Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Pere:

On Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 3:56 AM, Pere Porta <pporta7 AT gmail.com> wrote:

> In Ecc 9:12 the "ka daguim shene'eHazym bi-metsodah ra'a..." has indefinite
> article in "bi-metsodah ra'a" (in a bad net...).
>

This is not “a bad net”, rather this has the idea of a net to provide food.


> Now, in "ba-paH" it has the definite one (in THE trap).
> Do you think that this definite article in "ba-paH" is good and/or well
> placed here? Would it not be better "b'-PaH (in A trap)"?
>

Hebrew sometimes uses a definite article where English uses an indefinite
article.


> My dear Karl Randolph, do you think that Massoretes were mistaken here at
> pointing the letter "b"  with a patah rather than with shewa?
>

No, for reason listed above. However, the unpointed text could be read
either way.

>
> Regards
>
> --
> Pere Porta
> (Barcelona, Catalonia, Northeastern Spain)
>
> Karl W. Randolph.