Biblical Hebrew Forum

["B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>]

B-Haverim,

We should knock off the discussion of translation if we cannot get back to 
discussing the Hebrew Bible in particular.

In a quick search I found six times in Genesis that refer to someone 
speaking either "to his (own) heart" (as in vayyo'mer libo)or to the heart 
of another person.

Most other books of the Bible had *no* such figure.

Most of the other books that did use the figure, had it only once.

A couple books, Isaiah, for instance had it twice.

Here are the Genesis references:  Gen 8:21, 17:17, 24:45, 27:41, 34:3, 50:21

Personally, I would say six such figures represents in Genesis a 
significantly thematic repetition to try to preserve it in translation.  I 
think it is a shame and a disservice to any audience to obliterate such a 
figure by substituting an *explanation* such as "he thought" for a 
translation of Hebrew leb, "heart."  Robert Alter considers it heretical to 
pass off explanations, interpretations, and commentaries as translations 
(and I agree with him).

Shalom,
Bryan


B. M. Rocine
b-hebrew co-chair
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206

ph: 315.437.6744
fx: 315.437.6766