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b-hebrew - [b-hebrew] missing object in Gen 37:32 [They did not bring! - They had it brought.....! (Laziness in English translations)?]

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  • From: "Dr. Joel M. Hoffman" <joel AT exc.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] missing object in Gen 37:32 [They did not bring! - They had it brought.....! (Laziness in English translations)?]
  • Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:52:28 -0500 (EST)

>"vay$allaxu: )et-kato:net happassi:m" is perfectly fine.
>However, "vayy?:vi:)u:" has no object to explain what they brought. This
>appears very unusual to me.

Hebrew is one of the languages that can drop both subjects and
objects. "They brought it" is most naturally expressed as VAYAVI'U in
Hebrew. Exodus 32:3 shows the same pattern with the same verb.

-Joel



Joel M. Hoffman, PhD
http://www.exc.com/JoelHoffman



  • [b-hebrew] missing object in Gen 37:32 [They did not bring! - They had it brought.....! (Laziness in English translations)?], Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, 01/05/2007

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