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  • From: "George F. Somsel" <gfsomsel AT juno.com>
  • To: jcordaro AT intergate.com
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Hebrew plural
  • Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 02:29:05 -0400

On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 22:09:58 -0400 John Cordaro <jcordaro AT intergate.com>
writes:
> Can someone please elaborate on Eccl 12:1 and Isaiah 54:5. Is it true
>
> that "Creator" is plural in Eccl 12:1 and "husband" and "Maker" are
>
> plural in Is 54:5?
> If so, how does one determine it is plural and how should we then
> understand these verses? Is it similar to a plural of majesty or are
> we
> to believe there are two Creators (or more) which is contrary to Is
>
> 44:24 which states YHWH created "alone" and by Himself?
>
> Thanks,
> John
>
> _______________________________________________

Eccl. 12.1
W.Z:CoR )eT_B.oWR:)eYKf B.iYM"YM"Y B.XW.RoTeYKf . . .

Is 54.5
K.iY Bo(a:LaYiK . . .

In both these passages there is a common phenomenon -- the words with
which you are concerned are masc. pl. parts. in the construct state with
suffixes. This is evidenced by the Yod preceeding the suffix. I would
recommend that you study the changes that occur when a word is in the
construct state.

george
gfsomsel
>From jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net Mon Aug 9 02:26:21 2004
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Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2004 23:27:45 -0700
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Hebrew plural
From: "C. Stirling Bartholomew" <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net>
To: John Cordaro <jcordaro AT intergate.com>,
<b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
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On 8/8/04 9:46 PM, "C. Stirling Bartholomew" <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net>
wrote:

> RE: Eccl 12:1
>
> BR) shows up as a participle in the following places:
>
> Is. 40:28 Is. 42:5 Is. 43:1 Is. 43:15 Is. 45:7 Is. 45:18 Is. 57:19 Is. 65:17
> Is. 65:18 Amos 4:13 Psa. 102:19 Eccl. 12:1
>
> Only in Eccl 12:1 is it a plural.

BR) as a finite verb shows up as a plural only in Nifal (passive).

Ex. 34:10 Is. 48:7 Psa. 148:5 Psa. 104:30

I could find no infinitives of BR) with a plural agent.

I am no expert on ANE cosmology but searching my memory on pagan creation
myths I could not remember any with multiple creators. Perhaps someone else
can provide an example.


greetings,
Clay Bartholomew







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