Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Dear Chris:

On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Chris Echols <chrisechols AT gmail.com> wrote:

> …
>
> Looking at these two examples from below that another minister used to
> prove
> his point, there may be more of a case since now that I understand that
> Hebrew has completed/uncompleted actions rather than past, present, future
> verb tenses.  Hopefully this will make sense.
>

This isn’t true either. Completed/uncompleted actions is called “aspect” and
the Biblical Hebrew verb system has neither tense nor aspect.

>
>
> *Case 2:*
>
> “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy
> God,
> and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his
> commandments, and keep all his statutes,* I will put none of these diseases
> upon thee*, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that
> healeth thee.” —Exodus 15:26 KJV
>
> In this case if I just looked at the syntax and would like to know whether
> it is possible the Hebrew could be read something like, "...all the
> sickness
> which was brought upon Egypt will not be brought upon you because I YHWH
> (cause/permit) to heal"?
>

No. I don’t know a thing about “divine healing” theology so this response
has no theology influencing it.

On the linguistic side, context argues that the final word is a participle,
where the best translation is, “who heals you.” “(cause/permit) to heal”
would require a different inflection.

>
> And of course this all centers around a debate on so-called "divine
> healing"
> but I want to be fair in my perceived criticism of the doctrine based on
> the
> text instead of my thoughts on the matter...
>
> …
> Chris E. Echols
> AVI-SPL
>
> Karl W. Randolph.