Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Peter,

> > The reason it's not reduced is that it bears the accent on the 
> > first syllable. ...
>
> No, at least not in BHS, where the accent mark is firmly under the 
> resh which is the secodn syllable. Anyway, this argument confuses 
> cause and effect.

HH: I don't know about confusing cause and effect, but I see that you 
are right. The accent is with the second vowel on CRWT in Ps. 25:17. 
The rule I learned was: in the construct word unstressed qames or 
sere reduces to shewa.

> > ... Accordance parses it as construct.
> Don't expect me to believe this on the basis of an authority. 
> Accordance (actually the WTS databse, I think) simply follows 
> traditional interpretations in such cases where the actual form is 
> ambiguous. But I accept James Price's argument that the accentuation 
> suggests a construct form - at least, that that was probably the 
> understanding of the Masoretes and of the pronunciation tradtion 
> which they wrote down.

HH: Yes, I accepted Price's argument, too.

> I note that LXX (24:17) has hAI QLIYEIS THS KARDIAS MOU 
> EPLATUNQHSAN, "the troubles of my heart were widened", which also 
> supports the construct interpretation. This agreement between LXX 
> and the Masoretes suggests that this is the original meaning - or at 
> least a very ancient understanding.

HH: I accept it as the original meaning. But the lack of reduction 
without an accent is a mystery to me. These are the cases of the 
construct: 1 Sam 10:19; Pss 25:17; 25:22; 31:8; 34:7; 34:18). I see a 
metheg signaling the preservation of the length of the first vowel of 
CRWT at 1 Sam 10:19, but it seems to be under the resh, so I don't 
know if that disqualifies it, yet I would think metheg could preserve 
the vowel length of the preceding vowel there. There is a metheg at 
Ps. 25:22 on the qames under tsade. At Ps 31:8 the accent does seem 
to be under the resh, as you pointed out for Ps 25:17. However, could 
a long vowel be required to complete the first syllable, which starts 
with shewa under beth? At Ps. 34:7 and 18 there is an accent above 
the first syllable as part of revia-mugrash.

1Sam. 10:19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of 
all your calamities and distresses. And you have said,  'No, set a 
king over us.' So now present yourselves before the LORD by your 
tribes and clans."
Psa. 25:17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
Psa. 25:22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Psa. 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my 
affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
Psa. 34:6  This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him 
out of all his troubles.
Psa. 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he 
delivers them from all their troubles.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard