Schema della sezione

    • Overview

      • Lexical semantics: dealing with "difficult words"
      • Syntax: dealing with sentences and clauses
      • Macrosyntax: looking for the paragraph markers

    • Comment

      Students are introduced in selected theoretical aspects of lexical semantics. Five "myth" about word study are introduced and rebutted:

      1. The myth of point meaning.
      2. The etymological fallacy.
      3. The myth of aggregated meaning.
      4. The myth of unique denotation.
      5. The myth of totality transfer.

      Further students learn some practical steps of word study in Old Testament exegesis, these include: identification of key expressions, poetic expressions, conventional combinations, use of synonyms and antonyms or the use of  idiomatic expressions.

      Students are reminded of possible ambiguities in the area of Biblical Hebrew syntax and are referred to standard textbooks of Biblical Hebrew grammar and syntax.

      Students are also introduced in some modern approaches, which pay attention to the discourse-level of the language, specifically of Biblical Hebrew.

    • OTE 04 Step 2 File
    • OTE 04a Psalm 1 Word semantics File

    • Literature for individual study

      Cotterell, Peter. “Linguistics, Meaning, Semantics, and Discourse Analysis.”
      Stuart, Old Testament Exegesis, 42-49.
      Walton, John H. “Principles for Productive Word Study.”


      For further reading

      Joüon and Muraoka, A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew.
      Niccacci, The Syntax of the Verb, 19-34.


    • Cotterell, Peter. “Linguistics, Meaning, Semantics, and Discourse Analysis.” Walton, John H. “Principles for Productive Word Study.” File
    • Stuart, Old Testament Exegesis, 42-49. File

    • Verifying comprehension

      1. The search of all verbal forms of ברא (BR’), "create", in the BibleWorks software (WTM .ברא@*) provides the following results of 46 occurrences of the verb: Gen. 1:1, Gen. 1:21, Gen. 1:27, Gen. 2:3, Gen. 2:4, Gen. 5:1, Gen. 5:2, Gen. 6:7, Exod. 34:10, Num. 16:30, Deut. 4:32, Jos. 17:15, Jos. 17:18, 1 Sam. 2:29, Ps. 51:12, Ps. 89:13, Ps. 89:48, Ps. 102:19, Ps. 104:30, Ps. 148:5, Eccl. 12:1, Isa. 4:5, Isa. 40:26, Isa. 40:28, Isa. 41:20, Isa. 42:5, Isa. 43:1, Isa. 43:7, Isa. 43:15, Isa. 45:7, Isa. 45:8, Isa. 45:12, Isa. 45:18, Isa. 48:7, Isa. 54:16, Isa. 57:19, Isa. 65:17, Isa. 65:18, Jer. 31:22, Ezek. 21:24, Ezek. 21:35, Ezek. 23:47, Ezek. 28:13, Ezek. 28:15, Amos 4:13, Mal. 2:10.
        • How are the occurrences of the verb distributed in various books of the Old Testament and their parts?
        • After you consult the standard Old Testament introductory textbook (such as Rendtorff's or other), how would you describe the importance of theology of creation in the books or their parts, where the verb typically and frequently occurs?
      2. What is the etymological fallacy? What, on the other hand, is justified use of etymology in Old Testament exegesis?
      3. Explain the "myth of totality transfer".
      4. How would you translate the expression ‎פְּלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי (Ruth 4:1)? What is the function of this expression in the context of the Ruth narrative?
      5. Most English translation read strange word "Nephilim" in Gen 6:4. What is the Hebrew word? What is the reading of LXX in this passages? How would you translate the expression when considering also Num 13:33 (check LXX here as well)?