Method:Lexical Semantics

Introduction

Semantics is the study of how language is used to represent meaning. The goal of semantic analysis is to make explicit all the semantic relationships within the biblical text, that is, to take what is implicit about word meaning – and thus assumed by  the original audience – and make it explicit – and thus understandable for us who are removed by time, language, and culture.

One major branch of semantic study is lexical semantics, which refers to the study of word meanings. It examines the relationship between words (e.g. synonymy, hyponymy) as well as the relationship between words and larger concepts (e.g. lexical domains). This involves study of Hebrew word meaning, but also an examination of our own assumptions about English word meaning. As Western-trained scholars, we start with our Western assumptions, so this part of the analysis, in particular, should be done afresh for every culture.

Lexical semantics is one of three parts of semantic analysis (cf. mid-level semantics and unit-level semantics).

Required Tools

• Hebrew text • Grammatical diagram • Lexicons • SDBH • HALOT • BDB • DCH • Versions

Overview

1. Lexical and Contextual Domains
2. Venn Diagram (wiki bank)+ English glosses
3. Close-but-clear
4. Repeated Roots

Steps

3. Repeated Roots

i. Using the template table, identify repeated roots and list in order of occurrence. The table should include verse numbers on the left and the lexical form of each word at the top.

ii. Create a duplicate of the repeated roots table. Use

Look for breaks in the text, especially a “mid-line” that splits repeated roots.

4. Close-but-clear

As the final step, draft a close-but-clear translation of the psalm (CBC). The purpose of the CBC is to provide a window into the Hebrew text (grammar, syntax, and wording) for non-Hebrew readers of the Psalms: Layer by Layer materials. It is not intended to be a stand-alone translation.

Guiding principles: CBC uses the interlinear as its base, revised for clarity: using English word order and clarifying the meaning of phrases (e.g., construct chains, prepositional phrases). Note: clarification is necessary only where the interlinear is misleading in English, not where the English is simply awkward.

CBC is used as the display text (along with the Hebrew) for most analytical visualisations. Exceptions include: -Grammatical diagrams (that should be obvious :grinning:) -Macrosyntax tables (the interlinear is more helpful here because constituent order is important) -Verse-level prominence ranking tables (since some prominent features that are clear in the interlinear are necessarily obscured in the CBC, I’d propose we display both the CBC and the interlinear for that visualisation) -Line length visualisations (since number of words per line matters)

is used as the display text for most videos.

reflects as closely as possible Hebrew word choice, including: • glossing Hebrew synonyms in different ways, and • glossing Hebrew repeated roots/lexemes the same way (when possible).

preserves figurative language where possible (see question below).

Criteria for departing from SDBH’s gloss: ________________

When to include supplied information in parentheses or square brackets:__________

Questions:

Do we distinguish between imagery that “works” in English (e.g. sit/walk/settle) and imagery that “doesn’t work” (e.g. nose > anger).

Additional Resources

Archer, Gleason L. Jr., Robert Harris, and Bruce K. Waltke, eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Moody Press, 1980 (Logos version, 2002).

The Semantics of Ancient Hebrew Database project

Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, edited by Reinier de Blois, with the assistance of Enio R. Mueller, ©2000-2021 United Bible Societies.

List of semantic domains, developed by Ron Moe (SIL).

Zotero: Lexical Semantics