RT Article
T1 A “Cryptic Phrase” in Haggai 2: 6
JF Journal of Biblical literature
VO 136
IS 3
SP 585
OP 592
A1 Rogland, Max F. 1968-
LA English
YR 2017
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1581520581
AB This article reexamines the problematic phrase ʿôd aḥt mʿṭ hî in Hag 2:6 with a view to proposing a philologically and exegetically satisfying analysis of the MT. The phrase is universally understood as an adverbial modifier of the following participial clause referring to YHWH's “shaking” of the cosmos. Scholarly opinion is divided as to whether the Hebrew expression indicates a temporally imminent event (“yet a little while”), repetition of an event (“yet once more”), or a combination of the two. A closer grammatical examination indicates that none of these solutions is adequate. It is argued that ʿôd aḥt mʿṭ hî is best understood as a verbless clause, with ʿôd aḥt (“one more thing”) as the subject, mʿṭ (“a little thing”) as the predicate, with hî functioning as a copula. Accordingly, I propose that the clause be translated, “One more thing is a small matter.” In the context of Hag 2, the utterance functions as part of a “greater-to-lesser” argument as the prophet urges the people to give generously to the rebuilding of the temple despite their impoverished circumstances. Verse 5 reminded the people of YHWH's power displayed in the deliverance from Egypt, and verse 6 assures them that it will be a small, trifling matter for him to do “one more thing,” namely, to exert his power and bring the “desirable things of the nations” into the temple (vv. 7-8) so that it can be rebuilt.
K1 BIBLE. Haggai
K1 CLAUSES (Grammar)
K1 Grammar
K1 Hebrew language : Terms & phrases
K1 Philology
DO 10.15699/jbl.1363.2017.199047