Question about gender pronouns in Hebrew

drjean

Senior Veteran
Supporter
Nov 16, 2011
15,273
4,517
✟313,070.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Actually the term used in Hebrew is "wicked" in verse 3 and in the latter verse 8 they are 3 wicked MEN. In verses 71 and 18 the word shepherd is used, but broken down it says "those" who leave the flock and it is not in feminine. עֹזְבִי הַצֹּאן,

I'm not a scholar but I have 5 years University of Jerusalem study under my belt. Any corrections welcomed. (There is a forum for language studies)


I will destroy the three wicked men: וָאַכְחִד אֶת-שְׁלֹשֶׁת הָרֹעִים
The howling of the wicked: קוֹל יִלְלַת הָרֹעִים
 
Upvote 0

tranquil

Newbie
Sep 29, 2011
1,373
158
with Charlie at the Chocolate Factory
✟270,843.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Actually the term used in Hebrew is "wicked" in verse 3 and in the latter verse 8 they are 3 wicked MEN. In verses 71 and 18 the word shepherd is used, but broken down it says "those" who leave the flock and it is not in feminine. עֹזְבִי הַצֹּאן,

I'm not a scholar but I have 5 years University of Jerusalem study under my belt. Any corrections welcomed. (There is a forum for language studies)


I will destroy the three wicked men: וָאַכְחִד אֶת-שְׁלֹשֶׁת הָרֹעִים
The howling of the wicked: קוֹל יִלְלַת הָרֹעִים

Thank you! You sound like an expert to me! :oldthumbsup:
 
  • Friendly
Reactions: drjean
Upvote 0

Dave-W

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!
Supporter
Jun 18, 2014
30,521
16,866
Maryland - just north of D.C.
Visit site
✟771,800.00
Country
United States
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Is there any indicator of gender in this passage from Zechariah 11:15-17? (the foolish shepherd)
As Dr Jean said, it is not in the feminine. But with Hebrew (and almost any other ancient language) Groups are almost always listed in the masculine. Even if there are 1000 women and only 1 man, it is masculine. The only time the feminine would be used (describing groups of people) is if the group is 100% women. Example:


Ps 68.11 (KJV)
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.​

"Company" is in the feminine. (no men)
 
Upvote 0

tranquil

Newbie
Sep 29, 2011
1,373
158
with Charlie at the Chocolate Factory
✟270,843.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
As Dr Jean said, it is not in the feminine. But with Hebrew (and almost any other ancient language) Groups are almost always listed in the masculine. Even if there are 1000 women and only 1 man, it is masculine. The only time the feminine would be used (describing groups of people) is if the group is 100% women. Example:


Ps 68.11 (KJV)
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.​

"Company" is in the feminine. (no men)

Yes, that makes sense. Thank you for the input.

the reason I ask is that I am investigating the idea that there are 2 different 'appearances', if you will, of the abomination of desolation statue, 1st in Judea, literally Jerusalem, then in the Christian church body, which would be the meaning of Revelation 12. We know that the statue is in the image of the mortally head wounded shepherd (Revelation 13:3 & Revelation 13:14-15) (what people generally call the 'antichrist') (and seems to be the same individual as the 'worthless shepherd' in Zech 11.)

but there seems to be ambiguity as to whether (what people call it:) 'the antichrist' is, in fact, male.

If the 'antichrist' (the mortally head wounded individual) is female, then I could easily make the case that Zechariah 5:5-11 Zechariah 5 Interlinear Bible is actually a reference to the abomination statue, which would be making an appearance in Judea, then flying off to Shinar, where Christians are in their equivalent of Babylonian captivity.

As I understand it, in Hebrew, idols are a masculine word, even if the idol is of a female diety?
 
Upvote 0

Dave-W

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!
Supporter
Jun 18, 2014
30,521
16,866
Maryland - just north of D.C.
Visit site
✟771,800.00
Country
United States
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
As I understand it, in Hebrew, idols are a masculine word, even if the idol is of a female diety?
I would have to study that one out.
 
Upvote 0

Dave-W

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!
Supporter
Jun 18, 2014
30,521
16,866
Maryland - just north of D.C.
Visit site
✟771,800.00
Country
United States
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
מִפְלֶצֶת miphletseth H4656 Is translated "idol" in 4 places, and is feminine.

copyChkboxOff.gif
1Ki 15:13
And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol H4656 in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, H4656 and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

copyChkboxOff.gif
2Ch 15:16
And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol H4656 in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, H4656 and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

Other words translated Idol are masculine.

סֶמֶל H55666 Semel
עֹצֶב H6090 Otseb


Where you see the phrases "graven image" next to "standing image" or "molten image" the first is masculine and the 2nd feminine.
 
Upvote 0