Peshitta Forum

Full Version: Acts 7:40 "a god" singular or "gods" plural?
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
I am wondering about this verse. The Aramaic text has "alaha" in the text. What determines if it is in the plural form, rather than the singular? As I think Aaron only made one idol for them, the golden calf mentioned in the next verse. It seems that the people made other idols with their own hands, and worshiped them, two of which are mentioned in verse 43, but, I think that Aaron only made the calf, right? If this is true, should not the English translations read "?Make for us a god that will go before us," rather than 'make for us gods that will go before us,"

Or am I missing something, here? Thanks for any help.
Hi Aramaic. What is the number of the verb "to go" in that verse ?

+Shamasha
Plural, does that determine it? And I can see the 2 parallel dots in the manuscripts above alaha in verse 40, and a single dot above Alaha in verse 42 and 45.
Aramaic Wrote:Plural, does that determine it? And I can see the 2 parallel dots in the manuscripts above alaha in verse 40, and a single dot above Alaha in verse 42 and 45.

You got it. <!-- sSmile --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /><!-- sSmile -->

And you can see in v.42 and v.45 that the supporting verbs are in the singular 3rd-person. Indicating that the world "Alaha" is singular, unlike in v.40 where it is plural "alahe".

Before the parallel dots indicating plurality (syame markings) were invented, sometimes the only way to tell whether a noun was single/plural, was to determine the state of the verbs which are contextually part of the phrase.

Fortunately, Aramaic distinguishes verbs (and other components) by number, person and gender. So most of the time you will be able to tell, even in the ancient manuscripts that lack the syame markings.

+Shamasha
Awesome thanks for the help!