Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Gary Hedrick" <garyh AT cjfm.org>]

        Like others here, I don't really see where the definite article in
ha-almah presents a theological problem to anyone. Jewish interpreters will
say that the definite article indicates that the almah was a young woman who
was known in Hezekiah's time. Christian interpreters, on the other hand, say
it's a prophetic reference to Miriam (Mary), the mother of Yeshua (Jesus).
She was "the" virgin; that is, she was "the" one who was chosen by God to be
the mother of the Messiah.
        Still others say it's not either/or, but both. There was a maiden in
Hezekiah's day who served as a type or foreshadowing of the yet-future
mother of the Messiah. The NIV Study Bible, in fact, presents this view. 
        So I really don't think this question is going to be resolved until
the Messiah comes. Then we'll find out who was right. And it's questionable
that the Hebrew terms here prove or disprove any of the major views.
        Perhaps a more fruitful line of inquiry re: Isaiah 7:14 would be the
meaning of the word "sign" (owt). Was a "sign" ordinarily something that
took place rather soon after it was given, or could it be a long-term
benchmark, even spanning generations, as the NT indicates is the case with
this passage in Isaiah (Matt. 1:22-23)?

Gary Hedrick
San Antonio, Texas USA

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of JoeWallack AT aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007 10:13 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] Definite Article 7:14

 
On Mar 22, 2007, at 7:21 PM, Harold Holmyard wrote:

> Dear  Joseph,
>
> If you don't like Gesenius, I will give you the same  information from
> Waltke-O'Connor, Biblical Hebrew Syntax (1990)  #15.5.1e, quoting:
> The article may also mark nouns definite in the  imagination,  
> designating either a particular person or thing  necessarily understood to

be  
> present or vividly portraying  someone or something whose identity is not
> otherwise indicated . . .  .  In some cases the proper English  
> rendering is  indefinite:
>
> Gen 18:7 He gave (it) to _a servant_.


JW:
Yes, looking for examples in the Hebrew Bible is excellent evidence  for 
meaning. Regarding Genesis 18:7 though a better question than how the 
Hebrew definite article was translated is how it should 
have been  translated. For reference purposes:

(_http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/gen18.pdf_ 
(http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/gen18.pdf) ) 
 
_http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0118.htm_ 
(http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0118.htm) 
 
?  ?????-????????, ??? ?????????; ?????????  ????-??????
 ???? ??????, ????????? ???-????????, ?????????, 
????????? ?????. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender
and  
good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.
 
This wasn't just any old lad, was it? It was Abraham's servant. The
Definite 
article is what makes that clear. Once again, it sounds okay either way  in 
English so I don't see an Indefinite translation forced or even preferred  
here. 


Some Jewish Tradition appears to have attached some significance to the  
definite article here:

(_http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=8213&showrashi=true_ 
(http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=8213&showrashi=true) ) 



"7. And to the cattle  did Abraham run, and he took a calf, tender and good,

and he gave it to the  youth, and he hastened to prepare it. 
 
       a calf, tender and  good  There were three calves, in order to feed 
them three tongues  with mustard. —      [from B.M.  86b]
 
      to  the youth  This was Ishmael, to train him to perform mitzvoth. — 
[from  Aboth d’Rabbi Nathan, ch. 13]"


Since we all agree that the Hebrew definite article for the most part,  
serves 
the same purpose as the English definite article, I'm still looking  for 
really good 
multiple examples of Hebrew usage that would clearly have an Indefinite  
English 
translation in order to support an Indefinite English translation for 7:14.

This is 
all before we look at the surrounding Specific context of 7:14.  



Joseph




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