30:16, the same word 
> refers to barren [womb], also a closed place, confinement. Because 
> of (from) oppression he was taken is also meaningless, unless we 
> assume he was taken from this world of oppression to the heavenly 
> kingdom; but Isaiah does not profess resurrection. In the Tanach, 
> taken [by God] is used only with Enoch and Elijah, and seems too 
> high-flown considering the writer's attitude toward his subject. 
> Further, this reading is not congruent with  his soul was exposed to 
> death.

HH: A translation note from the NET Bible says this:

tn The precise meaning of this line is uncertain. The translation 
above assumes that /m here has an instrumental sense, "by, through," 
and understands otzer umishpat , "coercion and legal decision," as a 
hendiadys meaning "coercive legal decision." Other interpretive 
options include: (1) "without [for this sense of /m, see BDB 578] 
hindrance and proper judicial process," i.e., "unfairly and with no 
one to defend him," (2) "from [in the sense of "after," see BDB 581] 
arrest and judgment."

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard



HH:

> Sincerely,
>
> Vadim Cherny
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