Translation technique and the translation of verbal forms in the Masoretic Text by the Peshitta Psalms 73-89 LH Moretsi orcid.org 0000-0002-3095-1777 Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Semitic Languages at the North-West University Promoter: Prof HF Van Rooy Graduation ceremony: May 2019 Student number: 10706046 Acknowledgement/Dedication Glory to God Almighty in the Highest, who enabled me to embark on this research and blessed me with good health along this journey! All starts and ends with God – glory and honour be to Him at all times. To my wife Virginia, a special word of gratitude for your love, endurance, patience, support and encouragement throughout this study: ‘Kemo nokeng ya gago, bopelotelele, kutlwisiso, botswerere le bothakga di kgontshitse phitlhelelo eno.’ To our three daughters, Tsholofelo, Tshegofatso, Tebogo and son Oretlametse, thank you for your support, patience, encouragement and prayers. I cannot thank you enough as I mostly was not there for you fully, though always present in my mind. I thank God for you at all times and love you all so much. Mr RD and Mrs NJ Moretsi, Ms MFB Mmami Tselapedi and Mrs A Mogotsi, thank you so much, for you were there when we needed you. Thank you and stay blessed. To my promoter and mentor Prof Herrie Van Rooy, a renowned scholar in Peshitta research nationally and internationally, thank you for your fatherly advice and valuable inputs I received at all times, as well as your guidance in this investigative work. Thank you for your academic advice and excellence! Your interest in Semitic Languages and the Old Testament inspired me greatly. This study is the end product of your guidance, expert advice and critical remarks. Mrs Jacoba van Rooy, thank you for your hospitality at all times and for all your encouraging words. Thank you, Prof Herrie and Dr Jacoba for allowing me some of your valuable time in your retirement, especially the last two years up to now. To the librarians, Mrs Hester Lombard, Mrs. Berna Bradley and Mr Sydney Vos, thank you for all your help throughout this study. I could knock at your door at any time and you always made sure I found the materials I needed. Even when it was absent in our library (FP or TSP), you always went an extra mile. You searched for articles and books that helped me. Mrs Hester Lombard, thank you for editing the first four pages of the bibliography. Words are not sufficient to express my thankfulness. Colleagues at the Faculty, ministers in GKSA and friends, thank you all for your support and encouragements at all times. Prof Hans van Deventer, your contribution is highly appreciated. i Prof Fika van Rensburg, that call in November 2006 was the beginning of this. Thank you for the motivation I constantly received from you and all your valuable fatherly advice. May God bless you! Nonkosana and Mhlabeni family, thank you for being there for us, may you be blessed! To the Reformed Church Diepkloof, thank you for your prayers throughout this journey. To rev Thomas Dreyer, Dr Jacob Pretorius and GK Linden, thank you very much. To the curators (GKSA), thank you for affording me this opportunity and may God bless you as we continue serving in his kingdom as servants. Dr Chrissie Reinecke, thank you for your profound and outstanding editing work and all your valuable inputs and suggestions. May God Almighty bless you! Lastly to my mother, brothers, sister and your families, the Moretsi family at large and my mother- in-law, my two sisters-in-law and their families, thank you all for your valuable support and understanding throughout this journey: ‘Motswana fa a bua sentle a re "ga e nke e ntsha boloko !( שָׁ � ם) jotlhe" lotlhe lo lebogilwe’. Shalom Motswana fa a opela a ikutlwa sentle a re: Morena thuso tsa Gago Fa ke di gopola tsotlhe; O molemo, le tlotlego, O ntsamaisitse sentle. ESV: 13-14 12:13-14 (קהלת) Ecclesiastes/Qohelet .13The end of the matter; all has been heard (13) סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁ מָ ע | אֶ ת הָאֱ�הִ ים יְרָ א Fear God and keep his commandments, (for וְאֶ ת מִצְ וֹתָ יו שְׁ מוֹר כִּ י זֶה כָּל הָאָדָ ם: this is) the whole (duty) of man. (14) כִּי אֶ ת כָּל מַ ﬠֲשֶׂ ה הָאֱ�הִ ים יָבִא בְמִשְׁ פָּט ,14For God will bring every deed into judgment ﬠַ ל כָּ ל נֶﬠְ לָ ם | אִ ם טוֹב וְאִ ם רָ ע: with every secret thing, whether good or evil. ii Summary The theoretical assumption was stated that the Masoretic Text and the Hebrew source (Vorlage) that was used by the Peshitta translator reflect a similar tradition. The objectives of the study were: (1) to make a comparative study to determine the agreements and differences between the verbal systems of Hebrew and Syriac; (2) to determine the translation technique of the Peshitta Psalms; (3) to make an analytical study to determine the way in which verbal forms in the Peshitta Psalms were translated; (4) to determine through comparison with the Septuagint and the Targum the originality of the translation of the Peshitta; and (5) to make deductions from the translation about the Hebrew Vorlage of the Peshitta Psalms. The comparative text-critical method was used as it is the most appropriate and relevant method. The verbal systems of Biblical Hebrew and classical Syriac were compared, with special attention to the verbs taking into account the contributions of various scholars. Attention was paid to translation technique in general and to matters related to the translation technique of the Peshitta Psalms. A comparative study was made of the verbs in Psalms 73-89 in the Masoretic Text and the Peshitta, with reference to the other ancient versions as well. In some instances, the differences in the translation can be ascribed to translation technique. Other differences are the result of different interpretations of the very same unvocalised Hebrew word but the same consonants. In some instances, the Peshitta reflects a Hebrew Vorlage that differs from the Vorlage of the Masoretic Text. The clarity of the translation has been confirmed by the psalms treated. When confronted by difficult, rare words or hapax legomena, the Peshitta opts to simplify or omit them or rather render the translation according to sense or context. During the investigation it became clear that the possibility of a different Hebrew Vorlage is minimal, for example in Psalms 73:24a and 78:28. Characterised by freedom of the translation means the Peshitta remained faithful to the meaning of the source text but expressed and rendered it faithfully to the Syriac structure. The following techniques characterise the Peshitta in general: specification, accommodation, omissions, additions, changes in word order and harmonisation (maintaining agreement). In the psalms treated, two new techniques were discovered, namely softening and generalisation. The Hebrew iii verb is softened when rendered by the Peshitta, for example, in Psalm 74:10, the Hebrew verb ‘to reject’ is rendered by the Syriac verb ‘to forget’ in the Peshitta. This is also seen in Psalm 78:10b, where the Hebrew verb in the Masoretic Text ‘they refuse to go’ is rendered in the Peshitta by ‘they did not want to go’. The other technique that occurred in psalms treated is generalisation going hand in hand with specification. At times, a general verb in the Masoretic Text is rendered in the Peshitta by a specific verb or vice versa, e.g. Psalms 78:43, 88:5a and 88:6b. In conclusion, the Peshitta Psalms used a proto-Masoretic text. The evidence for a different Hebrew Vorlage is minimal. Deviations are mostly the result of a different interpretation of the same Hebrew consonants, or not understanding the Hebrew, or can be attributed to translation technique. The Peshitta Psalms contribute to the textual criticism of the Hebrew Old Testament, but it requires careful and critical approach or implementation. Keywords Peshitta Psalms Translation technique Textual criticism Verbal forms Word order Variants Hebrew Vorlage Rare words hapax legomena iv Opsomming Die teoretiese aanname van hierdie studie is dat die Masoretiese Teks en die Hebreeuse bronteks (Vorlage) van die vertaler van die Peshitta uit dieselfde tradisie kom. Die doelstellings van die studie was: (1) om deur ʼn vergelykende studie die ooreenkomste en verskille tussen die werkwoordsisteme van Hebreeus en Siries te omskryf; (2) om die vertaaltegniek van die Peshitta Psalms te bepaal; (3) om te bepaal hoe die Hebreeuse werkwoorde in die Siriese Psalms vertaal is; (4) om deur ʼn vergelyking met die Septuagint en die Targum te bepaal of die Peshitta ʼn oorspronklike vertaling is; en (5) om afleidings te maak oor die Hebreeuse Vorlage van die Peshitta Psalms. Die vergelykende tekskritiese metode is gebruik as die mees geskikte en relevante metode. Die werkwoordsisteme van Bybelse Hebreeuse en Klassieke Siries is met mekaar vergelyk, met aandag aan die bydraes van verskillende geleerdes in hierdie verband. Aandag is ook gegee aan vertaaltegniek in die algemeen en aan die vertaaltegniek van die Peshitta Psalms in die besonder. ʼn Vergelykende studie is gemaak van die werkwoorde in Psalms 73–89 in die Masoretiese Teks en die Peshitta, met verwysing na die ander ou vertalings. In sommige gevalle kan die verskille in die vertaling aan vertaaltegniek toegeskryf word. Ander verskille kan aan verskillende interpretasies van dieselfde ongevokaliseerde Hebreeuse woord met dieselfde konsonante toegeskryf word. In enkele gevalle berus die Peshitta op ʼn Hebreeuse Vorlage wat verskil van die Vorlage van die Masoretiese teks. Die duidelikheid van die Peshitta as vertaling is bevestig deur die psalms wat bestudeer is.