Job 8:3a

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tian777
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:20 am

Job 8:3a

Post by tian777 »

I wonder about the correctness of the following statement:
In Job 8:3a the form "ha-el" ( with a patach ) does appear without any footnote in BHS, and then this phrase literally means "God subverts judgment". Because of the context most English translations have changed the patach into an chatuph-patach, resulting in an Interrogative Hey before El. In doing so, they changed the phrase ( and sentence ) into a question.
Tian Hattingh
I'm too blessed to be stressed
kwrandolph
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Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:51 am

Re: Job 8:3a

Post by kwrandolph »

When reading an unpointed text, the heh prefix can be either a definite article, or indication of an interrogative. When looking at the context in this case, it appears to be an interrogative. Hence the translations using it as an interrogative.

BHS/WLC tries to reproduce the Masoretic text as closely as they can. There are times that it’s clear that the points indicate wrong meanings, other times people can disagree. I have always read this verse as an interrogative.

Karl W. Randolph.
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tian777
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:20 am

Re: Job 8:3a

Post by tian777 »

Thank you Karl. Much appreciated.
Tian Hattingh
I'm too blessed to be stressed
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