Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

For some time there has been some controversy over the verb usually
translated as “curse” in Job 1:5 with even the claim made that the Masoretes
changed the text for politically correct reasons. But as I was reading 1
Kings 21:10 this morning, I was reminded of Ezekiel 3:12 where ברוך seems to
indicate some sort of motion, a departing from a place.

My question: are we dealing with a homonym, or at least a homograph, that
had a different meaning than blessing? How many other times would “take
leave of” be a more accurate translation to recognize that we are dealing
with a homonym, instead of “to bless” as it is commonly translated today? An
example 1 Kings 8:66?

Are there any clues from cognate languages that this might be the case?

Karl W. Randolph.