Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] virgin vs young woman

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Harold Holmyard <hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] virgin vs young woman
  • Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:35:36 -0500

Dear Kenneth,
A lot of people say that betula does not mean virgin because in some quotes it says a virgin that did not know a man, so "that did not know a man" shows that the word means virgin in that quote.

I have read that in the Tanakh there are many examples of unnecessary repetition. For example, Leviticus 11:41 and 43 say not to eat "swarming things that swarm". It could have just said not to eat swarming things. Why say "that swarm"?

Genesis 25:8 and 17 say Abraham expired and died. Aren't they both the same?

Job 42:17 says he was old and full of days. Isn't that unnecessary repetition also?

Maybe repetition of ideas is just normal in the Tanakh.

HH: There is perhaps some validity in what you're saying, but probably in each case there are reasons for the seeming repetition. Take Lev 11:41, for example:

Lev. 11:41 And every creeping thing that creepeth ($RC) upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

HH: There are also swarming things in the sea. The same word is used elsewhere for them:

Gen. 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth ($RC), which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

HH: So the repetition in Lev 11:41 is to clarify that he speaks of creatures that swarm on the land.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page