I have a basic understanding of classical Hebrew, and found that looking at other semitic literature has helped to further this understanding. For instance, we are looking at the Hebrew Tanakh through western eyes in which we look at the written text as the primary source of knowledge, when in reality the text is secondary to a recitation or oral understanding. The Qur'an is the same way in this respect. There are several ways to recite the Qur'an, and all ways are considered to be correct (the two major recitations are the Warsh and Hafs). The Hebrew Text is in a way a short hand to help one remember what one needs to recite without being taught the recitation the short hand can become ambiguous. The word MLK can mean either Molek (the pagan god) or king, the recitation that one is taught can help one remember which word is appropriate in the verse. What is interesting is that there are times in which the Septuagint seems to have a different recitation from the Masorah in which the difference in meaning is not a difference so much in words as in vowel points.So essencially the vowel pointing was to try to convey the reciation that was the primary source. These were texts to be sung and memorized the writing down was secondary.
--- In [email protected], [email protected] wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "hebrewsister" <hebrewsister@> wrote: > > > > I was wondering how necessary is it to know the vowel marks under the > > letters if it is a new thing? > > > > Is it possible to learn to read Hebrew without them? I mean, How did they > > learn it before? > > > > Bayadwa > > > All the answers given are some what factual, however, the "vowel" marks did > not exist until about the 9th century AD and were added to use the Text as a > spoken language. > > The Text, as we see in the "dead Sea Scrolls" did not have these "marks". > > The "ancient-hebrew" text was originally in "PICTURES" which did not need > "VOWEL" marks. > > So I find these marks to be somewhat distracting and even sometimes > misleading. > > The Text was meant to be seen (Read) and not Just Read out loud. > > Rich > AHRC >
