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Single Letter Markers - Printable Version

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Single Letter Markers - Stephen Silver - 06-18-2008

Shlama Forum:
Does anyone have the definitive answer to the use of single letter markers on selected lines, in the Khabouris Codex. I transcribed them as is, but have no real answer as to there primary use. The letters to the left, on the line, are in blue to distinguish them from the text.

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LUKE 3:1 Beth
LUKE 5:25 Beth
LUKE 7:38 Beth
LUKE 7:39 Semkath
LUKE 10:35 Semkath
LUKE 11:53 Qoph
LUKE 12:44 Beth
LUKE 13:7 Beth
LUKE 15:15 Beth
LUKE 15:32 Qoph
LUKE 17:18 Semkath
LUKE 21:1 Semkath
LUKE 21:18 Beth
LUKE 22:14 Beth
LUKE 24:5 Beth
LUKE 24:19 Semkath

Shlama,
Stephen
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Re: Single Letter Markers - Paul Younan - 06-18-2008

Shlama Akhi Stephen,

Because words are never divided at the end of a line, the scribes depending on individual preference would either leave a blank space at the end of a line, or if they could they would stretch out the last letter to the end.

Some letters, like the final-form Nun or a Resh, cannot be stretched out without severely distorting the letter. Therefore, the original scribe left a blank space in these cases. If you look a few lines down from Luke 3:1, you could see that the scribe was able to stretch the final Waw in "Tybw" to fill up the empty space.

At a later time, in order to prevent the addition of words to the manuscript, a later scribe came along and filled in the blank spaces with an end-of-line marker in order to prevent any tampering. Sometimes you'll see dots, asterisks, stars, letters, etc. There's really no rhyme or reason to it. As long as it fills up the empty space, or prevents alteration it has served its purpose.

+Shamasha


Re: Single Letter Markers - Stephen Silver - 06-18-2008

Paul Younan Wrote:Shlama Akhi Stephen,

Because words are never divided at the end of a line, the scribes depending on individual preference would either leave a blank space at the end of a line, or if they could they would stretch out the last letter to the end.

Some letters, like the final-form Nun or a Resh, cannot be stretched out without severely distorting the letter. Therefore, the original scribe left a blank space in these cases. If you look a few lines down from Luke 3:1, you could see that the scribe was able to stretch the final Waw in "Tybw" to fill up the empty space.

At a later time, in order to prevent the addition of words to the manuscript, a later scribe came along and filled in the blank spaces with an end-of-line marker in order to prevent any tampering. Sometimes you'll see dots, asterisks, stars, letters, etc. There's really no rhyme or reason to it. As long as it fills up the empty space, or prevents alteration it has served its purpose.

+Shamasha

Shlama Akhi Paul:
Thank you. :o)

Stephen