2005/11/22, Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>:> On 22/11/2005 05:42, Herman Meester wrote:>> >First of all we would have to be happy that Alter respected Hebrew> >syntax unlike virtually all other commonly used translation, that in> >fact all misunderstand Genesis' ouverture.> >> >>> Well, I can argue that one with you if you like, but it is a separate> issue. I don't think you will find any other place in the Hebrew Bible> where a WAYYIQTOL verb is preceded by a clause subordinate to it, which> seems to be Alter's grammatical understanding. The only objection to the> traditional "In the beginning God created..." understanding is that the> first word of the Bible is indefinite and possibly construct - but then> possibly that very first vowel point was really intended to be qamats> rather than sheva.
(I decided not to discuss with English speakers the things that aregrammatically correct or not in English, because as a non-nativespeaker I wouldn't really be able to judge.)
However, here I do strongly disagree with those who want to keep thetraditional translation "In the beginning G"d created...". It issimply not what the Hebrew says.
If we say that the masoretes made a mistake, thisamounts to insult.Does anyone really think that the masoretes didn't see the problem ofGen. 1,1-3?
First it says that G"d created"heaven and earth", in other words, "everything", and then it goed ondescribing al the things that happened? I don't think so.
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.