Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Medina, Vincent" <VMedina AT cbcag.edu>]

Greetings to All:

 

I have been doing some research on Isaiah 28. As you know there is much
controversy over the interpretation of vv. 8-12, particularly how to
understand the words, tsav latsav, tsav latsav, qav laqav, qav laqav. 

 

Most think that the traditional translation "precept upon precept,
precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line" is inadequate.
Some think it represents a teacher teaching his students to recite the
alphabet (which brings up the question of whether the names of the
consonants has changed as well as the order), some think it is an
imitation of baby talk, some an actual attempt at speaking in Akkadian,
some just nonsense syllables.

 

Have you encountered any theories that you find convincing regarding the
interpretation of these verses?

 

Thanks!

 

Vincent Medina