Biblical Hebrew Forum

[" Marie Casale" <mjcasale AT earthlink.net>]

Greetings to the group:
I apologize if I have gotten anyone in trouble.  I did not mean to get into a 
discussion about the theology of the gap theory.  The reason I mentioned it 
was because I needed to explain why I wanted a correct translation of the 
Hebrew words for 'was' and 'became' and which one is correct in verse 2.  
Sometimes it is unavoidable to separate discussion of language and theology 
because the understanding of true theology depends on correct understanding 
of the Hebrew language and the meaning that the text intended to convey.  
Hope I have not offended anyone.

If anyone would like to discuss the gap theory in private, my email address 
is:
mjcasale AT earthlink.net

Sincerely,
Marie
>From hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net  Thu Jul 23 14:06:18 2009
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Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:06:12 -0500
From: Harold Holmyard <hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net>
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Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Question about Gen 1:1-2
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 Marie,


> Greetings to the group:
> I apologize if I have gotten anyone in trouble.  I did not mean to get into 
> a discussion about the theology of the gap theory.  The reason I mentioned 
> it was because I needed to explain why I wanted a correct translation of 
> the Hebrew words for 'was' and 'became' and which one is correct in verse 
> 2.  Sometimes it is unavoidable to separate discussion of language and 
> theology because the understanding of true theology depends on correct 
> understanding of the Hebrew language and the meaning that the text intended 
> to convey.  Hope I have not offended anyone.
>

HH: Insofar as the Gap Theory is based on the usage of Hebrew words it
seems an appropriate topic for discussion. The theory is partially a
claim about what the Hebrew says. The best scholarship today does not
think the Hebrew says what the Gap Theory claims it does.  As to the
suggestion that the Hebrew verb always means "become," any Hebrew
Lexicon should show that the verb can mean "be" or "become." I have
three of the best lexicons (BDB, HAL, DCH), and they all say that. Here
is one online Hebrew lexicon giving the meanings of the word:
http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/heb/view.cgi?number
961

to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

   1. (Qal)
         1. to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to
            pass
         2. to come about, come to pass
         3. to come into being, become
         4. to arise, appear, come
         5. to become
         6. to become
         7. to become like
         8. to be instituted, be established
         9. to be
        10. to exist, be in existence
        11. to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
        12. to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of
            locality)
        13. to accompany, be with
   2. (Niphal)
         1. to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
         2. to be done, be finished, be gone


Yours,
Harold Holmyard