Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Gerry Folbre <gfolbreiii AT gmail.com>]

Jim T.  Thanks for the response, but your quoting of Ps. 90:4 is not very
helpful.  I am trying to discuss the perceived contextual anomalies
displayed in Gen. 2:6b thru 2:7a.  Find another place in the Heb. Tanakh
where "dust" (עפר) is used to describe "the irrigated surface of ground" or
where "dust" (עפר) is used to describe the substance employed by potters.  I
have found none, but I may have missed something.

Gerry Folbre

On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 6:32 PM, Jim T. <jtifft AT sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>    As a lay teacher I always refer my students to this in Psalm 90:4  Here
> the lord is telling us why time seems so misunderstood.
>
> (Psalm 90:2-6 NRSV) 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you
> had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are
> God. 3 You turn us back to dust, and say, "Turn back, you mortals." 4 For
> a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a
> watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like
> grass that is renewed in the morning; 6 in the morning it flourishes and
> is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
>
> Jim Tifft
>  Universal City, United Methodist Church
> Universal City, Texas
> jtifft AT sbcglobal.net
>
>
> *-------Original Message-------*
>
>  *From:* Gerry Folbre <gfolbreiii AT gmail.com>
> *Date:* 11/09/09 18:59:56
> *To:* B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> *Subject:* [b-hebrew] watered ground & forming dust
>
> I would like to discuss what I perceive as incongruent anomalies composed
> within Gen. 2:6b & 2:7a.
>
> Gen. 2:6b והשׁקה את־כל־פני־האדמה׃ ...  {and irrigated [watered/made wet] the
> whole face of the ground).
>
> Gen. 2:7a ... וייצר יהוה אלהים את־האדם עפר מן־האדמה  {and it formed the
> human archetype of dust from the ground ...)
>
>
>
> Gen. 2:6b states that the entire face (surface) of the ground is irrigated.
> But then Gen. 2:7a not only describes “dry, loose earth (or dust)” being
> found upon the newly irrigated surface of the ground, Gen. 2:7a also
> apparently stats that somehow this “dry, loose earth (dust)” can somehow be
> “formed”.  However, “dust (dry, loose earth) from the ground” is not an
> earthly substance that lends itself to being “formed {like a potter forms a
> vessel)”.
>
>
>
> If there is anyone who may have some constructive insight into these
> contextual anomalies, I look forward to discussing these subjects with you.
>
>
>
> Gerry Folbre
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