Is 5:17 Which version is correct?

Discussion must focus on the Hebrew text (including text criticism) and its ancient translations, not on archaeology, modern language translations, or theological controversies.
Forum rules
Members will observe the rules for respectful discourse at all times!
Please sign all posts with your first and last (family) name.
Post Reply
kwrandolph
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:51 am

Is 5:17 Which version is correct?

Post by kwrandolph »

Isaiah 5:17 seems to have a few (at least) readings, I wonder if there are more?

The Aleppo Codex and Leningradensis both say:

ורעו כבשים כדברם וחרבות מחים גרים יאכלו

The Great Isaiah Scroll has (as far as I can make out (thanks Ken)):

ורעו כבושים כדברם וחרבות מיחים גרים יאכלו

which seems to give a contrast to the preceding verse, so would be translated “and as those who act shamefully do displeasing (things) according to their expressions (expression in word, deed or both), and sojourners eat what knives scrape out.” I definitely am not sure of the translation of the second part of the verse.

The LXX seems to be a free translation: “και βοσκηθησονται οι διηρπασμενοι ως ταυροι και τας ερημους των απειλημμενων αρνες φαγονται”

Any other versions? Any thoughts?

Karl W. Randolph.
User avatar
SteveMiller
Posts: 465
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:53 pm
Location: Detroit, MI, USA
Contact:

Re: Is 5:17 Which version is correct?

Post by SteveMiller »

Karl,
I see where you get "according to their expressions" from כדברם
and knives from חרבות
and strangers eat from גרים יאכלו

but where to you get the rest from?
Sincerely yours,
Steve Miller
Detroit
http://www.voiceInWilderness.info
Honesty is the best policy. - George Washington (1732-99)
kwrandolph
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:51 am

Re: Is 5:17 Which version is correct?

Post by kwrandolph »

Steve:
SteveMiller wrote:Karl,
I see where you get "according to their expressions" from כדברם
and knives from חרבות
and strangers eat from גרים יאכלו

but where to you get the rest from?
The form רעו can be from either רעה meaning “to feed (on)” or רעע “to act in a displeasing manner” as a verb, or as a noun רעו meaning “his neighbor”. We’ll need the context to disambiguate this.

On the Great Isaiah Scroll, כבושים can be read as a participle used as a noun, with a prefixed כ on the plural noun בוש referring to those who act shamefully.

While חרבות usually refers to the physical object, namely knife or sword, it also refers to the action of desolating. When I originally asked the question, I was thinking about the physical object, but could it refer to the action?

The word מיחים in the MT is found only in Ps 66:15 where the context indicates a well-fed animal suitable for sacrifices. When I originally asked the question, I took it as a derivative of מחה “to scrape off ⇒ to erase with a sharp instrument scraping off a written entry”, but now I’m not so certain.

The reason I ask these questions is because I’m not certain, and someone else may clarify the answer.

Karl W. Randolph.
Post Reply