“‘Evil or Agitated’: The Meaning of Reshaʻim in Job 3:17”

In this paper, I will discuss the peculiar literary context in which rashaʻappears in Job 3:17 and examine the inner-biblical evidence relating to the significance of the word. Additionally, I will present the semantic development of rashaʻ “to act wickedly” as a derivation from rashaʻ “to be disquieted” or “agitated” based upon the tendency of certain Semitic words depicting movement to eventually acquire a pejorative meaning (e.g., Hebrew rwd and bgd based upon Arabic and Akkadian cognates, respectively). This presentation will end with practical suggestions concerning how properly understanding rashaʻin Job 3:17 relates to the conversation between Job and his friends about the fate of the wicked. 

Biblical Lexicography Unit
11/25/2019
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM