Biblical Hebrew Forum

[kgraham0938 AT comcast.net]

I think it is because of the 'heh interrogative' along with the conditional 
clause.  In otherwords it is a question followed by a conditional.  Literally 
translated it reads something like

Is it not that if you do well, uplifting?  But if you do not do well sin is 
crouching at the door.

Uplifting here would more or less point to YHWH's blessing, so that is why 
they translate it as "will you not be accepted."
--
Kelton Graham 
KGRAHAM0938 AT comcast.net

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: peniel momoh <penielop AT yahoo.com> 

> Hello, 
> Can anyone help with an analysis of this passage (Gen. 4:7), halo im taytiv 
> soayt? Why does it translate: "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" 
> (RSV) 
> And why does "soet" which is qal infinitive construct translate this way? 
> Thank you, 
> Peniel, 
> Student, Dominican Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. 
> 
> 
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>From yaakov_s AT rad.com  Tue May 13 07:06:01 2008
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The stone SPYR is usually translated into English as sapphire,
and even during Mishnaic times the stone in the Ephod was explained
to be a blue precious stone due to its similarity to the Greek word for
blue.
Although the precise blue stone intended there and in the Song of Songs
may be unknown (many think lapis lazuli was intended),
there seems to be a different SPYR as well.
=20
In Exodus 24:10 we find the expression LBNT HSPYR. =20
The classical commentators are split as to the meaning of LBNT.
Some interpret it as from LBN =3D white, while others say it comes from
LBNH =3D brick.=20
Neither of these fits a blue precious gem.
=20
Similarly, Ezekiel 10:1 has a SPYR stone the size of a throne,
while Lamentations 4:7 uses SPYR in a context of white things
(depending on the reading of (DMU )
=20
I am wondering whether from these uses we can deduce that
in addition to the regular precious stone, we have some bright
white/blue stone such as marble. In fact, polished white marble
with blue lines could be a candidate.
=20
I am asking this because I believe that such an understanding=20
could clear up an obscure Talmudic passage.
=20
Yaakov (J) Stein
=20