Isaiah 26:16 some questions

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kwrandolph
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:51 am

Isaiah 26:16 some questions

Post by kwrandolph »

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.
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Ken M. Penner
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:31 pm

Re: Isaiah 26:16 some questions

Post by Ken M. Penner »

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.
Ken M. Penner, Ph.D.
St. Francis Xavier University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: Isaiah 26:16 some questions

Post by Isaac Fried »

Possibly צקון is short for צעקון

Isaac Fried, Boston University
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