Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

Kelton & Rolf:

For my 2¢ worth:

Words from the (LM root do not have a clear English 
equivalent as far as I can tell. A single gloss won't fit.

I think it has the basic meaning of being unknown, which 
in the Hiphil "cause to be unknown" i.e. to hide.

(WLM refers to a span of time of unknown, and possibly 
unknowable, length. This can include eternity. But I don't 
know of any uses where it refers to times of less than at 
least several years in duration, or at least the expectation 
thereof.

Even the English word "forever" has some uncertainty, as 
"a slave forever" refers only to the slave's natural life. 
Death frees him. But I agree that the baggage that this 
term has makes it not an accurate translation of (WLM.

Now I'm not a translator, but in this case I recognize that it 
is a can of worms: do I go with paraphrasing, use different 
terms for where it is appropriate, or develop a phrase to 
use each time in a "literal" translation? When would a 
phrase be accurate enough yet not onerous in itself? How 
complex would it have to be in order accurately to 
describe the Hebrew sense to those who have not studied 
Hebrew?

In comparison, just writing dictionaries is easy.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: kgraham0938 AT comcast.net
> 
> @Dr.Furuli:
> 
> Hello,  I am having a hard time understanding your view of OLAM and 
> the NWT.  That is fine you regard it as a good translation, 
> however, in regards to OLAM being translated as "time indefinite."  
> I guess the question is how do you define "indefinite?"
> 
> Indefinite usually means "unclear, uncertain, vague etc."  I don't 
> think this is what OLAM is communciating.  Because if the time is 
> unclear that could be referring to something that happened 10 
> minutes ago or even an hour ago.  It's simply not known.
> 
> Like if I took Duet 15:17. L:KA 'EVED 'OLAM and translated it is 
> "and she will be your servant for an unclear amount of time"
> 
>   Halot has OLAM meaning, "long time duration, future time, a long 
> time back, eternal."   I think the "long time" element is missing 
> from time indefinite.
> --
> Kelton Graham
> KGRAHAM0938 AT comcast.net

-- 
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