Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 21/07/2004 23:17, Karl Randolph wrote:

> To All:
>
> This is a hapax legomai lexeme in Tanakh, do we have any clues as to its 
> definition?
>
> “A gift in secret ??? anger, and a bribe in the bosom (???) strong fury.”
>
> Why is the gift in secret, unless neither the giver nor the givee want it to 
> be known that the gift was made? Why wouldn’t they want the gift to be known? 
> ...

Because it's a bribe, as the synonymous parallel makes clear.

> ... Similarly, a bribe in the bosom is being hidden. Why, if not to pervert 
> justice?  What is the typical reaction when people see injustice being 
> practiced, if not fury?
>  

Absolutely.

> Hence, from the context, I read this term as having the definition of 
> “excite” or “inflame”.
>  

Well, it could simply mean "causes" or "results in".

> Is there any clue from cognate languages or elsewhere that would override the 
> contextual clues?
>
> Karl W. Randolph.
>  


--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/