Return to Answer

made explicit whose § it was

Source Link

edited Aug 4, 2016 at 8:02

24.9k
4
75
158

The word used in Ps 37:20 is רְשָׁעִים (rᵉšāʿı̂m). This is an adjective (lexical form רָשָׁע, rāšāʿ, "wicked") used as a substantive (i.e. a noun, "the wicked ones").

There are two terms for the abstract "wickedness" derived from the same root (רשע, r-š-ʿ): רִשְׁעָה (rišʿāh), a feminine noun spelled differently from the word of interest, and a masculine segolate noun רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) which indeed has the same consonants as the word of interest.

There are a few reasons I see that the consonantal רשעים can not be from the abstract noun רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) here:

The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) is not one of them. It does not appear anywhere in the HB in the plural.¹ In contrast, the adjective is usually plural.²
The verb is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, the verbal predicate of a singular idea is generally singular (§Gesenius-Kautzsch-Cowley § 145h).
The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is in parallel with both תְמִימִם (tĕmı̂mim, "the blameless [ones]", antithetically) and אֹיְבֵי יְהוָה (ʾōyĕbê yhwh, "the enemies of the LORD", synonymously). These most naturally all refer to concrete entities, people.

_{1. One may doubt that others have been correctly understood/translated. In most cases, there is really no question. See, for one example among many, Isa 13:11 where רְשָׁעִים must represent the ones punished, not the abstraction "wickedness."} _{2. I did not count how many of the 249 instances are substantive; it's common.}

The word used in Ps 37:20 is רְשָׁעִים (rᵉšāʿı̂m). This is an adjective (lexical form רָשָׁע, rāšāʿ, "wicked") used as a substantive (i.e. a noun, "the wicked ones").

There are a few reasons I see that the consonantal רשעים can not be from the abstract noun רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) here:

The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) is not one of them. It does not appear anywhere in the HB in the plural.¹ In contrast, the adjective is usually plural.²
The verb is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, the verbal predicate of a singular idea is generally singular (§ 145h).
The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is in parallel with both תְמִימִם (tĕmı̂mim, "the blameless [ones]", antithetically) and אֹיְבֵי יְהוָה (ʾōyĕbê yhwh, "the enemies of the LORD", synonymously). These most naturally all refer to concrete entities, people.

The word used in Ps 37:20 is רְשָׁעִים (rᵉšāʿı̂m). This is an adjective (lexical form רָשָׁע, rāšāʿ, "wicked") used as a substantive (i.e. a noun, "the wicked ones").

There are a few reasons I see that the consonantal רשעים can not be from the abstract noun רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) here:

The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) is not one of them. It does not appear anywhere in the HB in the plural.¹ In contrast, the adjective is usually plural.²
The verb is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, the verbal predicate of a singular idea is generally singular (Gesenius-Kautzsch-Cowley § 145h).
The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is in parallel with both תְמִימִם (tĕmı̂mim, "the blameless [ones]", antithetically) and אֹיְבֵי יְהוָה (ʾōyĕbê yhwh, "the enemies of the LORD", synonymously). These most naturally all refer to concrete entities, people.

Source Link

created Aug 4, 2016 at 5:39

Susan

26.9k
20
99
299

The word used in Ps 37:20 is רְשָׁעִים (rᵉšāʿı̂m). This is an adjective (lexical form רָשָׁע, rāšāʿ, "wicked") used as a substantive (i.e. a noun, "the wicked ones").

There are a few reasons I see that the consonantal רשעים can not be from the abstract noun רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) here:

The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, רֶ֫שַׁע (rešaʿ) is not one of them. It does not appear anywhere in the HB in the plural.¹ In contrast, the adjective is usually plural.²
The verb is plural. Although certain abstract nouns are plural, the verbal predicate of a singular idea is generally singular (§ 145h).
The word רְשָׁעִים (rĕšāʿı̂m) is in parallel with both תְמִימִם (tĕmı̂mim, "the blameless [ones]", antithetically) and אֹיְבֵי יְהוָה (ʾōyĕbê yhwh, "the enemies of the LORD", synonymously). These most naturally all refer to concrete entities, people.