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  • From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] 1Kings 3:19 )$r a relative?
  • Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 15:41:55 -0500

Dear Clay,

This is what Holmstedt* has to say about )$r in 1Kings 3:19:

Note (32) is a reference to 1Kings 3:19

"In (32), the head that the extraposed relative modifies is the noun phrase
son. The extraposed relative appears to be non-restrictively modifying the
head in that it provided additional information which is unnecessary for
identifying the referent of son (the head noun phrase son is already
identified by virtue of the construct relationship with this woman). The
relative clause is in fact providing the cause of death; the point is,
however, that syntactically it is more economical to analyze the rva clause
as a relative even if we render it as a causal clause in translation."

HH: But BDB and DCH identify )$R as a particle of relation or sign or relation. BDB says that "as a rule )$R is a mere connecting link and requires to be supplemented by a pronominal affix or other word, such as $M, defining the nature of the relation more precisely. . . ." Gesenius (138a) qualifies this by adding that )$R was originally a demonstrative pronoun.

HH: This issue of what is economical can cut both ways, since it is more economical to have )$R as a particle of relation than to have it perform two distinct functions. It is not that economical to have two functions that don't really cover what the word does. The question of the function is significant, since Robert admits that the function of the pertinent clause in 1 Kgs 3:19 is causal. The lexicons and older grammars see numerous functions for )$R and examples like 1 Kgs 3:19 bear out the wisdom of their observation. It evidently took on a variety of uses. Gesenius notes its function in temporal, final, and consecutive clauses (GKC 164-66).

Yours,
Harold Holmyard




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