Cc: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: The "times" of Isaiah
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 11:24:44 -0400
Though I also would normally translate the relevant verses in Isaiah 44 as,
"Thus/This
said/has said YHWH," I am noting with interest the points in favor of "Thus
SAYS YHWH"
in these instances. I wonder if Scottish translator Dr. James Moffatt had
similar
thoughts in mind when he rendered this Hebrew construction in Isaiah 44 as
"Here IS
the promise of the Eternal" instead of "Thus said YHWH," and similarly: "Here
IS the
word of the Eternal," "The word of the Eternal is...," "For this IS the
message of the
Eternal," etc. (The Bible, A New Translation, by James Moffatt, D.D.,
D.Litt., M.A.
(Oxon), 1935 with revisions to 1954)
> A study of the examples of the words "Thus )FMAR YHWH" tells me that the C
> and RT are identical as to time. The prophet acted as the mouthpiece of God
> - he spoke God's words- and this is the very force of his message. Not the
> lame "Thus said YHWH", but the foreceful "Thus says HYWH!".