Towards a New Proposal for Translating the Conjunction khy in Deuteronomy 4.29
Towards a New Proposal for Translating the Conjunction כי in Deuteronomy 4.29
English translations almost universally understand the phrase כי תדרשׁנו בכל־לבבך ובכל־נפשׁך in Deut 4.29 as a conditional statement: “if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.” This article challenges the typical translation and argues that instead of expressing a condition, Deut 4.29...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2020
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| In: |
The Bible translator
Year: 2020, Volume: 71, Issue: 2, Pages: 158-178 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Deuteronomium 4,29
/ Theology
/ Eschatology
/ Prophecy
/ Hebrew language
/ Grammar
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Translation
B Deuteronomic theology B כי B Hebrew grammar B Deuteronomy 4.29 B latter days B Eschatology B Prophecy |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | English translations almost universally understand the phrase כי תדרשׁנו בכל־לבבך ובכל־נפשׁך in Deut 4.29 as a conditional statement: “if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.” This article challenges the typical translation and argues that instead of expressing a condition, Deut 4.29 should be understood as the reason Israel will repent and turn to Yahweh. This argument is supported by the near context of Deut 4, as well as the remote context of Deut 29-30. In addition, the typical usage of כי clauses in Hebrew grammar provides positive evidence for a causal understanding of Deut 4.29. In addition to the contextual and grammatical evidence, the LXX of Deut 4.29 and Jer 29.11 (36.13 LXX) demonstrates that the first translators of the text likely did not view this text as conditional. Thus, Deut 4.29 is best read as the reason for Israel’s latter-day return to Yahweh—Israel will find Yahweh because they will seek him with their whole heart. |
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| ISSN: | 2051-6789 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The Bible translator
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/2051677020918633 |