Home |  About Us |  Breaking Idols |  Resources |  Topical Index |  Links |  Parshiyot |  WLC Hebrew–English Tanakh
Fri, 03 May 2024 12:05:46 -0500 Yom Shishi, Chodesh Sheni 24, 6024 — יום ששי חדש שני כד ו׳כד

Tanakh
Book of Habakkuk, Chapter:   1 2 3

Habakkuk

Chapter 1

הַמַּשָׂא אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִֽיא׃ א 1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
עַד־אָנָה יְהוָה שִׁוַּעְתִּי וְלֹא תִשְׁמָע אֶזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ חָמָס וְלֹא תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ ב 2 How long, Yehovah, shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save.
לָמָּה תַרְאֵנִי אָוֶן וְעָמָל תַּבִּיט וְשֹׁד וְחָמָס לְנֶגְדִּי וַיְהִי רִיב וּמָדוֹן יִשָּֽׂא׃ ג 3 Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and beholdest mischief? And why are spoiling and violence before me? so that there is strife, and contention ariseth.
עַל־כֵּן תָּפוּג תּוֹרָה וְלֹֽא־יֵצֵא לָנֶצַח מִשְׁפָּט כִּי רָשָׁע מַכְתִּיר אֶת־הַצַּדִּיק עַל־כֵּן יֵצֵא מִשְׁפָּט מְעֻקָּֽל׃ ד 4 Therefore the Torah is slacked, and right doth never go forth; for the wicked doth beset the righteous; therefore right goeth forth perverted.
רְאוּ בַגּוֹיִם וְֽהַבִּיטוּ וְהִֽתַּמְּהוּ תְּמָהוּ כִּי־פֹעַל פֹּעֵל בִּֽימֵיכֶם לֹא תַאֲמִינוּ כִּי יְסֻפָּֽר׃ ה 5 Look ye among the nations, and behold, and wonder marvellously; for, behold, a work shall be wrought in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.
כִּֽי־הִנְנִי מֵקִים אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּים הַגּוֹי הַמַּר וְהַנִּמְהָר הַֽהוֹלֵךְ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־אֶרֶץ לָרֶשֶׁת מִשְׁכָּנוֹת לֹּא־לֽוֹ׃ ו 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.
אָיֹם וְנוֹרָא הוּא מִמֶּנּוּ מִשְׁפָּטוֹ וּשְׂאֵתוֹ יֵצֵֽא׃ ז 7 They are terrible and dreadful; their law and their majesty proceed from themselves.
וְקַלּוּ מִנְּמֵרִים סוּסָיו וְחַדּוּ מִזְּאֵבֵי עֶרֶב וּפָשׁוּ פָּֽרָשָׁיו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו מֵרָחוֹק יָבֹאוּ יָעֻפוּ כְּנֶשֶׁר חָשׁ לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃ ח 8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the wolves of the desert; and their horsemen spread themselves; yea, their horsemen come from far, they fly as a vulture that hasteth to devour.
כֻּלֹּה לְחָמָס יָבוֹא מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם קָדִימָה וַיֶּאֱסֹף כַּחוֹל שֶֽׁבִי׃ ט 9 They come all of them for violence; their faces are set eagerly as the east wind; and they gather captives as the sand.
וְהוּא בַּמְּלָכִים יִתְקַלָּס וְרֹזְנִים מִשְׂחָק לוֹ הוּא לְכָל־מִבְצָר יִשְׂחָק וַיִּצְבֹּר עָפָר וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃ י 10 And they scoff at kings, and princes are a derision unto them; they deride every stronghold, for they heap up earth, and take it.
אָז חָלַף רוּחַ וַֽיַּעֲבֹר וְאָשֵׁם זוּ כֹחוֹ לֵאלֹהֽוֹ׃ יא 11 Then their spirit doth pass over and transgress, and they become guilty: even they who impute their might unto their god.
הֲלוֹא אַתָּה מִקֶּדֶם יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי קְדֹשִׁי לֹא נָמוּת יְהוָה לְמִשְׁפָּט שַׂמְתּוֹ וְצוּר לְהוֹכִיחַ יְסַדְתּֽוֹ׃ יב 12 Art not Thou from everlasting, Yehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. Yehovah, Thou hast ordained them for judgment, and Thou, O Rock, hast established them for correction.
טְהוֹר עֵינַיִם מֵרְאוֹת רָע וְהַבִּיט אֶל־עָמָל לֹא תוּכָל לָמָּה תַבִּיט בּֽוֹגְדִים תַּחֲרִישׁ בְּבַלַּע רָשָׁע צַדִּיק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ יג 13 Thou that art of eyes too pure to behold evil, and that canst not look on mischief, wherefore lookest Thou, when they deal treacherously, and holdest Thy peace, when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;
וַתַּעֲשֶׂה אָדָם כִּדְגֵי הַיָּם כְּרֶמֶשׂ לֹא־מֹשֵׁל בּֽוֹ׃ יד 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
כֻּלֹּה בְּחַכָּה הֵֽעֲלָה יְגֹרֵהוּ בְחֶרְמוֹ וְיַאַסְפֵהוּ בְּמִכְמַרְתּוֹ עַל־כֵּן יִשְׂמַח וְיָגִֽיל׃ יה 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and exult.
עַל־כֵּן יְזַבֵּחַ לְחֶרְמוֹ וִֽיקַטֵּר לְמִכְמַרְתּוֹ כִּי בָהֵמָּה שָׁמֵן חֶלְקוֹ וּמַאֲכָלוֹ בְּרִאָֽה׃ יו 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and offer unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.
הַעַל כֵּן יָרִיק חֶרְמוֹ וְתָמִיד לַהֲרֹג גּוֹיִם לֹא יַחְמֽוֹל׃ ס יז 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare to slay the nations continually? {S}



Chapter 2

עַל־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹדָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָה עַל־מָצוֹר וַאֲצַפֶּה לִרְאוֹת מַה־יְדַבֶּר־בִּי וּמָה אָשִׁיב עַל־תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃ א 1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look out to see what He will speak by me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
וַיַּעֲנֵנִי יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר כְּתוֹב חָזוֹן וּבָאֵר עַל־הַלֻּחוֹת לְמַעַן יָרוּץ קוֹרֵא בֽוֹ׃ ב 2 And Yehovah answered me, and said: 'Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that a man may read it swiftly.
כִּי עוֹד חָזוֹן לַמּוֹעֵד וְיָפֵחַ לַקֵּץ וְלֹא יְכַזֵּב אִם־יִתְמַהְמָהּ חַכֵּה־לוֹ כִּֽי־בֹא יָבֹא לֹא יְאַחֵֽר׃ ג 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it declareth of the end, and doth not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.'
הִנֵּה עֻפְּלָה לֹא־יָשְׁרָה נַפְשׁוֹ בּוֹ וְצַדִּיק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ יִחְיֶֽה׃ ד 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith. {S}
וְאַף כִּֽי־הַיַּיִן בּוֹגֵד גֶּבֶר יָהִיר וְלֹא יִנְוֶה אֲשֶׁר הִרְחִיב כִּשְׁאוֹל נַפְשׁוֹ וְהוּא כַמָּוֶת וְלֹא יִשְׂבָּע וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֵלָיו כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם וַיִּקְבֹּץ אֵלָיו כָּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃ ה 5 Yea, moreover, wine is a treacherous dealer; the haughty man abideth not; he who enlargeth his desire as the nether-world, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples.
הֲלוֹא־אֵלֶּה כֻלָּם עָלָיו מָשָׁל יִשָּׂאוּ וּמְלִיצָה חִידוֹת לוֹ וְיֹאמַר הוֹי הַמַּרְבֶּה לֹּא־לוֹ עַד־מָתַי וּמַכְבִּיד עָלָיו עַבְטִֽיט׃ ו 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say: 'Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with many pledges!'
הֲלוֹא פֶתַע יָקוּמוּ נֹשְׁכֶיךָ וְיִקְצוּ מְזַעְזְעֶיךָ וְהָיִיתָ לִמְשִׁסּוֹת לָֽמוֹ׃ ז 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall exact interest of thee, and awake that shall violently shake thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
כִּֽי אַתָּה שַׁלּוֹתָ גּוֹיִם רַבִּים יְשָׁלּוּךָ כָּל־יֶתֶר עַמִּים מִדְּמֵי אָדָם וַחֲמַס־אֶרֶץ קִרְיָה וְכָל־יֹשְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ פ ח 8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein. {P}
הוֹי בֹּצֵעַ בֶּצַע רָע לְבֵיתוֹ לָשׂוּם בַּמָּרוֹם קִנּוֹ לְהִנָּצֵל מִכַּף־רָֽע׃ ט 9 Woe to him that gaineth evil gains for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
יָעַצְתָּ בֹּשֶׁת לְבֵיתֶךָ קְצוֹת־עַמִּים רַבִּים וְחוֹטֵא נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ י 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast forfeited thy life.
כִּי־אֶבֶן מִקִּיר תִּזְעָק וְכָפִיס מֵעֵץ יַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃ פ יא 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. {P}
הוֹי בֹּנֶה עִיר בְּדָמִים וְכוֹנֵן קִרְיָה בְּעַוְלָֽה׃ יב 12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!
הֲלוֹא הִנֵּה מֵאֵת יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְיִֽיגְעוּ עַמִּים בְּדֵי־אֵשׁ וּלְאֻמִּים בְּדֵי־רִיק יִעָֽפוּ׃ יג 13 Behold, is it not of Yehovah of hosts that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
כִּי תִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ לָדַעַת אֶת־כְּבוֹד יְהוָה כַּמַּיִם יְכַסּוּ עַל־יָֽם׃ ס יד 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yehovah, as the waters cover the sea. {P}
הוֹי מַשְׁקֵה רֵעֵהוּ מְסַפֵּחַ חֲמָתְךָ וְאַף שַׁכֵּר לְמַעַן הַבִּיט עַל־מְעוֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ יה 15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy venom thereto, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
שָׂבַעְתָּ קָלוֹן מִכָּבוֹד שְׁתֵה גַם־אַתָּה וְהֵֽעָרֵל תִּסּוֹב עָלֶיךָ כּוֹס יְמִין יְהוָה וְקִיקָלוֹן עַל־כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃ יו 16 Thou art filled with shame instead of glory, drink thou also, and be uncovered; the cup of Yehovah's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and filthiness shall be upon thy glory.
כִּי חֲמַס לְבָנוֹן יְכַסֶּךָּ וְשֹׁד בְּהֵמוֹת יְחִיתַן מִדְּמֵי אָדָם וַחֲמַס־אֶרֶץ קִרְיָה וְכָל־יֹשְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ ס יז 17 For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, and the destruction of the beasts, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
מָֽה־הוֹעִיל פֶּסֶל כִּי פְסָלוֹ יֹֽצְרוֹ מַסֵּכָה וּמוֹרֶה שָּׁקֶר כִּי בָטַח יֹצֵר יִצְרוֹ עָלָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת אֱלִילִים אִלְּמִֽים׃ ס יח 18 What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it, even the molten image, and the teacher of lies; that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? {S}
הוֹי אֹמֵר לָעֵץ הָקִיצָה עוּרִי לְאֶבֶן דּוּמָם הוּא יוֹרֶה הִנֵּה־הוּא תָּפוּשׂ זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וְכָל־רוּחַ אֵין בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ יט 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood: 'Awake', to the dumb stone: 'Arise!' Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
וַֽיהוָה בְּהֵיכַל קָדְשׁוֹ הַס מִפָּנָיו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ כ 20 But Yehovah is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him. {S}



Chapter 3

תְּפִלָּה לַחֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא עַל שִׁגְיֹנֽוֹת׃ א 1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. Upon Shigionoth.
יְהוָה שָׁמַעְתִּי שִׁמְעֲךָ יָרֵאתִי יְהוָה פָּֽעָלְךָ בְּקֶרֶב שָׁנִים חַיֵּיהוּ בְּקֶרֶב שָׁנִים תּוֹדִיעַ בְּרֹגֶז רַחֵם תִּזְכּֽוֹר׃ ב 2 Yehovah, I have heard the report of Thee, and am afraid; Yehovah, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember compassion.
אֱלוֹהַ מִתֵּימָן יָבוֹא וְקָדוֹשׁ מֵֽהַר־פָּארָן סֶלָה כִּסָּה שָׁמַיִם הוֹדוֹ וּתְהִלָּתוֹ מָלְאָה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ג 3 God cometh from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah His glory covereth the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.
וְנֹגַהּ כָּאוֹר תִּֽהְיֶה קַרְנַיִם מִיָּדוֹ לוֹ וְשָׁם חֶבְיוֹן עֻזֹּֽה׃ ד 4 And a brightness appeareth as the light; rays hath He at His side; and there is the hiding of His power.
לְפָנָיו יֵלֶךְ דָּבֶר וְיֵצֵא רֶשֶׁף לְרַגְלָֽיו׃ ה 5 Before him goeth the pestilence, and fiery bolts go forth at His feet.
עָמַד ׀ וַיְמֹדֶד אֶרֶץ רָאָה וַיַּתֵּר גּוֹיִם וַיִּתְפֹּֽצְצוּ הַרְרֵי־עַד שַׁחוּ גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם הֲלִיכוֹת עוֹלָם לֽוֹ׃ ו 6 He standeth, and shaketh the earth, He beholdeth, and maketh the nations to tremble; and the everlasting mountains are dashed in pieces, the ancient hills do bow; His goings are as of old.
תַּחַת אָוֶן רָאִיתִי אָהֳלֵי כוּשָׁן יִרְגְּזוּן יְרִיעוֹת אֶרֶץ מִדְיָֽן׃ ס ז 7 I see the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian do tremble.
הֲבִנְהָרִים חָרָה יְהוָה אִם בַּנְּהָרִים אַפֶּךָ אִם־בַּיָּם עֶבְרָתֶךָ כִּי תִרְכַּב עַל־סוּסֶיךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ ח 8 Is it, Yehovah, that against the rivers, is it that Thine anger is kindled against the rivers, or Thy wrath against the sea? that Thou dost ride upon Thy horses, upon Thy chariots of victory?
עֶרְיָה תֵעוֹר קַשְׁתֶּךָ שְׁבֻעוֹת מַטּוֹת אֹמֶר סֶלָה נְהָרוֹת תְּבַקַּע־אָֽרֶץ׃ ט 9 Thy bow is made quite bare; sworn are the rods of the word. Selah Thou dost cleave the earth with rivers.
רָאוּךָ יָחִילוּ הָרִים זֶרֶם מַיִם עָבָר נָתַן תְּהוֹם קוֹלוֹ רוֹם יָדֵיהוּ נָשָֽׂא׃ י 10 The mountains have seen Thee, and they tremble; the tempest of waters floweth over; the deep uttereth its voice, and lifteth up its hands on high.
שֶׁמֶשׁ יָרֵחַ עָמַד זְבֻלָה לְאוֹר חִצֶּיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּ לְנֹגַהּ בְּרַק חֲנִיתֶֽךָ׃ יא 11 The sun and moon stand still in their habitation; at the light of Thine arrows as they go, at the shining of Thy glittering spear.
בְּזַעַם תִּצְעַד־אָרֶץ בְּאַף תָּדוּשׁ גּוֹיִֽם׃ יב 12 Thou marchest through the earth in indignation, Thou threshest the nations in anger.
יָצָאתָ לְיֵשַׁע עַמֶּךָ לְיֵשַׁע אֶת־מְשִׁיחֶךָ מָחַצְתָּ רֹּאשׁ מִבֵּית רָשָׁע עָרוֹת יְסוֹד עַד־צַוָּאר סֶֽלָה׃ פ יג 13 Thou art come forth for the deliverance of Thy people, for the deliverance of Thine anointed; Thou woundest the head out of the house of the wicked, uncovering the foundation even unto the neck. Selah {P}
נָקַבְתָּ בְמַטָּיו רֹאשׁ פְּרָזָיו פרזו יִסְעֲרוּ לַהֲפִיצֵנִי עֲלִיצֻתָם כְּמוֹ־לֶאֱכֹל עָנִי בַּמִּסְתָּֽר׃ יד 14 Thou hast stricken through with his own rods the head of his rulers, that come as a whirlwind to scatter me; whose rejoicing is as to devour the poor secretly.
דָּרַכְתָּ בַיָּם סוּסֶיךָ חֹמֶר מַיִם רַבִּֽים׃ יה 15 Thou hast trodden the sea with Thy horses, the foaming of mighty waters.
שָׁמַעְתִּי ׀ וַתִּרְגַּז בִּטְנִי לְקוֹל צָלֲלוּ שְׂפָתַי יָבוֹא רָקָב בַּעֲצָמַי וְתַחְתַּי אֶרְגָּז אֲשֶׁר אָנוּחַ לְיוֹם צָרָה לַעֲלוֹת לְעַם יְגוּדֶֽנּוּ׃ יו 16 When I heard, mine inward parts trembled, my lips quivered at the voice; rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble where I stand; that I should wait for the day of trouble, when he cometh up against the people that he invadeth.
כִּֽי־תְאֵנָה לֹֽא־תִפְרָח וְאֵין יְבוּל בַּגְּפָנִים כִּחֵשׁ מַעֲשֵׂה־זַיִת וּשְׁדֵמוֹת לֹא־עָשָׂה אֹכֶל גָּזַר מִמִּכְלָה צֹאן וְאֵין בָּקָר בָּרְפָתִֽים׃ יז 17 For though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls;
וַאֲנִי בַּיהוָה אֶעְלוֹזָה אָגִילָה בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִֽי׃ יח 18 Yet I will rejoice in Yehovah, I will exult in the God of my salvation.
יְהוִהּ אֲדֹנָי חֵילִי וַיָּשֶׂם רַגְלַי כָּֽאַיָּלוֹת וְעַל בָּמוֹתַי יַדְרִכֵנִי לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹתָֽי׃ יט 19 God, the Lord, is my strength, and He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and He maketh me to walk upon my high places. For the Leader. With my string-music. {P}



Tanakh
Book of Habakkuk, Chapter:   1 2 3


TRANSLATION / PUBLICATION NOTES:
Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) :
Leningrad Codex Based Tanakh (aka Hebrew Scriptures) derived from:
"Electronic" Leningrad Codex obtained from www.tanach.us

Source for the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC) — Groves Center:
Maintained by the J.Alan Groves Center For Advanced Biblical Research.

(WLC) Unicode Conversion to Hebrew Font Encoding For Web Pages:
Written In C++ Programming Language
By Robert M. Pill
Copyright © 2005–2023 By Robert M. Pill, All Rights Reserved.

QEREKETIV
(What is Read —What is Written) :

Qere and Ketiv, from the Aramaic qere or q're, קְרֵי‎ ("[what is] read") and ketiv, or ketib, kethib, kethibh, kethiv, כְּתִיב‎ ("[what is] written"), also known as "keri uchesiv" or "keri uchetiv," refers to a system for marking differences between what is written in the consonantal text of the Hebrew Bible, as preserved by scribal tradition, and what is read. In such situations, the Qere is the technical orthographic device used to indicate the pronunciation of the words in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew language scriptures (Tanakh), while the Ketiv indicates their written form, as inherited from tradition.
SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qere_and_Ketiv

Q. What is the Qere and Ketiv and how does it relate to the Masoretes?
( see: http://jbtc.org/v08/Graves2003.html )


For PDF Of Above Link Click This Line!

A. Qere and Ketiv are orthographic devices that were used by the Masoretes,
i.e., Jewish scribes from the 6-10th centuries.

Qere means, "what is read," and ketiv means, "what is written".

It is found in existing Masoretic manuscripts dating to the 9th and 10th centuries, CE.

There are several forms of Qere / Ketiv, including:
ordinary, vowel, omitted, added, euphemistic, split, and qere perpetuum.

The ketiv that is most relevant is the vowel qere. In this case, the consonants are unchanged,
but different vowel signs are added and only the qere, i.e., what is read, is vocalized. ...

I Challenge The Rabbinic QEREKETIV System!
In January 2022, beginning with the "Accented" (Full Trop and Vowels), rendering I chose to repair defects in the html encodings which occurred with my mechanical conversion of the unicode multi-wide encoding from http://tanach.us. I also decided to rearrange the QereKetiv "system" with what I consider was the Masoretic intent in the first place!
The New KETIVqere Hebrew Rendering (ACCENTS)!
Thus, this current version uses the Ketiv, what is written, as the predominant rendering, while making the Qere, what the "rabbis" have commanded as Must Be Read instead, to be a minimalist secondary format (much as rabbis appear to have intended the Ketiv to be!).
One of the reasons I decided to take on this new rendering effort is that in my efforts to understand the nature of the rabbinic QereKetiv system I have not truly found a satisfactory explanation of why the "Qere" should always take precedence over the "Ketiv" in reading the Tanakh.

In fact, as I understand it, rabbinic "scribes", in examining the actual Aleppo and Leningrad Codices, appear to have taken upon themselves to adding the consonant only Qere in the margins upon the original manuscripts, where, in their "infinite wisdom" they have presumed themselves to be the greater authority!

Moreover, as rabbinic sources seem to indicate that the "Ketiv" should never be uttered, I have found instances, such as in Exodus 21:8, where I believe the "Qere" is blatantly INCORRECT — and that the "Ketiv" should be the preferred "reading", as if the Masoretes actually knew what they were doing all along!

In my own regular reading (Stone Edition Tanakh, Koren Publications Tanakh), my preference has been to read the "Ketiv" (what is written) and pretty much minimize the "Qere"! This is not easy to do because the predominant Qere is rendered as if it is the normative form, and the Ketiv follows, typically within brackets, as if it is the offensive variant (Stone Edition Tanakh)! In the Koren Publications Tanakh, the "Ketiv" is what is rendered in the margin, while the "Qere" is found in the regular text! Obviously, normal reading will typically ignore what the Masoretes wrote, the "Ketiv"!

As of January, 2022, and going forward, I intend to render the rabbinic additions of Qere in their current KETIVqere form found in the accented version. I consider this as to convey the intent of the Masoretes. However, I acknowledge that rabbis (talmudists) have expended much effort to obscure the written Torah as part of their regular practice; as they appear, to me, to view themselves collectively as אֱלֹהִ֔ים  Elohim. That is, I believe that those talmudists (rabbis), consider themselves collectively to be God!!! They certainly demand that their edicts (tachanot) are followed as if they are divinely inspired law!

If you find this of interest, please view the page on KETIVQERE Variants


The Jewish Publication Society of America "The Holy Scriptures According To The Masoretic Text (JPS 1917)" is in the public domain, and may be freely copied.

Notable Modifications
To The JPS 1917 Based English Scripture
In The-Iconoclast.org's Hebrew–English Tanakh:

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
In The-Iconoclast.org Modified Version Of the JPS 1917 Text, The Verse numbering has been altered to match the corresponding verses in the original Hebrew Scriptures of the actual Leningrad Codex for "The Ten Commandments" in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5!

For More Information Regarding 'The Ten Commandments', See the Page, Comparing The Ten Commandments Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 In The Leningrad Codex

The Name יְהֹוָה  Yehovah
"Yehovah", The Name Of G-d In The Hebrew Scripures ('YHVH' י  'Yud', ה  'He', ו  'Vav', ה  'He', aka Tetragamaton) Is Used Instead of "LORD" (note: ALL CAPITAL LETTERS) As Found In The Original JPS 1917 Tanakh.

For More Information Regarding 'The Name', See the Page, The Name יְהֹוָה  [Yehovah] In The Aleppo And Leningrad Codices.

In Converting "LORD" to "Yehovah", I Counted A Total Of 5,553 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהוָֽה  ha Adon Yehovah
The Hebrew Phrase הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהוָֽה  Occurs In Only Two Places, In Exodus 23:17 and 34:23. In Those Cases, I Have Changed The Translation Wording From "Lord GOD" To "Lord GOD [ha Adon Yehovah]".

אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה  Adonai Yehovi
Typically Translated As "Lord GOD", It Is A Much Less Common Form Of The Divine Name, יְהֹוָה  [Yehovah].

This Form אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה  Is, Nevertheless, Quite Important In Understanding Pronounciation For The Divine Name, Especially Since The Hebrew Form For It Has NOT Undergone The Intense Scrutiny Of rabbinic Censorship As Has "Yehovah". Accordingly, The Hebrew Text For This Form Of 'The Name' Typically HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED In Jewish Publications That Actually Keep The Vowel Pointers From The Masoretic Text!

In Converting "Lord GOD" to "Lord GOD [Adonai Yehovi]", I Counted A Total Of 284 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh. Of All Of Its Occurrences, The Fully Voweled Form Of The Hebrew אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה  Appears 31 Times, And The Non–Fully Voweled Form אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה  (The Same Hebrew Letters, Minus Just The One 'Oh' Sounding Character, "The Holem", Which Follows The First 'He' In ( י  'Yud', ה  'He', ו  'Vav', ה  'He' ), Make Up All Other Occurrences.

תורה  Torah
The Word "Law" (Capital and lower case), As Found In The JPS 1917, Has Been Changed To "Torah" Where The Base Hebrew Letters תורה  Correspond To The Matching Verse In The Leningrad Codex (Masoretic Text)!

In Converting "Law" to "Torah", I Counted A Total Of 223 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

Yerushalam, Yerush'lem and Yerushalayim

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  "Yerushalam"
The Word "Jerusalem" (the name of capital city in ancient Israel), As Found In The JPS 1917, Has Been Changed To Its Transliterated Equivalent, "Yerushalam" (note the 'am' ending), In All Places Where It Corresponds To [ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  ] In The Hebrew Text.
יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם  "Yerush'lem"
A Rare, Second Transliterated Form, "Yerush'lem" (note the 'em' ending), Has Been Changed From "Jerusalem" Where The Hebrew Letters Spell Out The Aramaic Form [ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם  ] Found In Aramaic Parts Of Daniel And Ezra.
ירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙  "Yerushalayim"
The Extremely Rare, Third Transliterated Form, "Yerushalayim" (note the 'ayim' ending), Has Been Changed From The JPS 1917 "Jerusalem" To Correspond To The Hebrew [ ירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙  ].

Noteworthy Is That This Rarest Form Appears In Only Four (4) Places In The Entire Hebrew Scriptures, Yet, It Is The Most Common Pronunciation For The Name Of The Ancient City! Its Four (Out Of Over 600) Appearances Are:
1) Jeremiah 26:18, 2) Esther 2:6, 3) I Chronicles 3:5, and 4) II Chronicles 25:1.

In Converting "Jerusalem" To Its Transliterated Equivalents, I Counted A Total Of 625 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

Home |  About Us |  Breaking Idols |  Resources |  Topical Index |  Links |  Parshiyot |  WLC Hebrew–English Tanakh
DO NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!