02_Biblica_1_B_Pinker_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:15 Pagina 507 507 ON THE MEANING OF JOB 4,18 Objection: Since these roots do not occur in Hebrew, it would mean that hlht is a foreign word; only approximations of hlht occur in cognate languages; an etymology that is based on Hebrew should be preferred 35; and the sense “err” for wahila is rare in clas- sical Arabic 36. ― Derive the meaning of hlht from Aramaic ylh (“to be faint, to labor”). Rationale: (a) The derivation of hlht is not forced; and, (b) the meaning of “weakness” fits the context. Objection: The origin of the word ylh is unknown; and, the root ylh is unattested in other Semitic languages. ― Emend hlht to hlft%fha from lth (“deceive, mock”). Rationale: lth is attested in Job 13,9 and 17,2. Objection: The root II llt means, “mock, deceive, trifle with”. Neither of these meanings fits the context 37. ― Assume that the )l in v. 18a applies also to v. 18b, and revo- calize hlfh/t%f to hl%fhit%; 38. Rationale: (a) There is no need for emendation of the consonan- tal text; (b) in vv. 15,15 and 25,5, which are the rephrased version of v. 4,18, another )l occurs in the second colon; and, (c) the noun hlht and verb Nm) are collocated in Ps 106,12. Objection: The reading “and ascribes no glory to his angels” does not convey any deficiency in the angels, which would be on a par with being “untrustworthy”; and, in the apparent paraphrase of this verse DHORME, Job, 53. 35 CLINES, Job, 112. Cf. J. BARTH, Nominalbildung in den semitischen 36 Sprachen (Leipzig 21894) 278. HABEL, Job, 116. In Habel’s opinion “‘mock, deceives’ [gives] a sense 37 consistent with the context”. Also Tur-Sinai (Job, 85) says: “This word has, perhaps correctly, been explained as a metathetic variant of hlth”. See for instance, A.B. EHRLICH, Randglossen zur hebräischen Bibel, VI. 38 Psalmen, Sprüche, und Hiob (Leipzig 1918) 194; P. SZCZYGIEL, Das Buch Job, übersetzt und erklärt (HSAT 5; Bonn 1931) 53; BLOMMERDE, Northwest, 42. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati