Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

To say waw before a noun in initial position in a clause indicates a new paragraph is perhaps a little strong. You could be starting a lot of new paragraphs that way. I think the thought behind your suggestion, Steve, is correct, in that there is certainly a sense of disjunction. But I wouldn't always go for a new paragraph (what does that even mean for poetry?). The other thing to consider is that although the syntax is disjunctive, the waw still helps to connect the disjunction to what comes before it and thus continues the flow. In other words, the syntax is disjunctive, but the flow continues. Without a waw, we would have asyndeton, which produces a much more staccato-like effect.

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

(Currently in Chicago)

From: Steve Miller <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: "steve AT voiceInWilderness.info" <steve AT voiceInWilderness.info>
Date: Friday, 16 November 2012 5:55 AM
To: 'Peter Streitenberger' <ps2866 AT bingo-ev.de>, B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Psa 22,3

When a sentence in Biblical Hebrew starts with “And” prefixed to a noun, that usually indicates a new paragraph and is usually translated “but” in Psalms. In addition to v4 (v3 English), the same structure is in v7 “But I am a worm” & v20 “But You be not far from me”

 

Sincerely yours,

Steve Miller

Detroit

www.voiceInWilderness.info

Love the LORD all ye His saints.

LORD preserves the faithful,

and to those who deal proudly

He will repay in full. (Ps 31:23)