(0.25) | (Ecc 10:4) | 4 tn Heb “your place.” The term מָקוֹם (maqom, “place”) denotes a position, post or office (1 Kgs 20:24; Eccl 8:3; 10:4; BDB 879 s.v. מָקוֹם 1.c). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 8:17) | 8 tn The imperfect tense verb יֹאמַר (yoʾmar, “to say”) functions in a modal sense, denoting possibility (see IBHS 508 §31.4e; R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 31, §169). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 8:2) | 3 tn The genitive-construct שְׁבוּעַת אֱלֹהִים (shevuʿat ʾelohim, “an oath of God”) functions as a genitive of location (“an oath before God”) or an adjectival genitive of attribute (“a supreme oath”). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 7:7) | 3 tn The vav prefixed to וִיאַבֵּד (viʾabbed, “corrupts”) may function in a comparative sense, e.g., Job 5:7; 12:11; 16:21; Prov 25:25 (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 71, §437). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 7:1) | 7 tn The article prefixed to הַמָּוֶת (hammavet, “death”) probably functions in an indefinite possessive sense or in a generic sense: “one’s death,” e.g., Gen 44:2 (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 19, §86, §92). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 7:1) | 2 tn The comparative term טוֹב (tov, “better”) is repeated throughout 7:1-12. It introduces a series of “Better-than sayings,” particularly in 7:1-6 in which every poetic unit is introduced by טוֹב. |
(0.25) | (Ecc 6:12) | 2 tn The vav prefixed to וְיַעֲשֵׂם (veyaʿasem, conjunction plus Qal imperfect third person masculine singular from עָשַׂה, ʿasah, “to do” plus third person masculine plural suffix) functions in an explanatory or epexegetical sense (“For…”). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 4:12) | 1 tn The verbal root תָּקַף (taqaf) means “to overpower; to prevail over” e.g., Job 14:20; 15:24; Eccl 4:12; 6:10 (HALOT 1786 s.v. תקף). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 4:1) | 6 tn Heb “and behold.” The deictic particle וְהִנֵּה (vehinneh, “and behold!”) often occurs after verbs of perceiving, such as רָאָה, raʾah, “to see” (e.g., Gen 19:28; 22:13; Exod 3:2; Lev 13:8). It introduces the content of what the character or speaker saw (HALOT 252 s.v. הִנֵּה 8). It is used for rhetorical emphasis, to draw attention to the following statement (e.g., Gen 1:29; 17:20; Num 22:32; Job 1:19; cf. HALOT 252 s.v. 5). It often introduces something surprising or unexpected (e.g., Gen 29:6; Num 25:6; cf. HALOT 252 s.v. 6). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 3:11) | 5 tn The compound preposition מִבְּלִי (mibbeli, preposition מִן [min] + negative particle בְּלִי [beli]) is used as a conjunction here. Elsewhere, it can express cause: “because there is no [or is not]” (e.g., Deut 9:28; 28:55; Isa 5:13; Ezek 34:5; Lam 1:4; Hos 4:6), consequence: “so that there is no [or is not]” (e.g., Ezek 14:5; Jer 2:15; 9:9-11; Zeph 3:6), or simple negation: “without” (e.g., Job 4:11, 20; 6:6; 24:7-8; 31:19). BDB 115 s.v. בְּלִי 3.c.β suggests the negative consequence: “so that not,” while HALOT 133 s.v. בְּלִי 5 suggests the simple negation: “without the possibility of.” |
(0.25) | (Ecc 2:25) | 1 tn Heb “For who can…?” The rhetorical question is an example of negative affirmation, expecting a negative answer: “No one can!” (see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 949-51). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 2:21) | 4 sn Verses 18-21 are arranged into two sub-units (2:18-19 and 2:20-21). Each contains a parallel structure: (1) Introductory lament: “I hated all my toil” and “I began to despair about all my toil.” (2) Reason for the lament: “I must turn over the fruit of my labor to the hands of my successor” and “he must hand over the fruit of his work as an inheritance.” (3) Description of successor: “who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?” and “he did not work for it.” (4) Concluding statement: “This also is fruitless!” and “This also is profitless and an awful injustice!” |
(0.25) | (Ecc 2:18) | 5 tn The relative pronoun שֶׁ (she) on שֶׁאַנִּיחֶנּוּ (sheʾannikhennu, relative pronoun שֶׁ plus Hiphil imperfect first person common singular from נוּחַ, nuakh, “to leave” plus third person masculine singular suffix) is causal: “Because I must leave it behind.” |
(0.25) | (Ecc 2:15) | 3 tn Heb “And why was I wise (to) excess?” The rhetorical question is an example of negative affirmation, expecting a negative answer: “I gained nothing!” (E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 949). |
(0.25) | (Ecc 2:18) | 3 tn Qoheleth uses an internal cognate accusative construction (accusative noun and verb from the same root) for emphasis: עֲמָלִי שֶׁאֲנִי עָמֵל (ʿamali sheʾani ʿamel, “my toil for which I had toiled”). See IBHS 167 §10.2.1g. |
(0.25) | (Ecc 1:11) | 3 sn The Hebrew terms translated former events and future events create a merism (two polar extremes encompass everything in between). This encompasses all secular achievements in human history past to future things yet to be done. |
(0.25) | (Pro 31:28) | 4 tn The text uses an independent nominative absolute to draw attention to her husband: “her husband, and he praises her.” Prominent as he is, her husband speaks in glowing terms of his noble wife. |
(0.25) | (Pro 31:8) | 1 sn The instruction to “open your mouth” is a metonymy of cause; it means “speak up for” (so NIV, TEV, NLT) or in this context “serve as an advocate in judgment” (cf. CEV “you must defend”). |
(0.25) | (Pro 30:20) | 3 sn The acts of “eating” and “wiping her mouth” are euphemistic; these acts of having a meal stand in as a metaphor for sexual activity (e.g., Prov 9:17). |
(0.25) | (Pro 29:23) | 3 sn The Hebrew word translated “lowly” forms an implied comparison: To be humble is like being low, base, earthbound; whereas pride is often compared to being high, lofty—at least in one’s own eyes. |