Subject: RE: [b-hebrew] Ancient pronunciation of biblical names
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 13:41:27 -0500
>===== Original Message From "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
=====
>Dear Sergio,
>
>The very first appearance of the name "Miriam" in the OT is pronounced
>Miryam, and it is pronounced that way through the OT. In the NT the Greek
>"Mary" is pronounced "Maria." "Samuel" seems to be pronounced "Semuel"
>throughout the OT.
What you cite here is the vocalization used by the Masoretes. I don't think
the point was to say that the Masoretic text shows change in various books;
rather, it was to suggest a reconstructed pronunciation from a period earlier
than what the Masoretes knew.