- May 12, 2024
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Genesis 12:3 is a very well-known verse: "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse."
That sounds clear, but a very important nuance is lost in translation.
The Hebrew verb meaning "to bless" is לְבַרֵךְ (levarekh), from the root בָּ-רַ-ךְ (B-R-Kh). This root is connected to the concept
of a "knee," and thus implies rendering service to someone (i.e., bending the knee). Hence, one possible meaning of the
divine statement could be, "I will serve those who serve you!" To serve implies doing good for someone, bringing benefit
to a recipient --- thus "blessing."
In the second part of the verse God promised Abraham that "the one who curses you" מְקַלֶּלְך (mekalelkha) will in turn
"be cursed" אָאֹר (aor). Notice that this promise (or threat!) uses two different words that are both translated as "to curse."
The first of these, מְקַלֶּלְך (mekalelkha) comes from a root connected to the idea of "lightness" (as opposed to "heaviness).
The second word, אָאֹר (aor), derives from a completely different root that means something like "to utterly destroy."
Taking these Hebrew insights into consideration, an alternative possible translation of this famous verse might be as
follows: "I will do good to those who do good to you, and the one who makes light of you I will utterly destroy."
Shalom
by Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg
That sounds clear, but a very important nuance is lost in translation.
The Hebrew verb meaning "to bless" is לְבַרֵךְ (levarekh), from the root בָּ-רַ-ךְ (B-R-Kh). This root is connected to the concept
of a "knee," and thus implies rendering service to someone (i.e., bending the knee). Hence, one possible meaning of the
divine statement could be, "I will serve those who serve you!" To serve implies doing good for someone, bringing benefit
to a recipient --- thus "blessing."
In the second part of the verse God promised Abraham that "the one who curses you" מְקַלֶּלְך (mekalelkha) will in turn
"be cursed" אָאֹר (aor). Notice that this promise (or threat!) uses two different words that are both translated as "to curse."
The first of these, מְקַלֶּלְך (mekalelkha) comes from a root connected to the idea of "lightness" (as opposed to "heaviness).
The second word, אָאֹר (aor), derives from a completely different root that means something like "to utterly destroy."
Taking these Hebrew insights into consideration, an alternative possible translation of this famous verse might be as
follows: "I will do good to those who do good to you, and the one who makes light of you I will utterly destroy."
Shalom
by Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg
