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COURSE: History of the Hebrew Language in the 1st and 2nd Temple Periods

QUESTION: The Masoretic Text of the Book of Isaiah 42:16-43:5//1QIsaa 42:16-43:5

LECTURER: Prof. Steven Fassberg

STUDENT: Henry Babatunde Omonisaye 55541161-0

Hebrew University, Jerusalem. 2005

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------INTRODUCTION This is a paper that tries to compare the Masoretic text and the Qumran scroll of Isaiah. This focus is on Isaiah 42:16-43:5. This is an attempt to spot out the differences and proffer an explanation based on the book of E.Y. Kutscher, The Language and Linguistic Background of the Isaiah scroll (1QIsaa). In the first question, we tried to tabulate the differences between the two text and attempt to offer explanations for such differences. The second question is an analysis of the verbs and presentation of their root and the final part deals with the analysis of the nouns, their root and the pattern. Question 1:
Differences between Masoretic Text-Isaiah 42:16-43:5 and Qumran Text -1QIsa a 42:16-43:5

Masoretic text chapter 42:16

Qumran text

yTik.l;Ahw>

ytkylwhw

(3x) al

(((3x)awl

Comment/Explanation This is scriptio plena. The other explanation is that it is an Aramaic influence which has /e/ in all persons, contrasting the /a/ of Hebrew first person. This therefore accounts for the plena yod. The waw was added to avoid mispronunciation and changing the word to the Aramaic equivalent (al') since Aramaic was common language then. This is the lengthened imperfect cohortative The plural is used here because of ~yViq; in the MT but

~yfia' hmyfa %v'x.m; ~ykwvxm

[]m;( which is in plural %v'x.m; is in

singular. The scribe therefore makes them agree in number. There is also a

~h,ynEp.li hmhynpl

~tiyfi[] ~ytyf[
v.17 WvboyE

scriptio plena with the waw. We find the lengthened form in the masculine. It is proposed that the /um/ used as the suffix for the masculine plural like in Arabic, was dropped in the course of time and a, which is originally feminine takes over. This phenomenon is also explained as a dialect of Samaria since no traces of the /a/ for the masculine is found mishnaic Hebrew, Origens or Tiberian Masorah. The two of them are equivalent to each other according to Kutscher. The scribe used the waw conversive which is not found in the MT but the two texts maintain the same sense. This is scriptio plena. This is scriptio plena There seems to be some thing omitted in the Qumran text but this is not attested to in the MT This lengthened form is a difference in dialect. It is not archaic because the ancient masculine form should be antumu attested in Arabic Ethiopic and Akkadian. This developed as a secondary form by analogy as especially seen in pronouns and it spread to the verbal suffixes (as we shall see in some of the verbs in this paper). The /u/

wvwbw

tv,bo tvwb ~yxij.Boh; ~yxjwbh

------- ( )

~T,a; hmta

Wnyhe(l{a/ wnyhwla
v.19 yKi

of the masculine dropped and the feminine /a/ was added. Scriptio plena This is a scriptio plena. It is to avoid a wrong pronunciation of the word especially by the Aramaic speakers of this time. Since Aramaic has no yKi this could be mispronounced as

ayk

~ai ma rWE[i raw[ rWE[iw> raw[(a)w

v.20 tyOar"

yKe thus the reason for the a The final mwas not
written. The a here is used as a middle mater lectionis to indicate the /e:/ pronunciation. This is reconstructed with the a in brackets. This word is not found in the MT In the MT, there is the ketib and the Qre. The scribe chose the ketib with the lengthened 2m.s. ending. As in verse 16. above Scriptio plena This is not in the Q. text (infinitive absolute) we find

htyar

(2x) al (2x)awl

rmo=v.ti rwmvt j;AqP' ---------

whtp instead. jqp

is found in the bible 20 times used with reference to the eyes not ear. And whtp with reference to ear. This may account for why the scribe used htp instead

Whtp ~yIn:z>a' ~ynzwa

--------------

of hwqp. Rabbinic Hebrew may have influence the MT. As explained above This is scriptio plena. However, the scribe is not always consistent with the use of this form in the whole corpus. This is a case of the shortened imperfect used. This is not frequent. There is also the used of the imperfect (instead of infinitive) to serve as the object of another verb as found in Arabic, Aramaic of the Elephantine Papyri but not in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic. This explains the case we have here. The LXX used the infinitive in this case. The scribe alters the verb by adding a waw and shortened the form of the imperfect creating a hiphil with waw conversive. The same as the preceding case with the cohortative. This is scriptio plena bringing back the archaic /a/ This is scriptio plena which is even used for short vowels. This is the scriptio plena for the hophal conjugation There is the interchange of preposition here. The form used by the scribe is parallel to zbl wyh thus it is the preferred reading. This is also found in v24

v.21

lyDIg>y: ldgyw

ryDI(a.y:w> hhrdayw
V22aWhw>

hawhw

~L'Ku ~lwk WaB'_x.h' wabxwh hS'vim. hswvml

rmEao rmwa
v.23 ymi

Scriptio plena. As explained for ayk above The archaic /a/ added, but it a secondary development in the masculine This waw was added so as to avoid mispronunciation as already stated and this spread to words that have no Aramaic equivalent like this case. This is also scriptio plena The same defective writing of the hiphil but with waw conversive which changes the tense system. However, it corresponds to the preceding and the succeeding verbs (they all have waw) As explained for ayk above The vocalization in the MT is problematic but the Qumran text clarifies it. A change in the vowel is postulated from pattern

aym

~k,b' hmkb tazO= tawz=

bviq.y: bvqyw

v.24ymi(

aym

hS'wvim.li hswvml

hl"qum.to hl"qim. the

connection between them is intimated by the spelling

hswvm. bqo[]y: bwq[y (2x) al (2x) awl %Alh' wlhl At*r"AtB. wytrwtb
Scriptio plena for noun As explained above The Qumran text adds l to the infinitive absolute The difference in suffix is explained by the fact that

~yzIz>bol. ~yzwbl Wz hz

/a+w/ contrast to give the /o/ sound. Thus, they essentially have the same sound. However this suffix is for the 3m.s for a noun in the plural. Scriptio plena for participle

Wz is the archaic relative

pronoun found in poetry e.g Ex.15:13,16 but the scribe was not familiar with the word; thus, he substituted the demonstrative, feminine, substituted the masculine, to make it agree with the gender.

v.25%Pov.YIw:

%wpvyw APa; hm'xe awpa tmx

Scriptio plena This is the phenomenon of apposition used to indicate the characteristics of a particular object. This usage does not seem to be found in Rabbinic Hebrew this explains why the scribe substituted the construct state, which is the more usual one. This word belongs to the

zWz[/w< Zzw[w

lWfqu

(2x) al (2x) awl

pattern. Having one waw is accounted for as an orthographic variant. The scribes generally write one waw and sometimes placed it after the first syllable like this case in view. The shwa mobile in transcription has the quality of the following vowel, thus the hatef-segol has the /u/ sound. Hint to this is found in the LXX, Josephus, Origen e.t.c As explained above

Chapter 43:1hKo)

hwk ^a]r:Bo hkyarwb

As explained for ayk The y indicates that the a should be read as e . It is also written as a superscript. It is however difficult to consider this as pausal form or the plural. Thus, the yod has a phonetic function. As explained above As explained for

bqo[]y: bwq[y ^r>c,yOw> hkyrcwyw> yKi( ayk ^yTil.a;g> hkytlag ^m.vib. hkmvb
v.2 (2x) yKi( (2x) ayk

hkyarwb although
this spelling is very rear, but it is the case here. As explained above The lengthened form of the suffix. The lengthened form of the suffix. As explained above Scriptio plena The archaic feminine ending is added to the pronoun, a secondary development as stated above As explained above The lengthened form of the suffix Absent in the Qumran text Scriptio plena and the lengthened form of the suffix There is a use of different verbs as well as word order in this verse. They however essentially mean the same thing. Characteristically, we

rbo[]t; rwb[t ^T.ai hkta

(2x) al (2x) awl

%B") hkb
v.3yKi -------

^yh,l{a/ hkyhwla yTit;n" ^[<+yviAm laer"f.yI yttnw lawg larfy vwk rpwk

vWK ~yrcm ~yIr:c.mi hkytxt ^r>p.k' ~yabsw `^yT,(x.T; ab's.W ab's.W ~yabsw

have the scriptio plena and the lengthened suffix of the 2m.s.

^yT,(x.T; hkytxt ^r>p.k' rpwk

v.4T'r>q:y"

The substitution of the plural according to Kutscher is most surprising. However, compare to chapter 45:14, the plural is used. Thus, the hypothesis is that the scribe made this change because he compared the two verses. Lengthened suffix Scriptio plena The lengthened suffix. The lengthened suffix The lengthened suffix The lengthened suffix Scriptio plena The lengthened suffix As explained above As explained above Lengthened suffix Lengthened suffix.

T'd>B;k.nI ^yTi_b.h;a] ^yT,(x.T; ~yMiaul.W ^v<)p.n: yKi ^T.ai ^[,r>z: &'c<)B.q;a]

v.5

htrqy htdbkn hkybha hkyt(xt ~ymwalw hkvpn ayk hkta hk[rz hkcbqa

Question 2. The Analysis of the verbs v.16 yTik.l;Ahw> waw cons.,hiph, perf. 1c.s. Jlh

(2x) W[d"y"

~ke_yrId>a; ~yfia' ~tiyfi[] ~yTi(b.z:[] Wgson" ; WvboyE ~yxij.Boh; ~yrIm.aoh'

v.17 v.18 W[m'_v.

Qal perf. 3c.pl. [dy Hiph. Imperf. 1c.s. + suff 3m.pl. Jrd Qal Imperf. 1c.s. ~f Qal perf. 1c.s.+ suff 3m.pl. yf[ Qal perf. 1c.s. + suff 3m.pl. bz[ Nif. Perf. 3c.pl. gws Qal perf. 3c.pl. vb Qal ptc m. pl. xjb Qal ptc m. pl. rma Qal Impv. m. pl.[mv Hiph impv. m. pl.jbn Prep. + qal inf. cst.yar Qal imperf. 1c.s. xlv Prep+pual ptc. m.~lv Qre-qal inf. Abs. ketib qal perf. 2m.s. yar Qal imperf. 2m.s. rmv Qal inf. Abs.xqP Qal impf. 3m.s.rmv Qal perf. 3m.s.#px Hiph imperf. 3m.s.ldg waw conj.+ hiph imperf. 3m.s.rda Qal pass. Ptc. m.s.zzb waw conj.+Qal pass. ptc. m.s.ysv

WjyBih; tAa)r>li v.19 xl'_v.a ~L'vum.Ki

v.20 tyoar"

rmo=v.ti x;AqP' [m'(v.yI

v.21 #pex'

lyDIg>y: `ryDI(a.y:w>
v.22 zWzB'

yWsv'w>

x:peh' WaB'_x.h' Wyh' lyCim; rmEao bv;(h'

v.23 !yzIa]y:

Hiph inf. abs. xxp Hoph 3c.pl.abx Qal perf. 3 m.c.pl.yyh Hiph ptc m.s.lcn Qal ptc.m.s.rma Hiph impv. m.s.bwv Hiph imperf. 3m.s.!za Hiph perf. 3m.s.bvq waw conj. + imperf. 3m.s.[mv Qal perf. 3m.s.!tn Prep+qal ptc m.pl.zzb Qal perf. 1c.pl.ajx Qal perf. 3c.pl.yba Qal inf. abs.%lh Qal perf 3c.pl.[mv waw cones.+qal imperf.3.m.s.%Pv waw cones+piel imperf. 3f.s.+suff3m.s. jhl Qal perf. 3m.s.[dy Waw cones+qal imperf.3 f.sr[b Qal imperf. 3m.s.~f Qal perf. 3m.s.rma Qal ptc. 3m.s.+suff 2m.s.arb Waw conj+ qal ptc. 3m.s.+suff 2m.srcy Qal imperf.2m.s.ary

bviq.y:O= [m;v.yIw>
v.24 !t;n"

~yzIz>bol. Wnaj'x' Wba' %Alh' W[m.v'

v.25 %Pov.YIw:

Whjeh]l;T.w: [d"y" R[;b.Tiw: ~yfiy"

Chapter 43:1rm:a'

^a]r:Bo ^r>c,yOw> ar"yT

^yTil.a;g> ytiar"q'
v.2 rbo[]t;

Qal perf.1c.s +suff 2m.slag Qal perf. 1c.s arq Qal imperf. 2m.s rb[ Qal imperf. 3m.pl.+suff. 2m.s.pjv Qal imperf.2m.s.%ly Niph. Imperf. 2m.s.ywk Qal imperf. 3f.s.r[b Hiph ptc.m.s.+suff.2m.s.[vy Qal perf. 1c.s.tn Qal perf. 2m.s. rqy Niph perf. 2m.s. dbk Qal perf. 1c.s.+suff. 2m.s.bha Waw conj.+qal imperf. 1c.s.tn Qal imperf. 2m.s.ary Qal imperf. 1c.s.+suff.2m.s.cbq

^Wp+j.v.yI %lEte hw<K'ti r[;b.ti

v.3 ^[<+yviAm

yTit;n"
v.4 T'r>q:y"

T'd>B;k.nI ^yTi_b.h;a] !TEa,w>

v.5 ar"yTi

&'c<)B.q;a]

Question 3. Analysis of the nouns- root and noun class. v.16 %r<d<B. Prep+noun m.s. qatl %rd Prep+n. f. pl. qatil btn n.m.s. maqtal %vx prep+n.m.pl.+suff 3m.s. qatil ynp Prep+n.m.s. qul ra

tAbytin>Bi %v'x.m; ~h,ynEp.li rAal'

~yViq;[]m;(W rAvymil. ~yrIb'D>h;

v.17 rAxa' tv,bo ls,P'_B; hk'Sem;l. Wnyhe(l{a/ v.19 yDIb.[;

Conj+prep+n.m.pl.maqtal Vq[ Prep+n.m.s.miqtol rvy Def. art.+n.m.pl. qatl %rd n.m.s. qatol rxa n.f.s.qutl vb Prep+n.m.s. qatal lsp Prep+n.f.s.maqetal kSm Divine name+suff1c.pl. n.m.s.+suff 1c.s.qatl db[ Prep+n.m.s.+1c.s maqtal %alm Prep+n.m.s. cst. Qatl+ Divine name db[ n.f. dual qutl za Divine name n.m.s.+suff 3m.s. qitl qdc n.f.s.qotal hrt n.m.s.qall ~[ Prep+n.m.pl. qulrwx n.m.s.+suff.3m.s. qul lk Waw conj.+prep+n.m.pl.cst.qatiltyb n.m.pl. qtal alk Prep+n.m.s qal zb n. f.s.mqital svm Prep+n.m.s qatol rxa

ykia'l.m;K. hw")hy> db,[,K.

v.20 ~yIn:z>a' v.21 hw"hy>

Aq+d>ci hr"AT
v.22 ~[;

~yrIWxB;( ~L'Ku yTeb'b.W ~yail'k. zb;l' hS'vim.

v.23 rAx*a'l.

v.24 hS'wvim.li

bqo[]y: laer"f.yIw> hw"+hy> wyk'r"d>bi At*r"AtB.

v.25 hm'xe

Prep+n. f.s. mqital svm Proper name Waw conj+proper name Divine name Prep+n.m.pl. +suff 3m.s.qatl%rd Prep+n.f.s.+suff 3m.s. qotal hrt n.f.s. qital hmx n.f.s.+ suff 3m.s qal a n.f.s. miqtal ml n.m.s. qillbl Divine name and proper names Prep+n.m.s.2m.s. qill mv Waw conj.+prep+n.m.pl. qatal rhn n. s. qillva Wawconj+n.f.s.meqatal bhl Divine names+suff2ms, proper name n.m.s.+suff 2m.s. qutl rpk Proper names +waw conj.

APa; hm'_x'l.mi ble lae_r"f.yI bqo[]y: hw"hy> ^m.vib. v.2 tArh'N>b;W vae hb'h'l,w>
Chapter 43:1 v.3

laer"f.yI ^yh,l{a/ hw"hy> ^r>p.k' ab's.W vWK ~yIr:c.mi

v.4 yn:y[eb.

Prep+n. f. dual +1cs qatl y[ n.m.s.qatal ~da Waw conj.+n m. pl. qtul mal n.f.s.+2m.s. qatl vpn

~d"a' ~yMiaul.W ^v<)p.n:

v.5 xr"z>Mimi

Prep+n.m.s. miqtal xrzm n.m.s.+suff 2m.s.qatel [rz Waw conj.+prep+n.m.s maqtal br[m

^[,r>z: br"[]M;mi(W

CONCLUSION This exercise reveals the factors that place a major role in the development of the Hebrew language viz; economic, social and even language of common people. It also shows the influence of other Semitic language in this development. It is also clear from this exercise that we can have a holistic knowledge of the Hebrew language and its development when we compare it with other Semitic language that existed side by side with it throughout the course of history.