Meaning of 1 Samuel 3: 7

[normansimonr]

Hello.

I've been reading the book of 1 Samuel, and I found a verse that puzzles me. As you know, I'm not the expert in the Hebrew language, so maybe this could be just a beginner's issue. The verse is the following:

וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל טֶ֖רֶם יָדַ֣ע אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְטֶ֛רֶם יִגָּלֶ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו דְּבַר־יְהוָֽה׃

The JPS 1917 translates as

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

But I can't see the 'not' in the Hebrew text. Actually, the key word is טֶ֖רֶם, which BDB translates as 'before', and it's used also in verse 3 of the same chapter to say that the lamp of God hadn't gone out yet. So, my question is, does טֶ֖רֶם have a negative meaning, something like 'not yet'? Thanks for your help.

[S_Walch]

But I can't see the 'not' in the Hebrew text. Actually, the key word is טֶ֖רֶם, which BDB translates as 'before', and it's used also in verse 3 of the same chapter to say that the lamp of God hadn't gone out yet. So, my question is, does טֶ֖רֶם have a negative meaning, something like 'not yet'? Thanks for your help.

טרם does indeed mean "not yet".

Also, which version of BDB are you reading? I checked both my printed and electronic versions, and the meaning of "adv. of time: not yet, ere, before that" is what's given in both.

Have a quick look to Gen 2:5, Exo 10:7, and even as you say to 1 Sam 3:3 for other examples of טרם meaning "not yet".

You'll probably find that טרם means "before" more often than not: Gen. 19:4, 24:15, 45, 27:4, 33, 37:18; Exo. 1:19, 12:34; Num 11:33; Josh. 2:38, 3:1 etc., etc.

[normansimonr]

Okay, now I've got it, Ste, thanks. I think my problem was not with Hebrew, but with English. Indeed BDB lists 'not yet,' but I got confused with the 'before that,' since in Spanish (my native language) it can have the opposite meaning. This verse might be then translated, roughly, like 'and Samuel before he knew the Lord, before it was revealed to him the word of the Lord,' or, in better English, just like the JPS translated.

Thanks again.

[Isaac Fried]

טֶרֶם is a variant of זֶרֶם, 'current, gush, flow, stream, trend, choppy' as in Isaiah 28:2
הִנֵּה חָזָק וְאַמִּץ לַאדֹנָי כְּזֶרֶם בָּרָד שַׂעַר קָטֶב כְּזֶרֶם מַיִם כַּבִּירִים שֹׁטְפִים
NIV: "See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour"

Also of the post-biblical צרם, 'chop, hack, slice, grate, separate'.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

[Isaac Fried]

To זרם and צרם we may add also פרם, 'tear, rend', as in Lev. 13:45
וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנֶּגַע בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים
KJV: "And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent"

Isaac Fried, Boston University