On Thu, 30 Nov 1995 GRMorton@aol.com wrote:
> I wrote, quoting E.K.Pearce:
>
> >GM>Pearce, from whom you get the 2-Adam model, even gives good
> >>linguistic evidence that there is a separation between
> >>these two usages. He writes:
> >>"The Hebrew word adam supports such an interpretation. It
> >>is a generic noun meaning 'man' or 'mankind' in Genesis I. In
> >>chapters 2 to 4 the definite article is added and it becomes 'the
> >>Adam' or 'the man' (or individual). From Genesis 3:17 onwards
> >>the noun also becomes an individual's name 'Adam'.~E.K. Victor
> >>Pearce, Who was Adam? (Exeter: The Paternoster Press, Ltd.,
> >>1969), p. 21
>
> I have checked this "fact" out with friends who know Hebrew. I do not know
> hebrew. They tell me that Pearce is wrong here. Genesis 1:26 does not have
> the definite article, they agree, but Genesis 1:27 does have the definite
> article. This, if true would seem to be a major theological blow to the
> 2-adam view. No longer could Genesis 1 man be made out to be anyone except
> Adam under this viewpoint.
>
> If there are any Hebrew scholars in the house, your input is needed.
>
I am not a Hebrew scholar in the sense of having a PhD in this Biblical
language, but I do hold a masters degree (Regent College) in Gen 1-11,
and was accepted to a PhD in OT at the U of Toronto (then I smartened up
and jumped into theology proper ;-). But the question you ask is well
within my Hebrew skill level. And you are 110% right. There is no
article in Gen. 1:26, but it is present in Gen 1:27. Get yourself The
NIV Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament and you can see it for
yourself. You will see that in v.27 there is an "open square" looking
character with a "T" looking character below it that is added to "Adam"
(remember it is added from the right because in Hebrew we go from right to
left)--that is the definite article. I have also confirmed this finding
with the Massoretic Text (the standard Hebrew manuscript) and there is NO
contention whatsoever with regard to these verses from a text criticism
perspective.
So Glenn, you and your friends are right.
Blessings,
Denis
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Denis O. Lamoureux DDS PhD PhD (cand)
Department of Oral Biology Residence:
Faculty of Dentistry # 1908
University of Alberta 8515-112 Street
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CANADA CANADA
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E-mail: dlamoure@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
"In all debates, let truth be thy aim, and endeavor to gain
rather than expose thy opponent."
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