Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Tyler Williams" <lists AT biblical-studies.ca>]

Hi everyone, I have rejoined this list after many years absence (and under
one of its previous incarnations); it’s good to be back.

 

I have what may be a simple question. I have used Bonnie Kittel’s Biblical
Hebrew: Text and Workbook in introductory Hebrew classes for many years. In
the first edition the name for the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet
was given as “khof.” I always thought that was a typo and told my students
to change the “o” to an “a”, i.e., “khaf” (= kap or כַּף).

 

I am now using the “fully revised” version by Victoria Hoffer and I was
surprised that there was no change; it is still represented as “khof” (and I
know it is not a mistake since it is pronounced with an “o” sound in the
cutesy alep-bet song on the CD).

 

Am I missing something? I have checked all of my Biblical Hebrew grammars
(GKC, Jouon, Waltke & O’Conner, Lambdin, van der Merwe, Bergman, Seow, etc.)
as well as a modern Hebrew grammar and none of them have the letter as
“khof” or “koph” or “kof” (and nor do any of them even suggest this is a
variation or alternative name for the letter). And if the name of the letter
is connected with the Hebrew word for hand, then the “o” vowel doesn’t make
sense.

 

Any thoughts?

 

-Tyler

 

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Tyler F. Williams

Home Email: tylerwilliams AT interbaun.com | Work: tyler.williams AT taylor-edu.ca

Codex: Resources for Biblical Studies:  <http://biblical-studies.ca>
http://biblical-studies.ca

 

Chair, Religion & Theology Department, Assistant Professor of Old Testament

Taylor University College | 11525 - 23 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada T6J 4T3

Phone: (780) 431-5217 | Fax: (780) 436-9416