This week’s question: Does וראו in Exodus 24:10 mean ‘saw’ or ‘feared’?
The earliest Hebrew manuscripts were written primarily as consonantal texts, without the full system of Masoretic vowel points and cantillation marks used in later codices and printed editions. Torah scrolls used in synagogue worship likewise omit these vocalization and cantillation signs. Without vowel points, the consonantal string ויראו can in different contexts represent a form of ראה (“to see”) or ירא (“to fear/revere”). The cantillation marks themselves do not create that lexical distinction; the key difference is the traditional vocalization and context. Compare the following examples:
ויראו with a Munach:
Gen 37:4 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), Exodus 16:15 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), Joshua 4:14 ( וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ /fear), Judges 18:7 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), 1 Samuel 31:7 (וַיִּרְא֣וּ), and Psalm 86:17( וְיִרְא֣וּ )
ויראו with a zaqef gadol :
Exodus 24:10 ( וַיִּרְא֕וּ ) and Judges 3:24 ( וַיִּרְא֕וּ)
ויראו With the meaning to fear:
Deuteronomy 7:13, 19:20, 21:21, 28:10, 31:12, Joshua 4:14, and 1 Samuel 4:7
However, in Exodus 24:10 the Masoretic tradition vocalizes the word as וַיִּרְא֕וּ, from ראה, meaning “and they saw.” A reading involving “fear” or “reverence” is therefore an interpretive possibility suggested by the unpointed consonantal form and by comparison with other passages, not the Masoretic reading preserved at Exodus 24:10 itself. The distinction is determined by vocalization and context, not by the cantillation marks alone.
For more interesting opinions of ideological nature on this verse check out: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/under-gods-feet/
POSTSCRIPT (2022/08/05) 18:30 JST: I just ran across a prolific blogger (and Accordance Bible Software user) Abram J-K over at the Words on the Word blog who also just happens to have covered a very similar issue last year in another book and passage of the Hebrew Bible/OT. I have linked the pertinent post below:
https://abramkj.com/2021/12/15/fear-no-evil-or-see-no-evil-one-way-to-preach-a-textual-variant/
You say “the Aleph […] would probably take either a Munach or a Tiphcha accent” but your image shows munaḥ or zaqef gadol as the options. Also, what’s your source for the munaḥ reading?
Bdenckla thank you very much for visiting my blog and commenting!
Thank you for your questions! I will now answer your questions.
(I have rethought my post and it is in error so I will be correcting)
The א in ויראו can come with any number of accent marks none of wich actually change the meaning. The string ויראו can mean ‘and they feared’ but that has nothing to do with the accents.
ויראו with a Munach:
Gen 37:4 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), Exodus 16:15 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), Joshua 4:14 ( וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ /fear), Judges 18:7 ( וַיִּרְא֣וּ ), 1 Samuel 31:17 (וַיִּרְא֣וּ), and Psalm 86:17( וְיִרְא֣וּ )
ויראו with a zaqef gadol :
Exodus ( וַיִּרְא֕וּ ) and Jugdges 3:24 ( וַיִּרְא֕וּ)
ויראו With the meaning to fear:
Deuteromy 7:13, 19:20, 21:21, 28:10, 31:12, Joshua 4:4, and 1 Samuel 4:7
The string ויראו can be found 63 time in 61 verses
Genesis 6:2
Genesis 12:14
Genesis 12:15
Genesis 37:4
Genesis 37:18
Genesis 37:25
Genesis 42:35
Genesis 50:15
Exodus 5:19
Exodus 16:15
Exodus 24:10
Numbers 17:24
Numbers 20:29
Numbers 32:1
Numbers 32:9
Deuteronomy 17:13
Deuteronomy 19:20
Deuteronomy 21:21
Deuteronomy 28:10
Deuteronomy 31:12
Joshua 4:14
Joshua 8:20
Judges 1:24
Judges 3:24
Judges 9:55
Judges 16:24
Judges 18:7
Judges 20:36
1Samuel 4:7
1Samuel 5:7
1Samuel 6:13
1Samuel 7:7
1Samuel 10:11
1Samuel 14:16
1Samuel 17:11
1Samuel 17:51
1Samuel 31:7
2Samuel 10:6
2Samuel 10:19
2Samuel 11:24
2Samuel 12:18
2Samuel 22:16
1Kings 3:28
1Kings 8:8
1Kings 13:12
1Kings 13:25
2Kings 3:22
2Kings 6:20
2Kings 10:4
Ezekiel 20:28
Micah 7:17
Psalms 18:16
Psalms 52:8
Psalms 86:17
Daniel 1:13
Nehemiah 6:16
1Chronicles 10:7
1Chronicles 19:6
1Chronicles 19:19
2Chronicles 5:9
2Chronicles 31:8
Sometime ago I listened to an Mp3 CD published in 2007 called Vayavinu BaMiqra; In Shiurim/lesson #10 correcting (4:46 ~ 5:27) Rabbi K. Jeremy Wieder proposes that ויראו in Exodus 24:10 should be understood “and the feared”. I think I now better understand why he was arguing that, and I think he is techically right.
Okay, I finally have gotten around to updating and or correcting my post. I will probably revisit it again to make it a little clearer. However, I wanted to say thank bdenckla for pointing out my error and for making be rethinking through some my opinions.