To: kimball AT ntplx.net, b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Cc:
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] "Hosanna in the highest" in Hebrew?
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 20:54:18 EST
In a message dated 12/14/2003 8:19:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,
kimball AT ntplx.net writes:
The common expression "Hosanna in the highest" seems to translate to
"Please save in the highest" which doesn't make sense. What's the original
Hebrew
and where does it come from?
___________________
It would seem that there is no Hebrew original--at least not extant. The
phrase "Hosanna in the highest" appears in only two passages (in the New
Testament--Mt 21.9 and Mk 11.10). If you accept the priority of Mk, then it
stems
from Mark. Not only does the entire phrase not appear in the Hebrew of the
OT,
even the part of the phrase "in the highest" appears in no English
translation
of the OT. Note, however, that "highest" is expressed in 1 Kg 8.27 by a
construct chain
W.$:M"Y Ha$.eMaYiM -- the highest heaven
In Job 22.12 it asks
HaLo)_):eLoWaH. G.oBaH. $eMaYiM -- Is not God in the hight of heaven?
Ps 89.28 [Heb] doen't quite compare, but Ps 148.4 is similar to 1 Kg 8.27.