10-08-2008, 07:44 PM
Shlama Akhi Mike,
Yes, both are singular. We can tell without the need for the Syame markings that denote plurality because:
(1) In Acts 2:33, the word for "this" ("ha-dee") is singular feminine (the word "gift" in Aramaic is grammatically feminine).
(2) In Acts 11:17, the verb immediately prior to "gift" is in a form that contains a singular feminine suffix (the word "gift" in Aramaic is feminine). Since the preceding verb contains a singular suffix form, the following "gift" must be singular.
Most of the time you can discern the number from the surrounding text, without the need for Syame, because verbs and adjectives will reflect the number of the noun in question.
Yes. But like English ("this" vs. "these"), in Aramaic the word "this" can be in plural or singular form that are spelled differently. The word in question is spelled in the singular.
Yes, in certain manuscripts the markings were added to the text that already existed in an old, un-pointed manuscript. To indicate plurality of a noun, two small dots are placed horizontally over the lowest height character.
If the Syame markings were placed over these words then that would mean the scribe understood the noun to be plural, not singular. But that would be a huge error given that the context of the sentence contains verbs and adjectives that are in the singular.
In other words, instead of "this" being spelled "hade" it would be "haden" for plural. "These gifts". Just like in English, you would not say "this gifts", you would say "these gifts."
Same thing in Aramaic. The word is "this", not "these" - so the word "gift" is singular without the need to consult Syame markings.
+Shamasha Paul
Mike Kar Wrote:(1) Is the word used for "gift" in Acts 2:33 and Acts 11:17 both to be rendered in the singular??
Yes, both are singular. We can tell without the need for the Syame markings that denote plurality because:
(1) In Acts 2:33, the word for "this" ("ha-dee") is singular feminine (the word "gift" in Aramaic is grammatically feminine).
(2) In Acts 11:17, the verb immediately prior to "gift" is in a form that contains a singular feminine suffix (the word "gift" in Aramaic is feminine). Since the preceding verb contains a singular suffix form, the following "gift" must be singular.
Most of the time you can discern the number from the surrounding text, without the need for Syame, because verbs and adjectives will reflect the number of the noun in question.
Mike Kar Wrote:(b) For Acts 2:33 the word "this" linked to "gift" points this out, does it not??
Yes. But like English ("this" vs. "these"), in Aramaic the word "this" can be in plural or singular form that are spelled differently. The word in question is spelled in the singular.
Mike Kar Wrote:(2) AS far as the "markings" placed above Aramaic words after the manuscripts have been written, were these markings, called Syame, added to the same physical manuscript themselves??
Yes, in certain manuscripts the markings were added to the text that already existed in an old, un-pointed manuscript. To indicate plurality of a noun, two small dots are placed horizontally over the lowest height character.
Mike Kar Wrote:(3) These diacretic markings (Syame) in the case of Acts 2:33 and 11:17 would not change the rendering for "gift" as being in the singualr would it?? In other words, before and after the markings the singular of this word "gift" would and does not change?? yes or no? I take it that this word in both verses is to be in the singular from what I have observed. But I want to confirm this with those affluent in Aramaic.
If the Syame markings were placed over these words then that would mean the scribe understood the noun to be plural, not singular. But that would be a huge error given that the context of the sentence contains verbs and adjectives that are in the singular.
In other words, instead of "this" being spelled "hade" it would be "haden" for plural. "These gifts". Just like in English, you would not say "this gifts", you would say "these gifts."
Same thing in Aramaic. The word is "this", not "these" - so the word "gift" is singular without the need to consult Syame markings.
+Shamasha Paul