Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David Kolinsky <hadeesh AT sbcglobal.net>]

George,
I agree that piel is not always intensive, and that it is not in the case of KPR.
However, just to clarify, you don't think that the paal is "native" in this case and that the piel is a "modification" of the basic meaning of "to cover over"? as I pointed out earlier:

""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."  ""

Of course, you are absolutely allowed your own opinion - I just want to clarify your view,
Shabbat Shalom,
David Kolinsky
Monterey, CA

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From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
To: "b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.orglist list" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Fri, January 4, 2013 6:03:09 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] KPR

Philip,

No, I don't think there is any intensification in the use of כפר in Deut 32.43. The use of the Piel stem is because the Piel is the native stem for this three-letter root. While Piel may have an intensive meaning for some verbs that are 'native' to the Qal stem, the root כפר is native to the Piel. There is no intensification that I can see in the verse, or in the grammar behind the word.

The LXX renders this verb εκκαθαριζω (clean out, purge). This is not the usual Greek word used to translate the verb כפר in the LXX, but this is probably because the translators did not see a specific cultic (ie. temple sacrifice) significance in this particular verse. If they had, they probably would have opted for εξιλασκομαι (expiate, atone).

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia