Saturday, June 27, 2009

Man, male, mortal, human, warrior

After reflection on the archaic, epic, and male aspects of this poem, I am thinking that

  • אָדָם might have been Adam but it didn't work - so I have left this one as human (after humus)
  • אִישׁ I used man - though not specifically male, this poem is mostly about males
  • גֶבֶר I tried warrior and I can be more fully concordant here
  • אֱנוֹשׁ I will retain mortal
and there is also the word 'male' מת which might be rendered as mortal given its closeness to death - but I think I will leave it, for what then would I use for אֲנָשִׁים.

A curious aspect of chapter 34 is the number of times these words appear (16 in 13 verses) - That says to me that Elihu is very focused on the human.

* marks a change from my first posting - also made there
א אִישׁ הָיָה בְאֶרֶץ עוּץ
אִיּוֹב שְׁמוֹ
וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ הַהוּא
תָּם וְיָשָׁר
וִירֵא אֱלֹהִים וְסָר מֵרָע
1.1 A man there was in the land of Uz
Job his name
and he was, the man, this very one,
complete and upright
and he fears God and turns away from evil
ג וַיְהִי מִקְנֵהוּ
שִׁבְעַת אַלְפֵי צֹאן
וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי גְמַלִּים
וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת צֶמֶד בָּקָר
וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אֲתוֹנוֹת
וַעֲבֻדָּה רַבָּה מְאֹד
וַיְהִי הָאִישׁ הַהוּא
גָּדוֹל מִכָּל בְּנֵי קֶדֶם
1.3 and these were his acquisitions
seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels
and five hundred pair of oxen
and five hundred she-donkeys
and servants - a very great service
and so it was the man, this very one
who was great among all the children of antiquity
ד וְהָלְכוּ בָנָיו וְעָשׂוּ מִשְׁתֶּה בֵּית
אִישׁ יוֹמוֹ
וְשָׁלְחוּ וְקָרְאוּ לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַחְיֹתֵיהֶם
לֶאֱכֹל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת עִמָּהֶם
1.4 And his sons used to give house parties
each man on his day
and they sent and called for their three sisters
to eat and drink with them
ג וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל הַשָּׂטָן
הֲשַׂמְתָּ לִבְּךָ אֶל עַבְדִּי אִיּוֹב
כִּי אֵין כָּמֹהוּ בָּאָרֶץ
אִישׁ תָּם וְיָשָׁר
יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים וְסָר מֵרָע
וְעֹדֶנּוּ מַחֲזִיק בְּתֻמָּתוֹ
וַתְּסִיתֵנִי בוֹ לְבַלְּעוֹ חִנָּם
2.3 and יְהוָה said to the accuser
have you set out in your heart concerning my servant Job?
For there is none like him in the earth
a man complete and upright
fearing God and turning away from evil
and still for him he prevails in his completeness
though you incited me against him to swallow him for nothing
ד וַיַּעַן הַשָּׂטָן אֶת יְהוָה וַיֹּאמַר
עוֹר בְּעַד עוֹר
וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לָאִישׁ יִתֵּן בְּעַד נַפְשׁוֹ
2.4 And the accuser answered יְהוָה saying
Skin for skin
for all there is to a man he will give for his life
ג יֹאבַד יוֹם אִוָּלֶד בּוֹ
וְהַלַּיְלָה אָמַר הֹרָה גָבֶר
3.3 Perish! day in which I was born
and the night that said a warrior-child is conceived*
כג לְגֶבֶר אֲשֶׁר-דַּרְכּוֹ נִסְתָּרָה
וַיָּסֶךְ אֱלוֹהַּ בַּעֲדוֹ
3.23 to a warrior whose way is concealed*
and from whom God has screened himself
יג בִּשְׂעִפִּים מֵחֶזְיֹנוֹת לָיְלָה
בִּנְפֹל תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל-אֲנָשִׁים
4.13 in the tempest of thought from night visions
when a trance falls on mortals
יז הַאֱנוֹשׁ מֵאֱלוֹהַּ יִצְדָּק
אִם מֵעֹשֵׂהוּ יִטְהַר-גָּבֶר
4.17 a mortal than God more just?
even than his maker a warrior more pure?
ז כִּי-אָדָם לְעָמָל יוּלָּד
וּבְנֵי-רֶשֶׁף יַגְבִּיהוּ עוּף
5.7 when a human is born to misery
the children of fire carry it high
יז הִנֵּה אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יוֹכִחֶנּוּ אֱלוֹהַּ
וּמוּסַר שַׁדַּי אַל-תִּמְאָס
5.17 Behold happy is the mortal whom God reproves
the mentoring of the Sufficient do not refuse
א הֲלֹא-צָבָא לֶאֱנוֹשׁ על- (עֲלֵי-) אָרֶץ
וְכִימֵי שָׂכִיר יָמָיו
7.1 Is it not the press-gang for a mortal on earth
like the days of a mercenary, his days?
יז מָה-אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי תְגַדְּלֶנּוּ
וְכִי-תָשִׁית אֵלָיו לִבֶּךָ
7.17 What is a mortal that you make him great
and that you fix on him your heart
כ חָטָאתִי מָה אֶפְעַל לָךְ נֹצֵר הָאָדָם
לָמָה שַׂמְתַּנִי לְמִפְגָּע לָךְ
וָאֶהְיֶה עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא
7.20 I have sinned - what do I do to you, keeper of the human?
or why have you set me as your target
so that I am to myself a heavy load?
ב אָמְנָם יָדַעְתִּי כִי-כֵן
וּמַה-יִּצְדַּק אֱנוֹשׁ עִם-אֵל
9.2 In truth I know and so what!
And how can a mortal be just with God!
לב כִּי-לֹא-אִישׁ כָּמוֹנִי
אֶעֱנֶנּוּ
נָבוֹא יַחְדָּו בַּמִּשְׁפָּט
9.32 for not a man like me
that I will answer him
that we come together in judgment
ד הַעֵינֵי בָשָׂר לָךְ
אִם-כִּרְאוֹת אֱנוֹשׁ תִּרְאֶה
10.4 Eyes of flesh have you
that you see as a mortal sees?
ה הֲכִימֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יָמֶיךָ
אִם-שְׁנוֹתֶיךָ כִּימֵי גָבֶר
10.5 Are your days as the days of a mortal
that your years be as the days of a warrior*
ב הֲרֹב דְּבָרִים לֹא יֵעָנֶה
וְאִם-אִישׁ שְׂפָתַיִם יִצְדָּק
11.2 Will many words not be answered
as if man with lips will be justified?
ג בַּדֶּיךָ מְתִים יַחֲרִישׁוּ
וַתִּלְעַג וְאֵין מַכְלִם
11.3 Your deceptions make males speechless
and you deride without humiliation
יא כִּי-הוּא יָדַע מְתֵי-שָׁוְא
וַיַּרְא-אָוֶן וְלֹא יִתְבּוֹנָן
11.11 for this one knows an empty male
and he sees iniquity, will he not understand?
יב וְאִישׁ נָבוּב יִלָּבֵב
וְעַיִר פֶּרֶא אָדָם יִוָּלֵד
11.12 and a hollow man will be heartened
when a wild ass's foal of a human is born
י אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל-חָי
וְרוּחַ כָּל-בְּשַׂר-אִישׁ
12.10 "In his hand is the being of every life
and the breath of all the flesh of man*"
יד הֵן יַהֲרוֹס וְלֹא יִבָּנֶה
יִסְגֹּר עַל-אִישׁ וְלֹא יִפָּתֵחַ
12.14 Lo - he overthrows and it will not be built
he shuts a man up and it will not be opened
ט הֲטוֹב כִּי-יַחְקֹר אֶתְכֶם
אִם-כְּהָתֵל בֶּאֱנוֹשׁ תְּהָתֵלּוּ בוֹ
13.9 Is it good that he should find you out
or is it as jesting among mortals that you jest with him
א אָדָם יְלוּד אִשָּׁה
קְצַר יָמִים וּשְׂבַע-רֹגֶז
14.1 Human born of woman
is few of days and full of trouble
י וְגֶבֶר יָמוּת וַיֶּחֱלָשׁ
וַיִּגְוַע אָדָם וְאַיּוֹ
14.10 but a warrior dies and wastes*
Adam expires and where is he?
יב וְאִישׁ שָׁכַב וְלֹא-יָקוּם עַד-בִּלְתִּי שָׁמַיִם
לֹא יָקִיצוּ וְלֹא-יֵעֹרוּ מִשְּׁנָתָם
14.12 So a man lies down and does not rise*
till the heavens decay
he will not stir and will not be roused from his sleep
יד אִם-יָמוּת גֶּבֶר הֲיִחְיֶה
כָּל-יְמֵי צְבָאִי אֲיַחֵל עַד-בּוֹא חֲלִיפָתִי
14.14 If a warrior will die will he live?*
All the days of my pressed service I will wait
till my change comes
יט אֲבָנִים שָׁחֲקוּ מַיִם
תִּשְׁטֹף-סְפִיחֶיהָ עֲפַר-אָרֶץ
וְתִקְוַת אֱנוֹשׁ הֶאֱבַדְתָּ
14.19 water wears stones
you overflow the abundance of the dust of the earth
and the hope of a mortal you destroy
ז הֲרִאישׁוֹן אָדָם תִּוָּלֵד
וְלִפְנֵי גְבָעוֹת חוֹלָלְתָּ
15.7 Are you the first human to be born
or before the hills were you writhing?
יד מָה-אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי-יִזְכֶּה
וְכִי-יִצְדַּק יְלוּד אִשָּׁה
15.14 What is the mortal that he should be clean
or should be righteous who is born of woman?
טז אַף כִּי-נִתְעָב וְנֶאֱלָח אִישׁ-שֹׁתֶה כַמַּיִם עַוְלָה 15.16 indeed for abhorrent and corrupt is a man drinking injustice like water
יד יִפְרְצֵנִי פֶרֶץ עַל-פְּנֵי-פָרֶץ
יָרֻץ עָלַי כְּגִבּוֹר
16.14 He bursts upon me, bursts upon bursts in my face
he runs on me like a warrior
כא וְיוֹכַח לְגֶבֶר עִם-אֱלוֹהַּ
וּבֶן-אָדָם לְרֵעֵהוּ
16.21 that a warrior might reason with God*
and a child of a human with his friend
ד הֲזֹאת יָדַעְתָּ מִנִּי-עַד
מִנִּי שִׂים אָדָם עֲלֵי-אָרֶץ
20.4 do you know this from old
from the setting of the human on earth?
כט זֶה חֵלֶק-אָדָם רָשָׁע מֵאֱלֹהִים
וְנַחֲלַת אִמְרוֹ מֵאֵל
20.29 this is the portion of the wicked human from God
and the inheritance spoken for him from God
ד הֶאָנֹכִי לְאָדָם שִׂיחִי
וְאִם-מַדּוּעַ לֹא-תִקְצַר רוּחִי
21.4 As for me, is it to a human my complaint
and if so, for what reason reap my spirit?
לג מָתְקוּ-לוֹ רִגְבֵי-נָחַל
וְאַחֲרָיו כָּל-אָדָם יִמְשׁוֹךְ
וּלְפָנָיו אֵין מִסְפָּר
21.33 "sweet" to him will be the clods of the flood
and after him drags every human
and before him without number
ב הַלְאֵל יִסְכָּן-גָּבֶר
כִּי-יִסְכֹּן עָלֵימוֹ מַשְׂכִּיל
22.2 Will a warrior be profitable for God*
as insight is profitable to itself?
ח וְאִישׁ זְרוֹעַ לוֹ הָאָרֶץ
וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים יֵשֶׁב בָּהּ
22.8 but a man of arms to him is the earth
and one whose face is lifted up sits there
טו הַאֹרַח עוֹלָם תִּשְׁמוֹר
אֲשֶׁר דָּרְכוּ מְתֵי-אָוֶן
22.15 the path of the age - have you watched it
that iniquitous males walk?
יב מֵעִיר מְתִים יִנְאָקוּ
וְנֶפֶשׁ-חֲלָלִים תְּשַׁוֵּעַ
וֶאֱלוֹהַּ לֹא-יָשִׂים תִּפְלָה
24.12 from the city males groan
and the being of the wounded shouts out
but God does not set them as fickle
ד וּמַה-יִּצְדַּק אֱנוֹשׁ עִם-אֵל
וּמַה-יִּזְכֶּה יְלוּד אִשָּׁה
25.4 And how can a mortal be just with God
or how clean is one born of woman?
ו אַף כִּי-אֱנוֹשׁ רִמָּה
וּבֶן-אָדָם תּוֹלֵעָה
25.6 indeed for the mortal worm
and the maggot child of humus
יג זֶה חֵלֶק-אָדָם רָשָׁע עִם-אֵל
וְנַחֲלַת עָרִיצִים מִשַּׁדַּי יִקָּחוּ
27.13 this "portion of a wicked human
with God
and inheritance of oppressors from the Sufficient that they take
ד פָּרַץ נַחַל מֵעִם-גָּר
הַנִּשְׁכָּחִים מִנִּי-רָגֶל
דַּלּוּ מֵאֱנוֹשׁ נָעוּ
28.4 a torrent bursts out from a people of strife
those forgotten by a foot
linger from a mortal and wag on

יג לֹא-יָדַע אֱנוֹשׁ עֶרְכָּהּ
וְלֹא תִמָּצֵא בְּאֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים
28.13 mortal does not know her proportion
and she is not found in the land of the living
כח וַיֹּאמֶר לָאָדָם
הֵן יִרְאַת אֲדֹנָי הִיא חָכְמָה
וְסוּר מֵרָע בִּינָה
28.28 and he said to the human
lo - the fear of the Lord - that is wisdom
and to turn away from evil is understanding
לא אִם-לֹא אָמְרוּ מְתֵי אָהֳלִי
מִי-יִתֵּן מִבְּשָׂרוֹ לֹא נִשְׂבָּע
31.31 if then my males had said
who will give his flesh for satiation?
לה מִי יִתֶּן-לִי שֹׁמֵעַ
לִי הֶן-תָּוִי
שַׁדַּי יַעֲנֵנִי
וְסֵפֶר כָּתַב אִישׁ רִיבִי
31.35 who will give me a hearing?
lo - my mark
the Sufficient will answer me
a man of my contention writes a book
א וַיִּשְׁבְּתוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה מֵעֲנוֹת אֶת-אִיּוֹב כִּי הוּא צַדִּיק בְּעֵינָיו 32.1 So they rested - these three mortals from answering Job, for he was righteous in his eyes.
ח אָכֵן רוּחַ-הִיא בֶאֱנוֹשׁ
וְנִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי תְּבִינֵם
32.8 surely that spirit is in a mortal
and the breath of the Sufficient gives understanding
יג פֶּן-תֹּאמְרוּ מָצָאנוּ חָכְמָה
אֵל יִדְּפֶנּוּ לֹא-אִישׁ
32.13 lest you say 'we have found wisdom
God will scatter him not a man'
כא אַל-נָא אֶשָּׂא פְנֵי-אִישׁ
וְאֶל-אָדָם לֹא אֲכַנֶּה
32.21 let me not lift up the face of a man
or to a human let me not entitle
יב הֶן-זֹאת לֹא-צָדַקְתָּ אֶעֱנֶךָּ
כִּי-יִרְבֶּה אֱלוֹהַּ מֵאֱנוֹשׁ
33.12 lo this - you are not just - I answer you
for greater is God than a mortal
טו בַּחֲלוֹם חֶזְיוֹן לַיְלָה
בִּנְפֹל תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל-אֲנָשִׁים
בִּתְנוּמוֹת עֲלֵי מִשְׁכָּב
33.15 in a dream, a night vision
when a trance falls on mortals
while slumbering on a couch
טז אָז יִגְלֶה אֹזֶן אֲנָשִׁים
וּבְמֹסָרָם יַחְתֹּם
33.16 then he reveals to mortal ear
and their mentoring he seals
יז לְהָסִיר אָדָם מַעֲשֶׂה
וְגֵוָה מִגֶּבֶר יְכַסֶּה
33.17 to turn away the human from its work
and esteem from the warrior conceal*
כג אִם-יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ
מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי-אָלֶף
לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ
33.23 if there is for him a messenger
interpreting, one among a thousand
to tell a human his uprightness
כו יֶעְתַּר אֶל-אֱלוֹהַּ וַיִּרְצֵהוּ
וַיַּרְא פָּנָיו בִּתְרוּעָה
וַיָּשֶׁב לֶאֱנוֹשׁ צִדְקָתוֹ
33.26 he will make supplication to God and he will accept him
and he will see his face with a shout of joy
for he will return to a mortal his righteousness
כז יָשֹׁר עַל-אֲנָשִׁים וַיֹּאמֶר
חָטָאתִי וְיָשָׁר הֶעֱוֵיתִי
וְלֹא-שָׁוָה לִי
33.27 he looks on mortals and he will say
I have sinned and the upright I twisted
and it was not made like to me
כט הֶן-כָּל-אֵלֶּה יִפְעַל-אֵל
פַּעֲמַיִם שָׁלוֹשׁ עִם-גָּבֶר
33.29 Lo all these things God works
time and time again with a warrior*
ו עַל-מִשְׁפָּטִי אֲכַזֵּב
אָנוּשׁ חִצִּי בְלִי-פָשַׁע
34.6 against my judgment should I lie
mortal is my arrow and without sin"
ז מִי-גֶבֶר כְּאִיּוֹב
יִשְׁתֶּה-לַּעַג כַּמָּיִם
34.7 who is a warrior like Job*
drinking derision like water
ח וְאָרַח לְחֶבְרָה עִם-פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן
וְלָלֶכֶת עִם-אַנְשֵׁי-רֶשַׁע
34.8 who takes a path in a heap with workers of iniquity
and walks with mortals of wickedness
ט כִּי-אָמַר לֹא יִסְכָּן-גָּבֶר
בִּרְצֹתוֹ עִם-אֱלֹהִים
34.9 for he said there is no profit for a warrior
that he find acceptance with God
י לָכֵן אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב שִׁמְעוּ-לִי
חָלִלָה לָאֵל מֵרֶשַׁע
וְשַׁדַּי מֵעָוֶל
34.10 therefore mortals with heart hear me
a curse on God from wickedness
and on the Sufficient from iniquity
יא כִּי פֹעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם-לוֹ
וּכְאֹרַח אִישׁ יַמְצִאֶנּוּ
34.11 for the work of a human will be repayed to him
and as a path of a man so let him find
טו יִגְוַע כָּל-בָּשָׂר יָחַד
וְאָדָם עַל-עָפָר יָשׁוּב
34.15 all flesh will expire as one
and a human to dust will return
כא כִּי-עֵינָיו עַל-דַּרְכֵי-אִישׁ
וְכָל-צְעָדָיו יִרְאֶה
34.21 for his eyes are on the way of a man
and all his steps he sees
כג כִּי לֹא עַל-אִישׁ יָשִׂים עוֹד
לַהֲלֹךְ אֶל-אֵל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט
34.23 for not on a man will he further set
than to walk to God in the judgment
כט וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט וּמִי יַרְשִׁעַ
וְיַסְתֵּר פָּנִים וּמִי יְשׁוּרֶנּוּ
וְעַל-גּוֹי וְעַל-אָדָם יָחַד
34.29 for he quiets and who makes wickedness
and he conceals faces and who sights him
as one whether to nations or to a human
ל מִמְּלֹךְ אָדָם חָנֵף
מִמֹּקְשֵׁי עָם
34.30 from the rule of a human of hypocrisy
from the ensnaring of a people
לז אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב יֹאמְרוּ לִי
וְגֶבֶר חָכָם שֹׁמֵעַ לִי
34.34 mortals of heart will say to me
and a warrior of wisdom hears me
לו אָבִי יִבָּחֵן אִיּוֹב עַד-נֶצַח
עַל-תְּשֻׁבֹת בְּאַנְשֵׁי-אָוֶן
34.36 my father he will be tried in perpetuity
to the turnings in mortals of iniquity
ח לְאִישׁ-כָּמוֹךָ רִשְׁעֶךָ
וּלְבֶן-אָדָם צִדְקָתֶךָ
35.8 of a man like you your wickedness?
and of a child of a human your righteousness?

2 comments:

rbarenblat said...

I like seeing the bilingual version -- thank you for including it.

A fascinating challenge, figuring out how to render the subtle distinctions between these terms.

I'm not familiar with the usage of מת as "male" -- my gut instinct is to translate it as "a dead person," as it is the word we use in contemporary Hebrew for the body of someone who has died. But in context here I suspect that "mortal" is a better translation -- the text isn't speaking of someone who has died but of someone who has the capacity to die. So I'm intrigued by your choice to use "male"...

Bob MacDonald said...

Re bilingual, I have tried to keep my database in Hebrew and English for this exercise consistent with what I first wrote in English. Now I am translating in the database itself with some new tools so it is (marginally) easier to avoid updating in two places.

I am glad that you find it helpful. I also find it very good for improving my word recognition. I must find a conversationalist since I will be in Israel next year and I need practice (!)

Re מת as male: (I missed 19:19 - curious - all my intimate friends.) BDB p607 does not consider it related to death but to Syrian inscriptions, Ethiopian, Assyrian and Egyptian roots all indicating male. My Latin concordance gives viri, virores, so it does have a male rather than a death sense. But I did not a gloss of death-doomed in the scripture4all site.