“A man of pains and acquainted with disease”: Isaiah 53.3. Its interpretation in the context of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Authors

  • Кирилл Андреевич Битнер St. Petersburg State University, 7-9, Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

Abstract

The article presents an interpretation of ydw‘ hly (“A man of pains and acquainted with disease”). The reading is supported by the Masoretic text of Isaiah (53.3). The word ydw‘ is morphologically a passive par121 ticiple, however the context assumes its active meaning. The following text of Qumran caves and Masada are used: 4Q405, 4Q502, 4Q579, 4Q403, Mas1k, 4Q286. There are some examples of passive participle of the verb yd‘ with active meaning in the Hebrew of the end of the 2nd Temple period. The most important of them is ydw‘y ‘wlmym (possible translations: “those having knowledge of eternal things” or “eternal knowing ones”). It is attested in the texts of so called “Angelic liturgy” (scriptio plene: 4Q405 8–9 3–4 and 4Q405 3 II 1). Another example is ydw‘ym (“knowing”?) that is attested in 4Q502 and 4Q479. Both texts may suggest an active meaning of this word. So, the examples support translation “A man of pains and acquainted with disease”. Besides, the author suggests a new explanation of the relationship of the Masoretic text to other versions. The primary variant of the Hebrew text is preserved in Qumran Scroll 1QIsa b (yd‘ hly), the other variants, namely the consonantal text of the Masoretic Bible (ydw‘ hly) and 1QIsa a (ywd‘ hwly), are the results of late vocalization of the text.

Keywords:

the Book of Isaiah, Servant Songs, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, Angelic Liturgy

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References

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Published

2013-09-18

How to Cite

Битнер, К. А. (2013). “A man of pains and acquainted with disease”: Isaiah 53.3. Its interpretation in the context of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Asian and African Studies, (3), 31–40. Retrieved from https://aasjournal.spbu.ru/article/view/2244

Issue

No. 3 (2013)

Section

History and source studies

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Asian and African Studies" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.