Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Jason Hare <jaihare AT gmail.com>]

James,

Actually, Rashi suggests a reading of בְּרֹא B.:RO) -- in which BR) is
an infinitive construct within a three-noun chain: בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּרֹא
אֱלֹהִים B.:R")$IYT B.:RO) ):ELOHIYM -- "in the beginning of Elohim's
creating the heavens and the earth," etc. This is much better, in my
opinion, than your proposition that it read as a participle, yet it
yields the same understanding (I think) as that which you're trying to
achieve. Is there any other occurrence of BR)$YT being followed by a
participle and then by the subject of the clause? I really don't think
so. But, being followed by a construct chain is perfectly natural for
this introductory particle.

Regards,
Jason Hare

On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 5:37 AM, James Bowick <james AT bowick.com> wrote:
> The issue of pre-existent matter or ex nihilo creation is influenced
> strongly by the reading of BR).  In the Masoretic text it is pointed BARA, a
> Qal 3ms perfect (he created), however it is also possible to point it BORE,
> a Qal ms participle (creating).  If BR) is read as a participle, then Gen
> 1:1 becomes a temporal clause, not a principle clause.  It would be
> translated "In the beginning, when God was creating..."  Robert Holmstedt
> presented a paper to the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies a couple of
> years back that was published in  Vetus Testamentum (58 2008, 56-67) which
> argued on linguistic grounds that BR) is more likely a participle.  Sadly, I
> cannot remember the details of his argument, nor do I currently have access
> to the article.  I think though, that this may pose a good starting point
> for a discussion along the lines Stephen suggests.  Is anyone aware of
> linguistic evidence on either side?
>
> James Bowick
> McMaster Divinity College
>
> PS- this thread was [b-hebrew] B in Gen 1:1 (was Hebrew considerations)