B-Hebrew: The Biblical Hebrew Forum

This verse isn’t long, but raises questions:

יהוה בצר פקדוך צקון לחש מוסרך למו

Is בצר from צר with a prefixed ב or is it the verb בצר with the meaning “to remove, be removed, e.g. grapes from a vine, abilities ⇒ to make or be inaccessible, fortify (inaccessible place)”?

Is לחש from the idea of whispering, or is this a prefixed ל on the idea of חש hurrying?

The word צקון is found only here in this verse in this form—is it from צוק “to wear down by constant attacks” or connected to יצק with the idea of pouring out?

Any thoughts?

Karl W. Randolph.

I can tell you what the earliest interpreter of which we have record (the Greek translator) thought.

kwrandolph wrote:Is בצר from צר with a prefixed ב

Yes.

kwrandolph wrote:Is לחש from the idea of whispering, or is this a prefixed ל on the idea of חש hurrying?

More likely the former. He translated it μικρᾷ, "small," as in "small distress."

kwrandolph wrote:The word צקון is found only here in this verse in this form—is it from צוק

Yes.

Possibly צקון is short for צעקון

Isaac Fried, Boston University