Hebrew Bible

Exodus 24:10 (saw or feared)?

This week’s question: Does וראו in Exodus 24:10 mean ‘saw’ or ‘feared’?

It is basically accepted that the original Hebrew text of the Torah/Pentateuch was written only in consonants. Vowels and cantillation were supplied orally by the experienced reader. Early texts such as those found in the dead sea scrolls are absent of any diacriticals, cantillation/accent marks, and vowels. Even today Sefer Torah (Torah Scrolls) used in Synaguoge are written without vowel marks and cantillation marks as is the vast majority of modern Hebrew literature. So, if we assume that the original text of Exodus 24:10 was written without vowel points and cantillation marks both ‘saw’ and ‘feared’ become possible readings. Why are such different readings possible? Here is why… Cantillation/accent marks and vowels can radically change the meaning of a Hebrew text. The word(phrase) וראו in Exodus 24:10 can be read as either וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ (and they feared ) or as וַיִּרְא֕וּ (and they saw).

Notice, both these words are letter for letter identical as far as the consonants are concerned and in this case, they even have basically the same vowels(blue) the only difference is the accent mark(red) under the Aleph (א) which in the word feared would probably take either a Munach or a Tiphcha accent. However, as mentioned before both accents and vowels are absent in Torah scrolls, On the other hand, all the Masoretic diacriticals are present in Masoretic codices containing books of the Hebrew Bible and in printed editions of the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh. And, the Masoretic scribes, in general, preserve the reading וַיִּרְא֕וּ (and they saw) as well as printed editions of the Hebrew Bible. But either reading and both readings at the same time are possible if, of course, you are reading the Hebrew text.

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-textu al-variant/

What is meant in the BHS Critical Apparatus of Genesis 38:9, 16, 18?

I highly recommend acquiring the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia If you have an interest in the philology of the Hebrew Bible, and let’s be honest who doesn’t? What is so good or useful about the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS)? Well, one of the many interesting features of the BHS is its apparatus. For example, if you turn to Genesis 38:9 in the BHS (or page 62) you and you look at the apparatus on the bottom of the page you will find the following: Gen 38:9^a sic L, mlt Mss Edd לאֹ

Okay so let’s parse the shorthand notes above:

sic L =(underscores the reading in the Leningrad codex)
mlt ＝multi / many　　　Mss＝Manuscripts 　　Edd ＝Editions

So what? What does that mean?

First of all, this means that Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia diplomatically perseveres the textual reading found in the Leningrad Codex. In other words, לאֹ is present in many Hebrew Bible manuscripts and modern editions of the Hebrew Bible but, the Leningrad Codex has a different reading namely: לֹּ֥א. The nikuddot (vowel points) as wells the ta`amei (accents) in the Leningrad Codes apparently differ from the vast majority of manuscripts. And, it is up to the reader to decide if the Leningrad’s reading represents an alternative tradition, an original reading, a scribal mistake, or a correction. The Leningrad’s reading is similar to one found early in Gen 19:2 but this neither proves nor disproves anything it simply shows that the scribe used this form.

Gen 38:16^a sic L, mlt Mss Edd ל sine dageš
Notice, the BHS and L have לִּ֔י
but, many manuscripts and edition have the lamed ‘sine'(without) the Dagesh
Gen 38:18^a ut 16^a || ^b ut 16^aut= as verse 16

(this probably means that the issue in verse 16 in regards to the Lamed and dagesh is similar to the issue in verse 18)

What is the Tanakh?

Another informative video by the ‘Insitute of Biblical Culture’ worth watching.

BHQ Leviticus released!

New Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) Volume: Leviticus!

Abram K-J author of the Words on the Word Blog reports on the 8th and most recent Fascicle of the BHQ so far to be published here: https://abramkj.com/2021/09/17/new-biblia-hebraica-quinta-bhq-volume-leviticus/.

Well, what about the BHQ?

The BHQ like the BHS before continues the tradition of being a diplomatic edition of the Leningrad Codex (the oldest complete codex of the Hebrew Bible). In other words, rather than creating an eclectic text like the editors of the Nestle-aland novum testamentum graece are fond of the editors of the BHS and now the BHQ intended to reproduce an actual existing codex of the Hebrew Bible. This time around the editors are including both the unedited Masorah Parva and the Masorah Manga, too as well as a commentary.

GENESIS 32:18

Not all printed or electronic Hebrew Bibles ( Mikra / Tanakh) are exactly the same in all details. For example the diacritical symbols used for vowels ( nekuddot) and cantillations marks (ta`amei ha-mikra) can sometimes vary from edition to edition. A good illustration of this is to be found in Genesis 32:18 see the picture below:

It should be noted that in the above example there is a slight change in vocalization and in maybe how the text is to be chanted but not in meaning. An interesting discussion on of this can be found in the archives of the Avodah Mailing List: http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol08/v08n090.shtml#03