Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David Kolinsky <hadeesh AT sbcglobal.net>]

Philip,

I do not fully understand your question either, however, I will say this:

whereas the pa'al of the root KPR means "to cover over" something physical with something tangible like in "to cover / line  with pitch" (Gn6:14) or where it means "frost" in (Ex16:14)(Ps147:16) or "henna" in (Ss1:14;4:13) or covering (for the ark) in (Ex25:17,22;31:7)  

The piel form of the verb generally means "to perform / accomplish a covering over of some abstract reality" so that it is most often used to mean "to atone for, make atonement (for one's sins)."  However, in Proverbs (Pr16:14) it means "to annul or pacify" as in " The wrath of a king are messengers / harbingers of death, but a wise man may pacify it." 

I believe that in

Deuteronomy 32:43, MT

עַמּוֹ אַדְמָתוֹ , וְכִפֶּר לְצָרָיו הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ, כִּי דַם-עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם; וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב

the text is using this verb in the same way:  "Nations must praise his people, because he shall avenge the blood of his servants, and the vengeance shall he return to his enemies, and=so that he will pacify his land, his people."


David Kolinsky
Monterey, CA

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From: Philip <philipengmann AT yahoo.com>
To: "b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Mon, December 17, 2012 4:12:05 PM
Subject: [b-hebrew] וְכִפֶּר in MT (CV) Dt 32:43 Emphatic?

Dear Listees,

 

does the way the word, וְכִפֶּר in MT (CV) Dt 32:43 is rendered represent emphasis of this word?

 

 

Deuteronomy 32:43, MT

עַמּוֹ אַדְמָתוֹ , וְכִפֶּר לְצָרָיו הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ, כִּי דַם-עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם; וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב