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  • From: "Nir cohen - Prof. Mat." <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] ex 22:8
  • Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2013 22:07:36 -0300

dear kenneth,

אֲשֶׁר יַרְשִׁיעֻן אֱלֹהִים, יְשַׁלֵּם שְׁנַיִם לְרֵעֵהוּ. 8

the problem with the literal text is that the paragogic N in YR$Y(N
refers to )LHYM in the plural, whereas the singular is used as a rule
(Ex 20:1,15, 21:13, 23:25 etc etc etc).

a non-literal minimal-pair alternative would be to replace
YR$Y(N ("will condemn (v, 3p, plural)") by YR$Y(W ("will
condemn (v, 3p, sing) him"), given that the letters N and W
are similar (in the later hebrew alphabet, and to some degree,
in the old too). this requires a tiny change in the text but is
more consistent with the singular tensing for )LHYM. and the
paragogic N disappears.

without having the statistics, i would add that the non-literal
hypothesis would benefit if the paragogic N is mostly preceded by
a W (as in Ex 20:11, 18:20,26).

nir cohen




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