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Question about Habakkuk 2:11, Theodore of Mopsuestia
#1
Shlama,

Does anyone have any thoughts on this particular passage in Habakkuk 2:11? and why Theodore may have rejected the Peshitta rendering of this particular verse? I have to admit that I'm not totally familiar with Theodore's background. I have a couple of books supposedly written by him.

Theodore of Mopsuestia is quoted by J.P. Migne as saying/writing, "Some have said that the Syrian version reads 'peg'; but it would be nonsense to disregard the voice of the Hebrew -- in which the prophets spoke and which the Seventy with their own translation have made clear to us, for they were notables and perfectly knew that language -- and pay attention to the Syrian who has altered the voice of the Hebrews into that of the Syrians. Besides he often wants to raise his own mistakes to a linguistic law, without knowing what he is talking about."

Theodore's reference to "the Seventy" is the Septuagint. It appears by this comment that Theodore is rejecting the Peshitta text over that of the Septuagint (for this particular passage at least) which says "beetle" while the Peshitta says "peg" or "nail".

From Aramaic: For the stone shall implore from the wall, and the nail from the wood shall respond. (or a different tense: For the stone has implored/called out from the wall, and the nail from the wood has responded.)

Lamsa: For the stone shall cry out from the wall, and the nail in the wood shall answer it.

Jewish Publication Soc. (1917): For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

Jewish Publication Soc. (modern edition): For a stone shall cry out from the wall, and a rafter shall answer it from the woodwork.

Brenton's Septuagint: For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beetle out of the timber shall speak.
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Question about Habakkuk 2:11, Theodore of Mopsuestia - by yaaqub - 12-19-2007, 04:40 PM

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