Morph searching for ehyeh gives different results

I wanted to find where ehyeh ("I am/I will be") occurs in the same form in the Hebrew Bible - i.e., the word in ehyeh asher ehyeh when YHWH gives Moses His name in Exodus 3:14.

So I went to Exodus 3:14 and right-clicked on the word to do a Search in that resource.

I don't have my computer with Logos with me, but I got different results with the Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia with Werkgroep Informatica Vrije Universiteit Morphology, and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia with Westminster 4.2 Morphology, all of which are based, I believe, on the Masoretic Text.

I seem to have gotten the best results with BHS w/Westminster 4.2. The other two omitted a couple verses and one included a couple hits of a verb or verb form that was not what I was wanting to limit my search to, if I recall correctly.

Someone who has access to Logos can do the same and post the results here, as I won't be able to do so until tonight or this weekend. But it raised some concerns for me re: the accuracy of morph searching.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Dave Hooton

But it raised some concerns for me re: the accuracy of morph searching.

I don't know it relates to accuracy as to the specific morphology. Although nominally a verb AFAT classes the divine application as a Noun and gives results only in Ex 3:14 (2) and Hosea 1:9 (1). The manuscript word אֶהְיֶה provides the same results (43) in AFAT, LHI & 2x BHS (LHI uses the AF morphology). The morph search gives 43 in BHS/WIVU and 45 in BHS/WHM 4.2.

David Knoll

You need to know how the text is tagged in order for you to search it effectively. In Westminster ואהיה is tagged as an imperfect preceded by the conjunction waw. WIVU has two separate tenses: imperfect and wayiqtol (so there is no waw lemma there). This derives from different linguistic theory regarding verbal tenses in Biblical Hebrew. AFAT here is very telling. Andersen who is one of the two scholars responsible for this text wrote a commentary on Hosea with David Noel Freedman for Anchor Bible. In their analysis of Hosea 1:9 they assert that אהיה is an ancient alternative form for Yhwh. This was integrated into their morphology here.

If you are well versed in Hebrew it is best to begin by either WHM or WIVU. The problem with WIVU is that at the moment there are several bugs that prevent it from being used efficiently. This I hope will be fixed when SESB4 will be published. So I guess WHM is the place to start. AFAT is very idiosyncratic but their analysis is very telling as you can see here and you can consult them once you make your first search. It is very important to understand exactly how the databases are tagged. WIVU and WHM have different tagging methodologies. It is regrettable that Logos didn't find it necessary to publish a short description of the differences between the 3 databases. It should not have taken too much time and would have aided the beginner.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252206#Comment_252206

It is regrettable that Logos didn't find it necessary to publish a short description of the differences between the 3 databases. It should not have taken too much time and would have aided the beginner.

(Though actually there seem, theoretically, to be 4. Silver and up includes a license for a BHS with Richter morphology as well; it just hasn't shipped yet.)

In their analysis of Hosea 1:9 they assert that אהיה is an ancient alternative form for Yhwh.

A bit off topic, but I've wondered for a while: what is done in Synagogue readings when you reach this passage in Exodus? Is there a "replacement" for אהיה as well, or is it just read straight out?

David Knoll

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252275#Comment_252275

Is there a "replacement" for אהיה as well, or is it just read straight out?

Straight out.

BHS with Richter morphology as well

Oh how I am waiting for this one...