Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Fred:

On Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 8:38 AM, fred burlingame <tensorpath AT gmail.com>wrote:

> Karl:
>
> Thanks for your message.
>
> Please allow me to respond.
>
> 1.  Genesis 2:17:
>
> ומעץ הדעת טונ ורע לא תאכל ממנו כי ביום אכלך ממנו מות תמות
>
> generally translates by the academic community, in pertinent part, here
> (and elsewhere across the masoretic text), as: "evil," and not
> "displeasing." The "tree of knowledge of good and displeasing," represents
> not, the english rendering here (and elsewhere in the old testament),
> commonly accepted.
>

You are mixing translation with meaning in the original language. Further,
“commonly accepted” does not always mean accurate.

>
> 2. The hebrew verb root of the noun שלום , generally translates as to make
> whole or complete by payment.
>

Payment is only one way of making whole or complete, depending on the
context and what is being made whole. Look up in a concordance. I like to
use Lisowski’s.

>
> Deuteronomy 23:1
>
> כי תדר נדר ליהוה אלהיך לא תאחר לשלמו כי דרש ידרשנו יהוה אלהיך מעמך והיה בך
> חטא
>
> generally translates in pertinent part as "pay" vows.
>
> 3. The first of two couplets (double parallelism) in Isaiah 45:7, contrasts
> light and darkness. The second of the two couplets hence, likewise implies a
> crisp and clean contrast.
>
> 4. All of the above circumstances argue for and support an english
> rendering of "good and evil" in Isaiah 45:7, versus your proposed
> contrast "fullness and displeasing."
>

“Evil” in English includes a moral aspect that is not included in the Hebrew
word רע, but is included in the Hebrew word רשע. Which words are used in the
verse? Go with that.

>
> regards,
>
> fred burlingame
>
>
> Karl W. Randolph.