Biblical Hebrew Forum

["B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>]

Hi David,

I read your article with great interest (thanks!) having written my own 
interpretation of Job (for a popular audience), which I hope will be 
published soon.  Of course, we all relish the chance to explain our take 
on the enigmatic book.

Job 42:6 venixamti reads quite naturally as a standard niphal.  Do you 
know of other cases of NXM used as an "intransitive piel"?  I expect "I 
am comforted" would be nuxamti (pual).

All the best,
Bryan

David Kummerow wrote:
> 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
> >
> >     
>
>   

--
B.M. Rocine
Living Word Church
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