IMPLIED ANTECEDENTS IN JOB XL 2B AND PROVERBS III 6A

Abstract

AbstractThis article proposes a solution for identifying two problematic antecedents in two separate verses of the Hebrew Bible. I suggest that these antecedents are implied nouns instead of specific nouns standing in the text. The first example of this occurs in Job lx 2b where the third person singular feminine suffix refers to an implied noun that is associated with a nearby participle. The second more controversial example is found in Prov. iii 6a. Here the LXX, whose antecedent is an implied noun, serves as the necessary guide for opening the way to understanding the MT, where another implied noun is used. In each verse, clarity of interpretation is gained, with the latter analysis resulting in a more severe break from traditional views.