E.D. Reymond, «The Wisdom of Words in the Wisdom of Ben Sira», Vol. 95 (2014) 224-246
This article explores the problems posed by language due to its imprecision, the disparity between what one says (or means to say) and what is interpreted. Ben Sira warns his readers of the dangers posed by the changing contexts of an utterance. Sensitivity to context reflects other aspects of Ben Sira's teaching, such as his awareness of people's differing perspectives. In addition, Ben Sira is concerned that his readers be aware of the multiple meanings behind words due to the polysemous nature of the words themselves, their morphology, and/or how they are used.
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242 ERIC D. REYMOND
The next example is reflected in the Greek, but not the Hebrew
of Ms B.
o]j evge,neto kata. to. o;noma auvtou/
me,gaj evpi. swthri,a| evklektw/n auvtou/
(Joshua) who was made, according to his name,
great for the salvation of his chosen (Sir 46,1).
Here, the play is between the name Joshua ([Xwhy Ms B) and
the word for salvation (h[wXt Ms B). In place of the phrase “ac-
cording to his name”, the Hebrew of Ms B contains the phrase wymyb
“in his days”, while the Syriac has another sense. Many scholars
agree that the Greek may reflect the original wording, though of
course the Hebrew makes just as much sense 39.
The third example of this phrase is found in the Syriac to 2,18
and is only partially paralleled in the Hebrew Ms A, though in the
Hebrew the phrase has actually been misplaced to 6,17 40.
mṭl d’yk rbwth hkn’ rḥmwhy w’yk šmh hkn’ ‘bdwhy
For, as (is) his [i.e., God’s] greatness, thus (is) his mercy
and as (is) his name, thus (are) his deeds (Sir 2,18).
w`j ga.r h` megalwsu,nh auvtou/
ou[twj kai. to. e;leoj auvtou/
For, as (is) his majesty
thus (is) his mercy (Sir 2,18).
wyX[m !k wmXkw wh[r !k whwmk yk
For, as (is) a person (lit., he), so (is) his friend,
and like his name, so (are) his deeds (Sir 6,17; Ms A) 41.
39
Among those scholars who suggest that the original Hebrew to 46,1 con-
tained wmXk are PETERS, Ecclesiasticus, 250, 413; SMEND, Sirach erklärt, 440;
BOX – OESTERLEY, “Sirach”, 490; SEGAL, Sefer Ben Sira, 31; SKEHAN – DI
LELLA, Wisdom of Ben Sira, 515.
40
Those scholars who suggest that the original Hebrew to 2,18 contained
the phrase “like his name” include SMEND, Sirach, hebräisch und deutsch, 4;
BOX – OESTERLEY, “Sirach, “1.323; SEGAL, Sefer Ben Sira, 8; SKEHAN – DI
LELLA, Wisdom of Ben Sira, 149; N. CALDUCH-BENAGES, En el crisol de la
prueba. Estudio exegético de Sir 2,1-18 (ABE 32; Estella 1997) 228-229.
41
Verse 6,17 reads, according to the Greek, “The one who fears the Lord
will set straight his friendship, for as (is) a person (lit., he), so (is) his friend”.
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