Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 29/04/2005 03:39, Deborah Millier wrote:

> ...
>
> > I would suggest that here we really 
> > have two interleaved sentences: 
> > "your youth will be renewed, you 
> > will become like an eagle". 
> >    
>
> Okay. I thought of that. But then what does it mean
> for for the author's NEPE$ to become "like an eagle"? 
>
>  
I take NEPE$ as meaning here (Psalm 103:5, as a reminder) something much 
like "self", in other words the psalmist is really talking about 
himself, and praising the Lord for renewing him and making him like an 
eagle. Indeed, since the psalmist is nominally David, we might suggest 
that (even if the actual author is someone else) this is intended to 
reflect David's life, that after the difficult period of conflict with 
Saul David was renewed and became like an eagle.

> ...
>
> Again, why then would the author desire his NEPE$ to
> become like a young eagle? His NEPE$ would sore? Catch
> rodents quickly? Have keen eyesight? Strength to claw
> and rip? What? :-)
>  

Well, if we still want to analyse poetry, I would suggest soar (but not 
literally, i.e. move effortlessly), see clearly, be strong, yes perhaps 
even catch enemies quickly. Remember that being like an eagle is a 
common theme in the Hebrew Bible, cf. e.g. Isaiah 40:31.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/



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