Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

On Thu 28 Jun 2007 (06:51:05), bmeltzer1243 AT yahoo.com wrote:
> The term "mi pesha ami nega lamo" in Isaiah 53:8 is usually translated
> as: "from the transgressions of my people, a plague befell them
> (lamo)."  The "them" is usually understood to be the servant i.e.
> Israel.  However, I've seen a few people suggest that this refers to
> the Gentiles or nation rather than the servant.

 Dear Bruce,

 MiPPe$a` ... LaMoW is interesting. The MiN in MiPPe$a` is the MiN of
 cause - "Because of the rebellion of My people...".

 LaMoW (in pause with soph pasuq) is L:MoW, a poetical form for
 either LoW  or LaHeM. This yields two possibilities:
 1.  Singular LoW   was he stricken  (RV text), emphasizing the vicarious
 role of the Servant;
 2.  Plural LaHeM  [the people] to whom the stroke was due  (RV margin),
 emphasizing the guilt of the people.
 The RV margin also adds "Heb. /was the stroke upon him./".

> Grammatically speaking how plausible is this rendition over the conventional
> one? Does the servant as the object of lamo come from the context of Isaiah
> 53 (verses 53:4, 53:10 describing his illness) or is it inferred based on
> the syntax of the verse alone?

 The decision is based upon the "number" of LaMoW; but either of the
 two possibilities is plausible. The "Suffering Servant" is standing
 proxy for "the people" in Isaiah 53; so he takes the rap otherwise due
 to the rebellious people. Compare verses 4 and 5.

 Shalom

 Ben
-- 
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