Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David Kummerow <farmerjoeblo AT hotmail.com>]

Hi Bryan,

Yes, as you say the texts are pretty clear.

One ambiguous example of which I am aware that has profound meaning 
difference is Job 42:6. If taken there as a niphal, Job would be 
"repenting" with the object supplied by "`al `aphar waepher" (see eg 
Habel's commentary). If taken as a(n example of an intransitive) piel, 
Job states that he is "comforted" with the location of the comfort 
specified by "`al `aphar waepher". I personally prefer the second option 
(see my JHS article) as (a) it provides a nice inclusio with 2:11 
whereby comfort for Job in the book is only found in God; and (b) it 
provides a link back to the prologue in that in Job 42:6 Job does 
exactly what satan said he would never do: accept God for who he is and 
not for what he can get out of him. That is, Job is comforted by God 
even in the circumstance of "`al `aphar waepher". A rough rendering of 
the verse might be: "Therefore, I melt [in reverence] and have been 
comforted upon dust and ash."

Regards,
David Kummerow.


> Hi Karl,
>
> Noah's name isn't derived from NXM, if that's what you are saying.  It
> is derived from NWX, which is thematic in Gen 8:4 when the ark comes to
> rest on Ararat.
>
> As for NXM, you need to distinguish the stem the word is used in when
> you are trying to understand its meaning.  When NXM is used in the
> Niphal stem about forty-eight times it means to regret, to feel sorry
> about, or to feel grief.  When it is used in the Piel stem about fifty
> times it has a transitive meaning, to (give) comfort (to) someone.  The
> texts are pretty clear.
>
> BTW, I have no idea what you mean when you say RWC is used in Niphal
> stem.  I have no knowledge of such a case.  When the root is used
> transitively it is used in the Hiphil stem, and the corresponding
> passive Hophal stem.  I admit I didn't follow the whole RWC discussion.
>
> Regards,
> Bryan