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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Proverbs 21:14 KPH

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  • From: Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Proverbs 21:14 KPH
  • Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 19:13:55 -0600

On Wednesday 21 July 2004 16:17, 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? 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?

A "gift in secret" is a clear term for a bribe. It's obvious, then, why they
don't want the gift to be known. The part about perverting justice is a bit
of eisegesis that isn't in the text. The question is, whose
wrath/anger/fury/whatever? The most likely candidate is the one receiving
the gift or bribe.

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

Uh-uh. Every lexical tool available indicates that both the root and the
surface word mean "pacify," from a base meaning of "bend." Hence, the bribe
turns away or appeases anger.

--
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
Insert clever epigram here...or not




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