Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Isaiah 29:11-12

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Medina, Vincent" <VMedina AT cbcag.edu>
  • To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Isaiah 29:11-12
  • Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 14:56:02 -0500

Harold:

You are correct--BHS does typeset this as prose. However, given the
parallel structure of the unit, one wonders why.

Vince

>I have been working on the verse-structure of Isaiah 29:11-12. As you
>know, most translations-JPS, NIV, NRSV, typeset these verses as prose.

HH: So does BHS.

>However, despite a rather high prose-particle count, it looks like
>poetry to me. My big problem has been versification. I have tried a
>number of approaches including, dividing 11 into three bicola (12
>always comes out as a tricolon in my reckoning), or dividing it into an

>introductory bicolon followed by a quatrain. Unfortunately, I have not
>been satisfied with either of those schemes. Today I came up with an
>alternative which I think might be the answer, but which is also
>problematic since it treats vv. 11-12 as an introductory colon
>(monocolon?) followed by an octacolon-yikes! I am a little nervous
>about this because octacola are rare. Nevertheless, here is what it
>looks like with a rough English translation. Would you mind telling me
>what you think?
>
>
>
>v. 11a Intro. And every vision has become to you
>
>v. 11b A Like the words of the sealed book
>
>v. 11c B Which they give it to one who knows writing
>
>v. 11d C Saying, read this please
>
>v. 11e D But he says, I cannot
>
>v. 11f A For it is sealed
>
>v. 12a B And they give the book to someone who does
not
>know writing
>
>v. 12b C Saying read this please
>
>v. 12c D But he says I do not know writing.


HH: It looks all right to me. Perhaps the repetitive elements make it
seem more like poetry.

Associate Professor
Central Bible College
3000 N. Grant Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65803





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page