Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Steve Miller wrote:

> Thanks Herman! Thanks for clarifying. I believe that. How would youtranslate Isa 
> 53:2 & Ps 25:11 as literally as possible, but still makesense?-Steve
>  

HH: You could use "then" for wav in Ps. 25:11, looking back at the 
divine characteristics mentioned in the immediately previous verses.  
You could use "so" in Isa 53:2. Of course in th latter verse it matters 
how you divide the verse. The current tendency is to reject the 
Masoretic athnach, but the sentence can work with the Masoretic pointing:

And he grew up as a sprout before him and as a root from dry ground. 
There was no form to him or majesty so we should look at him, and there 
was no appearance so we should desire him.

Or:

And he grew up as a sprout before him and as a root from dry ground. 
There was no form to him or majesty. When we looked at him, also there 
was no appearance so we should desire him.

HH: I would probably choose "so that" over "so." Wav can express result.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard