Conservative Theology

July 13, 2008

BrewBlogging / Ruth 2:3

JB

This verse was a little tricky.  Here's the verse and my notes:

And she went1 and entered2 and gleaned3 in the field after the harvesters.  And she encountered4,5 by chance6,7 the portion of the field [that belonged]8 to Boaz who [was]9 from the clan of Elimelech.

  1. Qal Imperfect 3fs + vav-consecutive
  2. Qal Imperfect 3fs + vav-consecutive
  3. Qal Imperfect 3fs + vav-consecutive
  4. Qal Imperfect 3ms + vav-consecutive
  5. Note that this is a masculine construct, but we interpret it feminine from the context.
  6. This word is from the same root as "encounter" 
  7. This is an accusitive adverb.  That is, Hebrew has few adverbs.  Instead, they often use nouns without an article to function as an adverb.  This noun means "a chance" so we interpret it "by chance".  Also, for some reason, this is written with an extra qamets at the end, and the dictionary says that this is a suffixed form, but I couldn't figure out what suffix that was supposed to be.
  8. Hebrew has no verb for "to have".  Instead they say "it was to him" to say "he has".  In addition, the verb "to be" usually has to be supplied as well.  The Hebrew just has "to Boaz", and so we interpreted that as an ownership statement.
  9. This verb was supplied.

Vocuabulary:

  • קצר - to reap or harvest
  • חלקה - portion (of land)
  • קרה - to encounter, meet, or befall
  • מקרה - accident, chance, or fortune
  • חלק - to divide or share

July 09, 2008

BrewBlogging / Brew Links

JB

Several links for Hebrew learning and reading:

Thanks!

HT: JKD

July 09, 2008

BrewBlogging / First 'Brew Blog - Ruth 2:1-2

JB

A friend of mine is doing a personal translation and commentary of Genesis in his blog.  I'm nowhere near that good - it takes me a half hour to an hour per verse to do just a rough translation.  So my Hebrew blog will be much rougher (and shorter), but I thought it would be a good way to practice Hebrew and share what I learn while doing it.  Mine will focus more on mechanics than interpretation. I'm starting in Ruth 2 because I have already finished Ruth 1 for a previous class.  Here is my translation:

And to Naomi [was] a kinsman to her man.  A man mighty in strength from the clan of Elimelech and his name [was] Boaz.  And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean in the ears of grain after which I will find favor in his eyes.  And she said to her "Go my daughter."

A few notes:

  • Note that Hebrew does not have a verb "to have".  Instead they say "it was to him/her".  So "to Naomi a kinsman to her man" means "Naomi had a kinsman of her husband". 
  • Also note that "her man" means "her husband".  There is no distinct word for "husband" or "wife" in Hebrew
  • I was a little confused when I ran across לכי because I couldn't figure out what form it was.  Usually whenever you see לכ in Hebrew it is some form of הלך but in this case I couldn't place the form.  It turns out it is a feminine second person imperative.

Vocabulary

  • מודע - kinsman
  • גבור - mighty
  • חיל - strong
  • משפחת - clan
  • לקט - to pick or gather, especially for gleaning
  • שבלת - ear of grain
  • מצא - to attain or find
  • חן - favor
All of the שs are shin's, but I can't see if I typed them correctly.  Probably not.