The Meaning of לְהָרַע in Ps 15:4c

Research

Translation

Ancient

• LXX: ὁ ὀμνύων τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀθετῶν·
  • "he who swears to his fellow and does not renege"
• Aq.: τον κακώσαι...
  • "you hurt him"
• Th.: τον κακώσαι...
  • "you hurt him"
• Sym.: ό όμόσας εταίρος είναι, και μη άλλαγείς
  • "the same partner is and does not change"
• Jer.: iurat ut se adfligat et non mutat
  • "he swears to afflict himself and does not change"
• Jer. Jurat ad malefaciendum (in damnum suum), nec muta
  • "he swears to do evil (to his own dtriment), and does not change"
• Jer. psalterium gall.: Qui jurat proximo suo, et non decipit
  • "he who swears to his neighbor, and does not deceive"
• Jer. juxta hebraicum: urat[etiam]ad damnificandum et non mutat(!); argentum suum non commodat cum foenore et munus adversus innocentem non accipit
  • "he swears [also] to damage and does not change (does not accept interest and obligation against the innocent)
• Syr.: ܝܡܐ ܠܚܒܪܗ ܘܠܐ ܡܕܓܠ
  • "he takes an oath with his friend and does not deceive" For MT לְ֝הָרַ֗ע to his harm P has to his friend (cf. LXX,τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ).

The difference is due to confusion with regard to vocalization of the Hebrew word. For MT לְ֝הָרַ֗ע to his harm the Greek and Syriac translators understood τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦto his friend Tg.: לאבאשא לגרמיה ולא משלחף/יפרג

• • "who will swear to do harm to himself and does not change"

References

15:4