Hebrew Question

[Pastor_Bob]

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spake, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. (KJV)

In the majority of instances that the Hebrew word "ga'al" is used, it is translated "redeem" or a form of that word. I am curious as to why is this passage it is translated as "stain." I'm not at all questioning the translators, but wondering what the uniqueness of this translational choice might mean.

 

[TCassidy]

Another example of why you should throw your "Strongs" away. The Hebrew word is יגאלהו yigaluhu, “pollute or avenge it,” a cognate of גאל gaal.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

The Hebrew word is יגאלהו yigaluhu, “pollute or avenge it,” a cognate of גאל gaal.

Is this word translated “redeem” the majority of the time?

 

[HankD]

Is this word translated “redeem” the majority of the time?

In the AV.

Redeem - 50 times
Redeemer - 18
Kinsman - 13
Revenger - 7
Avenger - 6
Ransom - 2
At all - 2
Deliver - 1
Kinsfolks - 1
Part - 1
Purchase -1
Stain -1
Wise - 1

Total - 104.

 

[TCassidy]

Is this word translated “redeem” the majority of the time?

יגאלהו is an hapax legomenon appearing only in Job 3:5.

 

[HankD]

my post is for the root Job 3:5 (stain) is Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine (with a plural ending). Hebrew literal Westminter Hebrew OT Morphology יִגְאָלֻהוּ
Root Ga'al
גָּאַל

 

[Pastor_Bob]

יגאלהו is an hapax legomenon appearing only in Job 3:5.

That's interesting. In your opinion, should this occurrence be interpreted in light of the other translational choices?

That is what caught my attention in the first place. To "redeem" or to "stain" mean significantly different things in my opinion.

The way I see it, Job is saying that he wishes that the day of his birth be "stained" or made "very unappealing" to all that see him.

 

[TCassidy]

my post is for the root Job 3:5 (stain) is Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine (with a plural ending). Hebrew literal Westminter Hebrew OT Morphology יִגְאָלֻהוּ
Root Ga'al
גָּאַל

Yes. גאל is used 26 times in the Hebrew OT and cognates of גאל are used an additional 78 times, including יגאלהו which is only used once.

 

[TCassidy]

In your opinion, should this occurrence be interpreted in light of the other translational choices?

No. This is the only place in the bible where יגאלהו is used (גאל as a Qal, imperfect, third person, masculine, plural).

The word, in this case, is perfectly fitted to the overall usage of גאל as the kinsman/redeemer. A redeemer of the same blood (line). Job is saying, in regards to his birth (a time we usually remember with joy) let the darkness reclaim it, so stain it that it is no longer visible. He is saying that, instead of his day of birth being a day to be remembered joyfully, he is saying the day he was born was a curse. A stain. The worst day ever.

 

[HankD]

Oops, ran out of coffee (covfefe) had to go get some.

Once in a while a Hebrew word takes on a life of its own.
I was just giving the raw technicalities of this word (ygalhu) which appears to be one of those words.

Tom has captured the meaning nicely.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

No. This is the only place in the bible where יגאלהו is used (גאל as a Qal, imperfect, third person, masculine, plural).

The word, in this case, is perfectly fitted to the overall usage of גאל as the kinsman/redeemer. A redeemer of the same blood (line). Job is saying, in regards to his birth (a time we usually remember with joy) let the darkness reclaim it, so stain it that it is no longer visible. He is saying that, instead of his day of birth being a day to be remembered joyfully, he is saying the day he was born was a curse. A stain. The worst day ever.

Thanks, Brother.

 

[loDebar]

No. This is the only place in the bible where יגאלהו is used (גאל as a Qal, imperfect, third person, masculine, plural).

The word, in this case, is perfectly fitted to the overall usage of גאל as the kinsman/redeemer. A redeemer of the same blood (line). Job is saying, in regards to his birth (a time we usually remember with joy) let the darkness reclaim it, so stain it that it is no longer visible. He is saying that, instead of his day of birth being a day to be remembered joyfully, he is saying the day he was born was a curse. A stain. The worst day ever.

nope, maybe, what person is this?
Isa 63:3

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

 

[loDebar]

but Job 3:5 is more than stain or חָלַל chalal would have been used

Isa 23:9
The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth