Author Archives: Hebraean / Hebraeon

Σὺ δὲ λαλήσεις αὐτῷ πάντα ὅσα σοι ἐντέλλομαι ὁ δὲ Ααρων ὁ ἀδελφός σου λαλήσει πρὸς Φαραω ὥστε ἐξαποστεῖλαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐκ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ (Exodus 7:2 LXX) אַתָּ֣ה תְדַבֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ וְאַהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֨יךָ֙ יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֹֽו׃ Mediated Speech and Divine Command Exodus 7:2 articulates the division of labor between Moshe and Aharon in their prophetic mission to Parʿo. The Hebrew frames Moshe as the recipient of divine command and Aharon as his spokesman. The Septuagint mirrors this structure closely, yet shifts verbal moods and phrase constructions to render the chain of communication in smoother Greek.… Learn Hebrew

οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ διαλεγόμενοι πρὸς Φαραω βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐξήγαγον τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου αὐτὸς Ααρων καὶ Μωυσῆς (Exodus 6:27 LXX) הֵ֗ם הַֽמְדַבְּרִים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְהֹוצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם ה֥וּא מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃ Introductory Reflection In this seemingly straightforward identification of Moshe and Aharon as divine agents before Parʿo, we discover a fascinating translation decision in the Septuagint. The Hebrew employs a compound nominal clause with participial and infinitive constructions, whereas the Greek reorganizes the structure using indicative verbs and coordination. This verse offers a window into how participial identity statements in Hebrew are rendered through more fluid narrative devices in Greek, with subtle shifts in agency and aspect.… Learn Hebrew

Καὶ ἔγραψεν Μωυσῆς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα Κυρίου ὀρθρίσας δὲ Μωυσῆς τὸ πρωὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν θυσιαστήριον ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος καὶ δώδεκα λίθους εἰς τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ισραηλ (Exodus 24:4 LXX) וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּ֥בֶן מִזְבֵּ֖חַ תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וּשְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה לִשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Written Word and Ritual Structure In Exodus 24:4, Moshe responds to divine revelation with action: he records the covenantal words, rises early, and constructs a sacred structure. The Hebrew presents this as a detailed narrative with sequential wayyiqtol verbs and construct chains.… Learn Hebrew

Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Ααρων περιέλεσθε τὰ ἐνώτια τὰ χρυσᾶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν τῶν γυναικῶν ὑμῶν καὶ θυγατέρων καὶ ἐνέγκατε πρός με (Exodus 32:2 LXX) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן פָּֽרְקוּ֙ נִזְמֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָבִ֖יאוּ אֵלָֽי׃ Commanding in Crisis When the people clamor for visible leadership, Aharon responds with a precise directive: bring the gold. This verse is not only pivotal in the narrative of the golden calf, but also rich in grammatical structures that the Septuagint translates with notable syntactic clarity.… Learn Hebrew