Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Psalm 78 verse 69 - Unicorns?

AELW 11:88-89 

Psalm 78:69 (maybe worth further study on how... רָ֭מִים     ...is translated in the Vulgate as unicornium?

The difference between...??? (Reem and Ruwm?)


7214 רְאֵם [râ’em, râ’eym, reym, rem /reh·ame/] n m. From 7213; TWOT 2096a; GK 8028; Nine occurrences; AV translates as “unicorn” nine times. 1 probably the great aurochs or wild bulls which are now extinct. The exact meaning is not known..(Strong's)

AND

7311 יָרוּם, יָרַם, רוּם, רָם, רָמַם [ruwm /room/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 2133; GK 3727 and 3753 and 8123 and 8225 and 8249; 194 occurrences; AV translates as “(lift”, “hold”, “etc … ) up” 63 times, “exalt” 47 times, “high” 25 times, “offer” 13 times, “give” five times, “heave” three times, “extol” three times, “lofty” three times, “take” three times, “tall” three times, “higher” twice, and translated miscellaneously 24 times. 1 to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to be high, be set on high. 1a2 to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted. 1a3 to be lifted, rise. 1b (Polel). 1b1 to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up. 1b2 to lift up, raise, exalt. 1b3 to exalt, extol. 1c (Polal) to be lifted up. 1d (Hiphil). 1d1 to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high. 1d2 to lift up (and take away), remove. 1d3 to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute. 1e (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished. 1f (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself. 2 (Qal) to be rotten, be wormy.(Strong's)



"69     He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, 
like the earth, which he has founded forever." (ESV) 

"69     et aedificavit sicut unicornium sanctificium suum in terra quam fundavit in saecula "(Vulgate)

" 69     וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמֹו־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשֹׁ֑ו כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעֹולָֽם׃" (Hebrew)

AND FINALLY...Luther's comments...

 "69. And He built His sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which He founded forever. Solinus says: “The unicorn is a most fearful monster, with a savage roar, the body of a horse, the feet of an elephant, a pig’s tail, a deer’s head. The horn protrudes in the middle of its forehead, of marvelous magnificence, to a length of four feet, so sharp that what it strikes is easily pierced by its thrust. It does not come into man’s power alive, and while it can be killed, it cannot be captured.” This is what he says."

Further note on who Solinus is...

"Gaius Julius Solinus compiled a summary of the history, geography, customs, and products of countries of the ancient world soon after A.D. 200. This work, Collectanea rerum memorabilium apparently is deeply in debt to Pliny’s Natural History. It was later revised under the name Polyhistor, which was mistaken for the name of the author."





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