(More) On the Precative Qatal in Lamentations 3.56-61: Updating the Argument
The rhetorical movement throughout Lamentations 3 is difficult to describe and scholars disagree on how to characterize the acrostic poem. Much hinges on how we interpret the sequence of qatal verbs throughout 3.56-61. Most scholars understand this section as a Danklied, and so translate the qatal f...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Sage
2021
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In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2021, Volume: 45, Issue: 4, Pages: 493-514 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Old Testament
/ Verb
/ Poetics
/ Grammaticalization
/ Cognitive linguistics
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IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
Further subjects: | B
Cognitive Linguistics
B biblical Hebrew verbs B präkatives Qatal B Lamentations B biblical Hebrew poetry B Bibel. Klagelieder, 3,56-61 B precative qatal B Grammaticalization B Qatal |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | The rhetorical movement throughout Lamentations 3 is difficult to describe and scholars disagree on how to characterize the acrostic poem. Much hinges on how we interpret the sequence of qatal verbs throughout 3.56-61. Most scholars understand this section as a Danklied, and so translate the qatal forms in the past tense. Another option is to understand the qatal verbs as precatives, expressing a wish or command. However, this is a contested form in the linguistic study of classical Hebrew. Many Lamentations scholars cite this uncertainty in arguments against a precative reading of Lam. 3.56-61. This article builds a fresh case for understanding the precative qatal as rhetorically and linguistically plausible. After working through the rhetorical arguments that support this reading, special attention is given to a recent argument in favor of the precative hypothesis from linguist Alexander Andrason. Brief comments are also offered on the oral-performative dimension of this interpretation. |
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ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0309089220963423 |