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  • From: "B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>
  • To: "b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] barak (bless? curse?) in the Book of Job
  • Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:01:10 -0500

I think the passages in the first chapters of Job that using the root BRK are not easy (1:5; 1: 10; 1:11; 1:21; 2:5; 2:9).

One sense we commonly understand is (Piel) "to praise" or passive (Qal passive and Pual) "to be praised." This sense may seem uncomfortable in the first chapters of Job or in 1Ki 21, where several of the BRK verbs are often translated "curse" or "blaspheme."

I can suggest a plausible co-union of the ideas of "praise" and "blaspheme" in both the first two chapters of Job and 1Ki 21.
I would apply a social construct in which BRK meant "to praise" in the sense of "giving credit." For Job to give credit to God for his suffering would indeed seem blasphemous. For Job's children to give credit to God for their joy during a festival would likewise be unfounded and therefore blasphemous if indeed they were sinful. In 1Ki 21, for Naboth to credit God and the king for his sudden elevation within his city (at least this was the accusation) would be blasphemous to God and criminal to the king, a capital offense.

In a commentary, I would suggest for Job 1:11 the notion "...he'll surely throw the credit in your face."
For a translation I would suggest "he will surely blaspheme you to your face."

For the wife's words in Job 2:9 I would suggest for a translation, "Credit God, and die."

In 1Ki 21:13, how would this sit with y'all as a translation of the false accusation: "Naboth [treasonously] credited God and king"?

shalom,
Bryan

--
B.M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206
W: (315) 437-6744





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