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  • From: Gerry Folbre <gerry AT wetmountainvalley.us>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Definite articles and proper names in B-Hebrew
  • Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:59:05 -0600

James Christian, Petr Tomasek, Karl W. Randolph.:

( I attempted to send this post earlier, but must have done something wrong. I hope I am doing it right this time. If I need to do something differently will someone please let me know. Thanks.)

To the best of my knowledge nowhere in the Hebrew Tanakh is a "personal name" ever prefixed with the definite article. In The Anchor Bible-Genesis, Professor E.A. Speiser states, "A personal name cannot take the definite article" (pg. 18). Even though the definite article prefix is not employed with the plural (or dual) masculine noun, 'LHYM, in the Genesis 1 thru 2:3 Creation Account, this in no definitive way suggest that 'LHYM is being employed here as a "personal name" of the Deity.

In regard to the plural (or dual) masculine noun, 'LHYM, employed in the Genesis 1 thru 2:3 Creation Account, nowhere in the rest of the Hebrew Tanakh have I ever found a "personal name" to be composed with a plural or dual suffix. Even the singular form, 'LWH (or 'LH), does not appear to be employed as a "personal name" e.g. Deut. 32:15, 17. Here the singular form is presented as a common noun referring to Deity, but not being presented as the Deity's personal name.

Gerry Folbre





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