Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Steven:

> Harold's b-hebrew commentary above says these 
> "dropped the maqqeph between "all" and "your name." 
>
> NIV - exalted above all things your name and your word. 
> ESV - exalted above all things your name and your word. 
> NIV - exalted above all things your name and your word. 
> NRSV - exalted your name and your word above everything 
> JPS-1985 - exalted Your name, Your word, above all. 
>
> The NIV justification is "theological"
> www.ibs.org/niv/accuracy/NIV_AccuracyDefined.pdf 
> See page 22.
>
>  
HH: The idea here is that very rarely the Hebrew uses asyndeton between 
nouns where one expects a wav conjunction (copulative). Here are 
definitions of asyndeton, but I can't recall offhand an example with 
nouns. Possibly Gen 1:11 could be with "grass" and "herbs," but that 
might be apposition. However, I know there are cases of noun asyndeton 
in the OT.
http://www.dailyhebrew.com/index.php/Glossary

Asyndeton: The lack of a copulative, relative marker or other type of 
conjunction between words, phrases and clauses

Immediacy peak may be marked by asyndeton, that is, coordinating 
particles may be omitted from the peak as the narrative proceeds too 
rapidly for standard connection.

ASYNDETON:
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_A.html

The artistic elimination of conjunctions in a sentence to create a 
particular effect. See schemes for more information.

Asyndeton -- using no conjunctions to create an effect of speed or 
simplicity: Veni. Vidi. Vici. "I came. I saw. I conquered." (As opposed 
to "I came, and then I saw, and then I conquered.") Been there. Done 
that. Bought the t-shirt.

Other forms of compression include a straight asyndeton (absence of 
connecting particles), used for speed e.g. in Judges 5.27 and throughout 
Ps 93. These use verbs. Asyndeton is by far more common in Hebrew with 
verbs than with nouns.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard