Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net>]

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Study Paper
Critical Examination of the Massoretic Text
Emendations of the Sopherim
Once the canon of the first portion of Bible scriptures had been closed
in the Post-Exilic period, the Scripture still had to be preserved and
copied. The faithful execution of this duty was the *job* of the scribes
(sopherim).
But the sopherim went a little beyond just copying the Scriptures. Since
the Scriptures were read aloud regularly, the scribes introduced variants
through the medium of Keri (to be read) and Kethiv (to be written). And
as the language changed, translations were made. The scribes made
Aramaic paraphrases of the *Hebrew*, called Targums.
The scribes are also responsible for the vowel points for vocalizing
the *Hebrew* text -- these being added in the later half of the first
millennium A.D. This is known as Mikra Sopherim (the reading
prescribed by the scribes). ' " ' , '
The scribes also removed phrases denoting "anthropomorphisms" and
employed euphemisms for what they thought were indelicate expressions.
These are called Tikkuney Sopherim (the emendations of the scribes).
What follows is a list of a particular group of these scribal emendations.
If you look in the margins of the standard *Hebrew* codices, you will
notice small writing -- called the Masso rah. A note in the Massorah
against several passages in the manuscripts of the *Hebrew* Bible stales;
"This is one of the Eighteen Emendations of the Sopherim" --or words
to that effect.
This is a list of the eighteen emendations, together with nine others
not included in the official lists. These changes obscure the real
meaning of the passage -- because of the attempt on the scribe's part
to either "dehumanize" or to protect God. The idea of anthropomorphism
is that man created God in his (man's) own image, and ascribed to
God human characteristics -- but that God really doesn't have eyes,
nose, etc. The other changes (to protect God) constitute a watering
down of scripture from its plain, tell-it-like-it-is statements.
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*Page 2*

OTS
-2-
SCRIPTURE
1. Gen. 18:22
2. Num. 11:15
3. Num. 12:12
4. I Sam. 3:13
5. II Sam. 12:14
6. II Sam. 16:12
7. II Sam. 20:1
8. I Kings 12:16
9. II Chron. .10:16
10. I Kings 21:10
11. I Kings 21:13
12. *Job* 1:5
13. *Job* *1:11*
.14. *Job* 2:5
15. *Job* 2:9
16. *Job* 7:20
17. *Job* 32:3
ORIGINAL
Jehovah stood yet
before Abraham
thy evil
our flesh
cursed God
thou hast greatly
blasphemed Jehovah
(behold) with His eye*
to your gods
your gods
your gods
blaspheme (*Hebrew* is
bless?)
blaspheme (*Hebrew* is
bless?)
unto Thee
condemned God
CHANGED
Abraham stood yet
before the Lord
my wretchedness
the flesh
made themselves vile
?thou ... to the enemic
of the Lord to. blasphem
look on mine affliction
to your tents
your tents
your tents .
blaspheme (should have
marginal note of .
explanation
blaspheme (should havi
marginal note of
explanation)
to myself
condemned *Job*
A Present Kethiv: "on mine iniquity;" Keri: "on mine eye"
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*Page 3*

OTS
*-3-*
SCRIPTURE
18. Psa. 10:3
19. Psa. 106:20
20. Ecc. 3:21
21. Jer. 2:11
22. Lam. 3:20
23. Ezek. 8:17
24. líos. 4:7
25. Hab. 1:12
26. Zech. 2:8 (12)
27. Mal. 1:12,13
28. Mal. 3:9
ORIGINAL
the covetous man (or
robber) blasphemeth,
yea, abhorreth Jehovah
My glory
whether it go
My glory
Thy soul (will mourn)
My nostrils
My glory have they
changed into shame
Thou diest not
Mine eye
me
ye have cursed (Me)
with a curse
CHANGED
the wicked ... blesseth
the covetous, whom the
Lord abhorreth
their glory
that goeth
their glory
my soul (is humbled)
their nostrils
will I change their
glory into shame
we shall not die
His eye
it (him)
ye are cursed with a
curse