The DSS of Isaiah 53:2

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Ethan Bohr
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2021 2:50 pm

The DSS of Isaiah 53:2

Post by Ethan Bohr »

While the MT has “And he went up” (ויעל), the DSS has ויעלו. Since the DSS of Isaiah 53:2 has a yud as a vav, doesn't that render it as “And THEY went up"?
S_Walch
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 4:41 pm

Re: The DSS of Isaiah 53:2

Post by S_Walch »

I'm presuming you're referring to the Great Isaiah Scroll (there's three DSS manuscripts which have text from Isaiah 53:2 (1QIsaa, 1QIsab, 4QIsaa), and only 1QIsaa (Great Isaiah Scroll) has the beginning of the verse extant)?

Checking the manuscript, I can see there's what appears to be some sort of faded ו after ויעל (see here), however based on the colour of the letters both before and after, evidently this letter has been erased by either the initial copyist or a corrector. Nevertheless yes, the original reading would say "And they grew up", but the correction (correctly, IMHO) removes this, and restores it as "And he grew up".
Ste Walch
Ethan Bohr
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2021 2:50 pm

Re: The DSS of Isaiah 53:2

Post by Ethan Bohr »

Thanks again Mr. Walch. That I think about explains it.
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