Exegetical issues in Prov 30:15-23
Completion requirements
Opened: Sunday, 20 June 2021, 12:00 AM
Due: Sunday, 27 June 2021, 12:00 AM
- In Prov 30,15a the Czech ecumenical translation (CEP) of the Bible reads "vampire", where most English translations read "leech". Why does the CEP has the above reading? What would be your preferred translation? You can use the following information from BDB:
7147 ] עֲלוּקָה7148) [Hebrew) (page 763) (Strong 5936(
† עֲלוּקָה n. f. leech )perh. Aram. loan-wd.; > vampyre-like demon, Ew al. = Ar. ï AulakÌ We:Heid. 2, 149, or name of sage, as some Rabb.; v. discussion De Toy(; —לַ׳ְ שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת Pr 30:15.
- The expression in biblical Hebrew can refer either to an eagle, or to a vulture. In our passage it is translated in v. 17 as "vulture" in modern English translations, but as "eagle" in v. 19 (but cf. "eagle" both in 17 and 19 in New American Standard Bible - NASB). Why, do you think, the translators translated as they did? BDB refers to Mi 1:16 as the only instance, where נֶשֶׁר requires translating as "vulture". Check your favorite translation of the Bible for the English equivalent of נֶשֶׁר in Prov 30:17, 19; Mic 1:16; Deut 32:11; Hab 1:8; Isa 40:31.
- When describing the fourth wonderful thing in Prov 30:19, modern English translations read very similar to "the way of a man with a girl" in NRSV. Notice, however, the Hebrew reading וְדֶ֖רֶךְ גֶּ֣בֶר בְּעַלְמָֽה, especially the preposition בְּ. In light of this, what could be the alternative translation of this text? How could this effect the interpretation of the text? Notice also, the decent (and less explicit) reading in LXX: καὶ ὁδοὺς ἀνδρὸς ἐν νεότητι. Give the translation of the Greek text (or check some English translation of LXX, e.g. NETS: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/).
- Compare the masoretic Hebrew text of Prov 30:20 with the Greek text of LXX. Write the translation of the relevant passage (in Greek: τοιαύτη ὁδὸς γυναικὸς μοιχαλίδος ἥ ὅταν πράξῃ ἀπονιψαμένη οὐδέν φησιν πεπραχέναι ἄτοπον). You can check your translation in the above database NETS.