Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Peter Kirk wrote:

> > > How about Genesis 17:5? I would have expected you to find that one, 
> > > Harold. Of course he wasn't the father of many nations before he 
> > > died, for at that time he had only a few descendants, not whole 
> > > nations of them. So he must have been that after he died.
> > >     
> >
> >
> > HH: I saw the verse, but it does not use "hayah."
> >
> >   
>
> Indeed, but I thought you were questioning James' "Abraham lived and 
> died and yet will always be considered the father of many nations", 
> and suggesting that this was stated only in the New Testament.


HH: No, we were discussing whether "was" can be a proper translation in 
cases where a deceased person's legacy is discussed, and when the legacy 
often did not develop until after the person's death and has lasting 
reality.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard