Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

Karl,
If you show to any Hebrew speaking high-school boy the first part of  
Song of Songs 1:10
נָאווּ לְחָיַיִךְ בַּתֹּרִים
NA)WU LXAYAYIK BA-TORIM, pretending that it is modern poetry, he will  
know right away what the poet has in mind. Without so much as a hint  
of hesitation he will lay out the scene for you as such. The poet and  
his beloved are standing in line [see Esther 2:12,15 for TOR, line,  
chain, series], say in front of the Clear Flour bakery, on a chilly  
autumn Sunday morning [the line is mostly outside since the bakery  
can accommodate no more than three customers at one time]. Glancing  
at her sideways he is struck by the irresistible sight of her lovely  
cheeks glowing in the cold.
But why the plural? Why, Because there is more than one line, there  
are TORIM, to stand at on Sunday morning, and at every line the  
object of his desire is getting prettier and more appealing in the  
blush of her ruddy countenance, and his heart goes out to her.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Nov 7, 2007, at 1:14 PM, K Randolph wrote:

> Isaac:
>
> On 11/6/07, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > To be on the safe side, the ANB translates XARUZ-IM of Song of Songs
> > 1:10
> > נָאווּ לְחָיַיִךְ בַּתֹּרִים,
> > צַוָּארֵךְ בַּחֲרוּזִים
>
> Looking at this verse, should we not expect that XRWZYM has a similar
> meaning to TRYM? Possibly referring to a soft, fluffy animal?
>
> N)WW is a niphal plural from )WH.
>
> LXYYK plural from LXY with a 2 pers. suffix.
>
> TR, alternately spelled as TWR, is also in plural with a prefixed B-.
>
> CW)RK, singular, but in parallel with LXY, with a 2 pers. suffix.
>
> XRWZ in parallel with TR, also in plural, also with a prefixed B-. And
> just as TR is not made up of aggregated parts put together, why within
> this context should we assume that XRWZ is such? Doesn't the context
> indicate the opposite?
>
> Translated should not the verse read, "Desired are your cheeks among
> turtle doves (soft and fluffy), also your neck among ???" ?
>
> Any clues from cognate languages?
>
> Karl W. Randolph.
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