Nir: Just a little quibble: in Biblical Hebrew בדיל BDYL refers to slag or dross, removed from metals during the refining process. It’s used once in Isaiah, 1:25, and three times in Ezekiel, 22:18, 20 and 27:12.
נחשת NX$T refers to copper and its alloys, especially where copper is the main material of the alloy such as brass and bronze. Karl W. Randolph. On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 9:34 AM, Nir cohen - Prof. Mat. <[email protected]>wrote: > rolf, > > i agree with ishnian that MBDYL should be translated as SEPARATE and not > MADE OF BRASS. this is also the usual translation. > > firstly, at that point in the creation story, matter appears to > have been divisible into water and solids, and so "brass" was > still inexistent as a separate element. > > secondly, as the whole RAQIA is, by itself, a metaphore, an artifact > marking > separation, it is not expected that the text go into its exact composition. > moreover, as ishnian asks, why BDYL? > > thirdly, grammar. the expression YHY MBDYL BYN MYM LMYM (would be > separating > between water and water) can hardly be separated cohesively into two > parts (will be made of brass - between waters and waters: the second > part in fact still made no sense since water was still indivisible!). > > the alternative "separate" fits much better to the text as it is > followed by the preposition BYN (separate BETWEEN). > > fourth, the thematic. the whole creation of RQYA was made with separation > in mind. > ---------- > > quite on the contrary, the word BDYL (brass), which (technologically > speaking) may not be as old as genesis, probably derives indeed from > "separate", hinting at the way the alloy was produced. even the > identity of BDYL as brass is unclear. > > nir cohen > > >>>De: "Ishnian" <[email protected]> > Para: <[email protected]> > Data: Sat, 1 Sep 2012 17:09:11 -0500 > Assunto: [b-hebrew] When the heavens become brass... > > > >>>ROLF wrote: > ......I would argue about RQY( in Genesis 1:6-8. When it is said that the > heavens will become brass, the one thing (the sky) is called like the other > one (brass,). Thus, "brass" is a metaphor. > > > >>>ISHINAN: > If the metaphorical language of the Scripture means transporting a meaning > from one word [here brass *(1) which is an alloy of copper and zinc] to > another [in this case, the heaven(s)]. My question to you, is why, in your > opinion, it is such a terrible situation if the heavens become brass?. What > does this particular metaphor try to convey in the light of Deuteronomy > 8:8-9 > *(2) where 'brass' is used in a positive sense? > > Best regards, > > Ishinan Ishibashi > > _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
