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  • From: Peter Bekins <pbekins AT fuse.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Using an unpointed text
  • Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:25:36 -0400

Karl,

You wrote:

>>Proverbs 13:1 בן חכם מוסר אב
>>Proverbs 15:20 בן חכם ישׂמח־אב
>>
>>Looking at the verses above, one would think that the first two words
>>are the same, but they aren't. In the top example, the only word that
>>fits the context that can fulfill the function of a verb is BN...

I don't know about this one. You don't discern(BYN) MUSAR, you LQX it or $M( it or QBL it or something similar. As you state, and especially in context with )B, your obvious first impression is to read "wise son", and I think this is the correct reading.

The full verse is:

בן חכם מוסר אב ולץ לא שמע גערה

Hebrew poetry commonly uses a technique called "gapping" where one colon has no verb (ie, an obvious gap), but the reader knows to supply the verb from the parallel clause. In this case that verb is $M (, which fits much better with MUSAR. The BN XKM is being contrasted with the LC while the MUSAR (B is a synonym of G(RH. Thus you are correct to feel tension as if there is a verb missing in the first clause, but the answer is not to read BN as a verb, but to supply $M ( in contrast to the second clause: L) $M(. I would translate:

"A wise son [listens to] a father's discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke"

sincerely,
Peter Bekins





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