A question about Psalm 68:6

by behemot 1 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • behemot
    behemot

    The English translation of the second line of this verse usually reads something like:

    "he (God) bringeth out those which are bound with chains" (King James)

    "He brings out those who are bound into prosperity" (New King James)

    "he leads forth the prisoners with singing" (NIV)

    I read somewhere that the Hebrew word kowsharah (root: kä·shar', plur. kä·shar'ot), here variously translated "with chains", "into prosperity" "with singing" (this word seems to have a weird span of possible meanings!), might be a hidden reference to divine feminine beings who were part of the archaic pantheon of gods surrounding and helping JHWH.

    Anyone has more info on this? Leolaia maybe?

    Behemot

  • Narkissos
    Narkissos

    The problem is that the word occurs only here (hapax legomenon) in the whole Biblical Hebrew corpus, so its interpretation is pure guesswork (cf. for instance H.J. Kraus' commentary ad loc.). The most up-to-date lexicography (HAL) settles on the idea of "prosperity, fortune". Apparently the LXX translator was already guessing as he wrote en andreia, "by manly strength"...

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