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  • From: Rolf Furuli <furuli AT online.no>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Translation theory and NP$
  • Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:17:10 +0200

Dear Bryant,

I have the following comments:

In Exodus 3:6 YHWH says that "he is" the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." The clause is nominal without any verb. But it is logical that the reference is present. In Luke 20:37-38, Jesus quotes these words and takes them as evidence of the very opposite of an immortal soul, namely, as evidence of a resurrection. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:53 that immortality is something the one resurrected will "put on/be clothed with" at the resurrection, and not something that the person already has. Please note the dative form of AUTOS in Luke 20:38, which indicates that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not already live, but they lived from the standpoint of God-they would certainly get a resurrection!

I cannot see any suggestion of an immortal soul in Job 19:25-27. But the words of Job could imply that he had some idea of a future life. Please note that he expected to see God "in my flesh," and not as an immortal soul.

Interestingly, the Akkadian cognate word napi$tu has the same meaning and references as the Hebrew NP$. It does not refer to an immortal soul or spirit. The Babylonians believed in a netherworld (c.f. the account "Isthar's descent to the Netherworld"), and they also believed in ghosts (spirits of the dead). But that was expressed by E+EMMU, that also could refer to a necromancer. The Hebrew cognate )++YM evidently refers to a necromancer. To study NP$ is a dead end as far as immortality is concerned. But in order to get a better understanding of the view of death in the Tanakh, the words )++YM and RP) can be studied. But you will neither find a netherworld or an immortal soul in connection with these words either - provided that you are not surfing on the surface but make an in depth study. And a word of caution: Do not rely on the meanings given in the lexicons, but make a careful study of the texts! And when you consider the Ugaritic evidence regarding RP), you should not fail to look up RP) in R. L. Harris et al. "Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament". there you will find some interesting information.

The first time I found a cognate of NP$ in the sense "immortal soul" in a Semitic text, was in the Ethiopic Enoch, where NAFS evidently has this meaning. In the second part of the fourth century B.C.E. when Alexander the great made his conquests, Greek religion and philosophy were spread across the Old world. And the Greek idea of an immortal soul was also accepted by many of those living in Judah. But in their scriptures - The Tanakh - you will not find such an idea.

Bet regards,

Rolf Furuli
University of oslo



Dear Rolf,

[Rolf]
The only disadvantage I can see, is that many
people combine immortality with it (an immortal soul), a concept that
is completely foreign to the Tanakh.

[Bryant]
How do account for
Exodus 3:6; Job 19:25-27 which seems to imply otherwise.

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rolf Furuli" <furuli AT online.no>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Translation theory and NP$





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