Also, it should be noted that in one case (Gen 9:29, which I just passed in the Sefer Torah that I'm writing), it's not just a vowel marker but actually changes both the pronunciation and meaning of the word (unlike the other cases where neither is changed).
Good eye! When preparing this video I originally planned on pointing this out. In the end I didn't because the variant affects pronunciation but not translation. For example, ויהי כל ימי also appears in Genesis 5:23, 31 and it is translated exactly the same as ויהיו כל ימי as in Gen. 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27. This grammatical issue is in the Hebrew, not the English, so I left it out to avoid confusion.
Great lecture. Toda Rabba. Confused how we have a fixed number of letters 304,805 if variants exist specifically that one has a letter and the other doesn’t . Also how in the world are bible codes functioning if there are variants? One letter changes the entire matrix. Also can you please clarify about the two letter noons letter noon that comes after letter mem that are inverted and upside down, are they included in the 304805 count?
These questions and insights are excellent. I’m not 100% sure but I believe the number 304,805 is based on one manuscript, most likely the Leningrad Codex. If you search for that number you’ll find the article which first publicized it. You are correct about the codes. The existence of variants means the “Bible Codes” are flawed, if not worthless because even one variant ruins the whole sequence. I do not know if the nuns (נ) are included. I believe they are but in my opinion they should be treated as being in the margins like ketiv and keri. Hope this helps.
Very nicely explained. It raises some interesting issues regarding the kashrut of a sefer torah, e.g if we had a sefer with a blend of these forms, would it still be OK? Small pedantic point but traditional Sepharadi Sefer Torah is also on an eitz chaim, although unfortunately many sephardim seem to have also forgotten this and follow the custom of the mizrach, in the tik.
Very interesting and full of amazing details.. But as any Biblical Hebrew Student knows, these are simple cases of vowel letters with full or defective writing, or in other words: "plene scriptum" and "defective scriptum." And as we know, the scribes of the Tanakh codices were very inconsistent in their use of the full and defective writing.
Yes, but the Masoretic Torah is arguably the most stable of all handwritten biblical texts of any period, hence the surprise in there even being 9 differences of מלא plene and חסר defective.
I noticed that there’s a big difference in Genesis 6:2 aka (Bereishit) between the Sefaria and Torah. Sefaria says “…the males among the divine beings” and the other Torah says “the sons of the nobles.” These are tricky verses involving giants or just powerful dudes.
this is totally fascinating. thank you again, Rabbi Dr. Moster
Glad you enjoyed it!
Also, it should be noted that in one case (Gen 9:29, which I just passed in the Sefer Torah that I'm writing), it's not just a vowel marker but actually changes both the pronunciation and meaning of the word (unlike the other cases where neither is changed).
Good eye! When preparing this video I originally planned on pointing this out. In the end I didn't because the variant affects pronunciation but not translation. For example, ויהי כל ימי also appears in Genesis 5:23, 31 and it is translated exactly the same as ויהיו כל ימי as in Gen. 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27. This grammatical issue is in the Hebrew, not the English, so I left it out to avoid confusion.
Thks a lot, so instructive and above all transmitted in such an interesting way 👏👏 like it !
Fascinating. Thank you for this presentation.
Great lecture. Toda Rabba. Confused how we have a fixed number of letters 304,805 if variants exist specifically that one has a letter and the other doesn’t . Also how in the world are bible codes functioning if there are variants? One letter changes the entire matrix. Also can you please clarify about the two letter noons letter noon that comes after letter mem that are inverted and upside down, are they included in the 304805 count?
These questions and insights are excellent. I’m not 100% sure but I believe the number 304,805 is based on one manuscript, most likely the Leningrad Codex. If you search for that number you’ll find the article which first publicized it.
You are correct about the codes. The existence of variants means the “Bible Codes” are flawed, if not worthless because even one variant ruins the whole sequence.
I do not know if the nuns (נ) are included. I believe they are but in my opinion they should be treated as being in the margins like ketiv and keri. Hope this helps.
Very nicely explained. It raises some interesting issues regarding the kashrut of a sefer torah, e.g if we had a sefer with a blend of these forms, would it still be OK?
Small pedantic point but traditional Sepharadi Sefer Torah is also on an eitz chaim, although unfortunately many sephardim seem to have also forgotten this and follow the custom of the mizrach, in the tik.
Thanks for this insightful comment!
Do Yemenite Torahs have the Song of Ha'azinu on 67 lines (as per the Allepo Codex) or 70 lines (as is the standard Ashkenazi/Sefardi practice)?
I counted 70 on the Torah I used, feel free to double check: www.nli.org.il/he/manuscripts/NNL_ALEPH990000448290205171/NLI#$FL137250017
Very interesting and full of amazing details.. But as any Biblical Hebrew Student knows, these are simple cases of vowel letters with full or defective writing, or in other words: "plene scriptum" and "defective scriptum." And as we know, the scribes of the Tanakh codices were very inconsistent in their use of the full and defective writing.
Yes, but the Masoretic Torah is arguably the most stable of all handwritten biblical texts of any period, hence the surprise in there even being 9 differences of מלא plene and חסר defective.
I noticed that there’s a big difference in Genesis 6:2 aka (Bereishit) between the Sefaria and Torah. Sefaria says “…the males among the divine beings” and the other Torah says “the sons of the nobles.” These are tricky verses involving giants or just powerful dudes.
Thank you
You're welcome!
פטיפרע בתיקון רבינו תם מילה אחת
בספרי תורה של חב"ד דכא עם אל"ף
Thank you!