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Home , Biblia Hebraica (Kittel), Biblical Aramaic, Peshitta, Septuagint, Targum, Wilhelm Gesenius

IN ”אֲמֻצִּים“ THE ANALYSIS OF THE OF :3 AND 6:7: A COMPARISON STUDY OF ANCIENT TEXTS Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Email: [email protected] Author: Philip Suciadi Chia, D.Th., Ph.D (in progress)

Abstract. There are some ancient sacred texts for such as Hebrew , Syriac , , and . However, the translation of these ancient texts is not always having the same nuance or literal meaning. Zechariah 6:3 and 6:7 are or strong has been translated diversely in our ancient sacred ”םיִּצֻמֲא“ one example. The word or ”םיִּצֻמֲא“ texts. Therefore, this paper will attempt to discuss multiple for the word strong. The discussion will cover the purpose of these various translations. The possible reason behind the selection of the meaning will also be discussed in this paper.

Keywords. , Lexical Studies and Philology.

INTRODUCTION

Most of commentaries on the Bible meanings. This word appears two times in the seek to explain the meaning of the words, entire : Zechariah 6:3 and phrases, and ideas of the scriptural text in 6:7. To analyze this word, going over to their nearer and wider context: a textual the ancient - commentary. 1 However, there are some Quinta, Septuagint, Syriac Peshitta, Aramaic obstacles to find out the meaning; for Targum and Latin Vulgate -, and list them all. instance, some of Hebrew Bible and Greek Then, I will compare these texts and explain NT texts are unclear in terms of meaning or / the reason and the purpose of these diverse and the ancient texts convey different translations; this paper does not try to find out attestation. Zechariah 6:3, for example, the original word and meaning as in textual conveys these difficulties: both unclear from criticism study. Hebrew text and have different attestations. as ”אֲמֻצִּים“ Latin Vulgate translates the word strong; however, the other ancient texts – Septuagint, Syriac Peshitta, and Aramaic Targum - employ “spotted-skewbald (horses)” for this word. In other words, this same word of Hebrew has two different

1 Bruce Metzger, Textual Commentary on Bibelgesellschaft, 1994), 1. the NT 2nd edition (Stuttgart: Deutsche

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THE LIST OF ANCIENT Text : Et in quadriga quarta equi MANUSCRIPTS varii fortes Translation : And in the fourth A. 2 are variegated (party-colored, various, diverse) horses, they are strong ּובַמֶּרְ כָּבָּההָּרְ בִּעִּיתסּוסִּים בְרֻ דִּים : Text אֲמֻצִּים : אֲמֻצִּים Translation : The fourth chariots are spotted horses, all of them are strong or spotted-skewbald horses The Summary of the Ancient Texts. אֲמֻצִּים : Vorlage The list of the ancient texts conveys B. Septuagint 3 the discrepancy of the description of the Text : ἐν τῷ ἅρματι τῷ τετάρτῳ fourth . Latin Vulgate seems not only ἵπποι ποικίλοι ψαροί depict the appearance of the fourth chariot, Translation : To the fourth chariots are but also the strength. The other texts, varied dapple-grays horses. however, only focus on the color of the fourth chariot. 7 ַאמֻצִּים : Vorlage

”םיִּצֻמֲא“ C. Syriac Peshitta 4 THE ANALYSIS OF Text : ܘܒܡܪܟܒܬܐ ܕܐܪܒܬ̈ ܕܟܫܪ̈ ܕܐܐܟܐ̈

Translation : And also in the fourth Different Meaning from Hebrew Lexicons chariots are parti-colored horses אֲמֻצִּים (2) (1) ַאמֻצִּים : Vorlage אֲמֻצִּים D. Aramaic Targum 5 Translation Strong Flesh-coloured, BDB) skewbald) ּובִּרתִּיכָּא רְ בִּיעֵיתָּא סֻוסָּוָּון פַצִּיחִּין : Text (horses) קִּטמָּנִּין Translation : And to fourth chariots are (HALOT; shining (dazzling) ash horses Holladay) ַאמֻצִּים: Vorlage ”אֲמֻצִּים“ These four lexicons translate E. Latin Vulgate 6 differently. BDB, for instance, translates it as strong. 8 The rests use flesh-coloured or

2 Anthony Gelston, Biblia Hebraica Quinta varied dapple-grays horse; Syriac Peshitta: parti- (BHQ): Twelve Prophets (Durham: Deutsche colored horses; Aramaic Targum: shining (dazzling) Bibelgesellschaft), 2010. ash horses; Latin Vulgate: brown horses.

3 Charles Thompson, The Septuagint Bible 8 Adjective masculine plural absolute from BDB notes that this word appears .”ָאמֹץ“ Indiana: Shekinah Enterprises, 1999). the word) twice and only in this book (6:3; 6:7). Francis Brown, 4 http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/ S. R. Driver, Charles A. Briggs, James Strong, and , The Brown-Driver-Briggs 5 http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/ Hebrew and English lexicon: with an appendix containing the : coded with the 6 numbering system from Strong's Exhaustive Robert Weber & Roger Gryson, Biblia concordance of the Bible (Peabody, Mass: Sacra Vulgata (Germany: German Bible Society, Hendrickson Publishers, 1996). 2006).

7 Hebrew text: spotted horses; Septuagint: 20 skewbald or piebald or dappled (horses). 9 word appears four times in the bible (Gen. Although the dictionary of classical Hebrew 31:10; 31:12; Zech. 6:3; 6:6). It is translated volume 1 and TWOT choose spotted and as spotted or marked by Hebrew Bible. dappled (horses) for this word, this dictionary also mentions that the same word could have The The Texts The a different meaning: strong. 10 In short, the Ancient (Gen. Translations (has two Texts 31:10 ”ָאמֹץ“ dilemma is the word The flock עַל־הַצֹֹּ֔ אן meanings: spotted and dappled (horses) or Biblia stripped עֲקֻדִִּּ֥ים נְקֻדִִּּ֖ ים strong; and this information answers the Hebraica ,(streaked) ּובְרֻדִּ ִּֽים reason of different attestations of the ancient Quinta manuscripts. speckled and spotted Different Translations from the Ancient (marked). Texts. Septuagint διάλευκοι Quite white καὶ ποικίλοι and many- καὶ colored אֲמֻצִּים (2) אֲמֻצִּים (1) Textual (Strong) (Flesh- σποδοειδεῖς (variegated) Witnesses Latin Coloured) ῥαντοί and ashen- Vulgate Septuagint, sprinkled. Behold, the והא ברחייא reads this Syriac Peshitta Targum goats which דסלקין על ענא word as and Aramaic Jonathan rose upon the ׁשומא strong. Targum flock were בריגליהון translate this spotted in וקרוחין word as their feet, or וגביהון חיוורין -spotted dappled streaked or (horses) white in their backs. This table reveals that only Vulgate reads Syriac The flock ܥܟܐ܂ ܟܪ̈ܚܐ as strong. Pesshita white-spotted אֲמֻצִּים ܣ (bald), and ܟܦܝ̈ܦܝܐ spotted, and variegated ܘܪܚܬܐ (highly The Observation from the Text. decorated). Latin Feminas The females Zechariah 6:2-3. The analysis from a Vulgate varios et were of before the word “strong”. This maculosos divers ,בְרֻדִִּּ֖ ים ,word

9 Adjective masculine plural absolute from Publishing Company, 1972). HALOT mentions that this word only .”ָאמֹץ“ the word appears once in the Hebrew Bible. Ludwig 10 Compare page 320 to 313. See J. A. Koehler,Walter Baumgartner, and M. E. J. Richardon, Cines, The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, Vol. 1: eds. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994); Testament. Accordance electronic ed., version 3.0. G. J. Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, Theological (Leiden: Brill, 2000); William L Holladay, A Concise Dictionary of the Old Testament. Translated by David Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament E. Green. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), 32-327. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans

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et colours, and / dappled diversorum spotted, and (variegated) colorum speckled. .

Based on table observation above, The The Texts The three ancient texts – Quinta, Peshitta and Ancient (Gen. 31:12) Translation Vulgate - are rather ambiguous about the Texts s color of the flock; they only mention the The flock characteristic of the flock’ appearance such as עַל־הַצֹֹּ֔ אן עֲקֻדִִּּ֥ים Biblia stripped spotted, speckled and variegated (highly נְקֻדִִּּ֖ים ּובְרֻ דִּ ִּֽים Hebraica Quinta (streaked), decorated). Targum seems to explain more speckled further, in this case the color, which is white. and spotted Septuagint, on the other hand, is obviously (marked). describing the color of the sprinkled Septuagi διάλευκοι καὶ Quite white (spotted): the pale gray color of ash. nt ποικίλοι καὶ and many- If Zechariah emphasizes on the σποδοειδεῖς colored description of the chariots’ colors, then ῥαντούς (variegated) spotted-skewbald is the most plausible only gives the בְרֻדִִּּ֖ים and ashen- reading; because sprinkled. appearance of the fourth chariot, not the Behold, the color. TWOT also supports this reading and והא ברחייא Targum goats which points out that because the first three are דסלקין על ענא Jonathan rose upon given colors and it seems incongruous to call ׁשומא בריגליהון the flock the last pair “strong”. 12 Septuagint, Targum וקרוחין וגביהון were and Peshitta’ translations seem to maintain חיוורין spotted in the colors description of the chariots. their feet, or streaked or Zechariah 6:6-7 white in their backs. The The Texts The Syriac The flock Ancient (6:6b-7) Translations Pesshita ܥܟܐ܂ ܟܪ̈ܚܐ ܐ white- Texts And the וְהַַ֙בְרֻ דִֹּּ֔ ים spotted Biblia ܟܦܝ̈ܦܝܣ ܪܚܬܐ spotted ones ִּ֖יָּצְאּו אֶּל־ bald), and Hebraica) spotted, and Quinta go out to the אִֶּּ֥רֶּ ץ הַתֵימָּ ִּֽן׃ ܐ variegated land of the south; and וְהָּאֲמֻצִִּּ֣ים highly) the strong יָּצְא֗ ּו .(decorated Latin Feminas varios The females ones or Vulgate respersos atque were of spotted- maculosos divers skewbald sprinkled, 11 ones go and spotted out . . .

11 Participle plural perfect passive masculine 12 Ibid. accusative from respergo.

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Septuagint καὶ οἱ And the were the ποικίλοι variegated strongest ἐξεπορεύοντο ones were ones have ἐπὶ γῆν going out to gone out. νότου; καὶ οἱ the land of

ψαροὶ the south; The geography plays important role ἐξεπορεύοντο . and the in these verses. Because of the geography of dappled- , all of ’s enemies came against grays ones her from north or south. The east of Israel and were going is Arabian deserts; on the other hand, out the west side is sea Mediterranean. The And the appellation of North and South is also related ּופַצִּיחִּין נְפַקֻו Aramaic shining to geography. Old Testament prophetic texts לַאֲרַ ע Targum (dazzling) display on going tradition of the threat from דָּרֹומָּא׃ ones went the north country. The north country is the out to the place from which attacks come from וְקִּטמָּנִּין ,land of the and (Isa. 14:31; Jer. 1:14-15; 6:1 נְפַקֻו south; and 22; 15:12; 46:20, 24; Ezek. 26:7; 38:6; 39:2; the ash Zeph. 2:13). 13 For the South, there are three horses went occasions where Edom is associated with the out. ‘south’ (Josh. 15;1; Jer. 40:20; Obad. 8-9), Syriac And the and given the significance of Edom Pesshita parti-colored elsewhere in the Book of the Twelve as an ܟܐܘܐܐܐ ones go out enemy of God’s people (Am. 9:12; Obad. to the land of 1:1; Mal. 1:4). Alternatively, it probably ܢܦܩܝܢ ܠܐܪܕ the south; refers to Egypt (Is. 43:6) and it was another and the red implacable and long-term enemy; the place ܐ ܟܐܒܡܢܪ ones go out. which some Judah fled after the destruction of (Jer. 44). 14 In short, it was from ܣ ܟܩ̈ܘܩܐ ܢ the north and the south that the traditional enemies came into their land. It is these

ܘܩܝ directions in which the horses and chariots go Latin Et varii And the out.

Vulgate egressi sunt variegated All the ancient texts concur that both ad terram (party- the black and white chariot go to the North - austri; qui colored, Assyria and Babel - to execute God’s autem erant various, judgment, and the spotted chariot go to the robustissimi diverse) were South. Also, Peshitta, Targum and Septuagint

exierunt gone out to keep consistently the depiction of the fourth the land of chariot both appearance and color. The the south; yet distinction is Targum and Septuagint give no they which information about the red chariot which is

13 James D. Nogalski, The Book of The & (Downers, Illinois: InterVarsity Twelve Micah-Malachi (Macon: Georgia: Smyth & Press, 2015), 178. Helwys, 2011), 877.

14 Anthony R. Petterson, Haggai, Zechariah 23 mentioned earlier in verse 2; Syriac-Peshitta, Syriac-Peshitta adds the word “red” so that nevertheless, adds one word “the red ones” in Peshitta could be consistent to verse 2-3 and 6:7 which it is not appeared in Peshitta text in provide a clearer information about the “red verse 3. It seems that Syriac-Peshitta chariot” that is missing in all ancient manuscripts (6:6-7). Latin Vulgate is the only ancient discusses the destination and activity of all that employs the word “strong” (6:3). the chariots including the red ones which This uniqueness continues to verse 7 when Latin went and patrolled the earth (6:7). Thus, Vulgate uses the superlative form that is not even Syriac-Peshitta depicts every destination for attested in the Hebrew text. This research every chariot. conveys that Latin Vulgate probably is eager to Latin Vulgate, on the other hand, encourage Jewish people amongst their follows Targum and Septuagint in respect to unpleasant situation (theological implication). disregard the red chariot. Then, Vulgate not only uses the word “strong” (same in 6:3), but also use that word in the superlative form in BIBLIOGRAPHY the verse 7 (“issimi” in Latin). Whether the usage of relative pronoun qui in the beginning of verse 7 modifies the fourth Primary Source chariot only or the whole chariots, this Books superlative form is unique because it is not attested in any ancient texts. It seems Vulgate [1] Gelston, Anthony. Biblia Hebraica reminds and encourages the reader that Quinta (BHQ): Twelve Prophets. Yahweh is the true king over all the earth Durham: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. (14:9), will judge his enemies (1:21; 2:9; 2010. 6:8-9) and save his people (2:11; 8:20; 9:7; [2] Thompson, Charles. The Septuagint 14:16), and he is in control. Although the Bible. Indiana: Shekinah Enterprises, people of God feel fall short of promising and 1999. restoration of Israel’ fortune, the imagery of the strongest chariot(s) of God that go and [3] Weber, Robert & Roger Gryson, Biblia patrol the earth confirms Zechariah’ message: Sacra Vulgata. Germany: German

God is in control and God is more powerful Bible Society, 2006. than their situation. Lexicon

[4] Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, Charles A. CONCLUSION Briggs, James Strong, and Wilhelm Gesenius. The Brown-Driver-Briggs The different translation of the word Hebrew and English lexicon: with an in the Hebrew text not only because that appendix containing the Biblical ”אֲמֻצִּים“ word has two different meanings, but also there is Aramaic: coded with the numbering a reason behind the selection of the meaning. system from Strong's Exhaustive Targum and Septuagint, for example, consistently concordance of the Bible. Peabody, and faithfully maintain the harmony of colors of Mass: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996. all chariots (6:2-3): red, black, white and spotted- gray (ash). Then, when the red chariot is missing [5] Botterweck, G. J. and Helmer Ringgren, from the Hebrew text, they faithfully omit the red Theological Dictionary of the Old chariot (6-7). Syriac-Peshitta, on the other hand, Testament. Translated by David E. consistently preserves the harmony of colors like Green. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974. Targum and Septuagint (6:2-3), but it does not faithfully commit to Hebrew manuscript. Rather,

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[6] Cines, David J. A. The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, Vol. 1: Aleph. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994.

[7] Koehler, Ludwig, Walter Baumgartner, and M. E. J. Richardon, eds. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Accordance electronic ed., version 3.0. Leiden: Brill, 2000. [8] William L Holladay, A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972.

Website

[9] http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/ Secondary Source

[10] Bruce Metzger, Textual Commentary on the NT 2nd edition (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994.

[11] Nogalski, James D. The Book of the Twelve Micah-Malachi. Macon: Georgia: Smyth & Helwys, 2011.

[12] Petterson, Anthony R. Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi. Downers, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2015.

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