Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Hi Chris, You wrote,

> It seems to me by comparing the exact phrase in other scriptures that 
> there
> are 'subtle' indications that the translation is a translation of
> "Understanding" and "Interpretation" rather than of "Grammar and syntax".

right.  This is why I added a little comment in my last post about the 
difference between translation and explanation.  It is very difficult to 
resist explaining, and probably every translation crosses the line into 
explanation at least occasionally.

> What compounds my lack of understanding  is that, for example, Jeremiah
> 49:12 where the Inf.Absolute is Qal and the finite verb following it is
> Niphal, reflexive back to the object  --  this is clear.  Except one 
> slight
> problem,  it has been stated that the piel of NKH means to aquit.  What 
> does
> the qal signify? I just feel that the English translations are in-precise
> and too free with whatever word they feel seems to best describe the
> interpretation.  Am I wrong?  then please show me.  (there is, I see, a
> masoretic note to this but I have no access to these things).  But 
> whatever
> the case it seems that the translation is still free to translate it as 
> the
> same as always - he shall not go unpunished. or the antithesis  --  he 
> shall
> surely be punished!!! But this latter is a dangerous understanding. for 
> then
> we would have to change completely Jeremiah 30:11 would'nt we? and say 
> that
> God is going to punish Israel in the same way that He will punish the
> Nations.  After all this is how the construction is translated elswhere.

Qal and Niphal mean "be acquitted" or "be cleared"
Piel means "to acquit"

> I notice in Genesis 24:41, first phrase where we read "then you shall be
> CLEARED from this oath"  Niphal.  Released from the burden of this
> responsibility obviously,
>
> Jeremiah 25:29, here we read Two Niphals. yet the translators have bored 
> us
> yet again with the same repetitous exclamation. "you will not go 
> unpunished"
> (Please forgive the frustration).

Actually there are three Niphals.  That's why the repetition.  The 
repitition is in the Hebrew, too.

Shalom,
Bryan

B. M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206

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