Classical Hebrew: ישב רוחו יזלו־מים

shamsuddin

shamsuddin

Member
руский
Hello

Why is this translated as He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

Isn't the יַשֵּׁ֥ב a jussive verb?

יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָרֹ֣ו וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּחֹ֗ו יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃
(Psalms 147:18)

Thanks so much
 
    • I have never come across a translation that reflects the jussive meaning of this verb. Have you?
     
    English doesn't have a jussive. Translations aren't grammar references, they don't have to reflect every grammatical nuance. Would this verse actually mean anything different if you explicitly translated the jussiveness of the verb? It would not. So no one bothered to complicate the English translation just to convey that.
     
    A translator could have translated יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּחֹ֗ו יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם as "May He cause His wind to blow [so] waters flow."
     
    shamsuddin said:
    Hello

    Why is this translated as He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

    Isn't the יַשֵּׁ֥ב a jussive verb?

    יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָרֹ֣ו וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּחֹ֗ו יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃
    (Psalms 147:18)

    Thanks so much
    Click to expand...
    The first part should be:

    May he send his word so that he melts it.

    The vav in וְיַמְסֵ֑ם indicates result/purpose.
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top