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To: John McDonnell; Godzilla

Hebrew vowel markings were sometimes not even written. Yet not writing them has lead to false vocalizations, which has resulted in changes in word meanings.

Even though vowel markings can be less than “the smallest letter” and “the least stroke of a pen”, they can determine whether or not the meaning of a scriptural passage can become corrupted.

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That is incorrect. The Masorites added the vowel markings because of the diaspora in the Middle ages and the need to clarify pronunciation when reading aloud because of the difficulty in passing it on orally.

However, anyone at the time of Christ and before, would have known the words without vowel markings and anyone with a knowledge of Hebrew beyond first year, can read it correctly without the vowel markings. Vowel markings or lack thereof does not change the meanings of the words in Hebrew. As I posted above, one of our finals was a translation without markings. Hebrew structure is such that a particular form of the word (sans vowels) is recognizable and carries a certain meaning. So your claim that an absence of vowels would have led to meaning changes is errant.

Vowel additions or deletions would not affect the meaning or translation of scripture at all. Modern Hebrew often does not contain the vowel markings yet does not lead to misinterpretation at all.

And yes, Hebrew never had vowel marking until the middle ages and vowels do not affect word meanings or translation. That is fact.


420 posted on 08/02/2011 7:17:36 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut
Hebrew structure is such that a particular form of the word (sans vowels) is recognizable and carries a certain meaning. So your claim that an absence of vowels would have led to meaning changes is errant.

In Tanakh - The Holy Scriptures, published by the Jewish Publication Society, at Ezekiel 16:30, a footnote indicates that the words for "How sick was your heart", through a change in vocalization (which involves vowels), yields "How furious I was with you". Several other examples of changes in meaning with changes in vocalization are shown in the book's footnotes.

427 posted on 08/02/2011 8:47:26 PM PDT by John McDonnell
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