Sebirin
Sebirin
(), or imaginary readings, is a technical term of the Masorites to denote that words in the Bible ought to be read so and so, but they are not. This expression is derived from sabar, , “to believe, think;” thus we read in Dan 7:25 , and he thought, and in the Chaldee paraphrase on Pro 14:12, “there is a way which is right in the view of man,” we read “there is a way which man imagines” (), etc. Now there are a number of such imaginary or supposed readings to be found in the Hebrew text of the Old Test. as the following examples will prove. Thus we read: , these, is said to stand eight times for , as in Gen 19:25; Gen 26:3; Lev 18:29, etc.
, thousand, is said to stand four times for as in Exo 32:28; Jdg 4:10, etc.
, and he said, is said to stand twelve times for , “and they said,” as in Exo 14:25; Num 32:25, etc.
, into the land, is said to stand five times for
, as in Gen 45:25, etc.
, a wife, stands three times for , “for a wife,” as in 2Ch 21:6; Ezr 2:61; Neh 7:63.
, which, stands four times for , “as which,” Exo 14:13; Lev 7:36; Lev 7:38; Num 4:49.
, as which, stands ten times for , “which,” Deu 16:10; Deu 24:8, Jos 2:7; Jos 13:8; Jos 14:2; Jer 23:27 : Isa 51:13; Hos 7:12; Jon 1:14; Hag 1:12.
, thou, stands three times for , “now,” as 1Ki 1:18; 1Ki 1:20.
, from it, stands six times for , “from her,” as Lev 6:8; Lev 26:9; Jos 1:7; Jdg 11:34; 2Ki 4:39; 1Ki 22:43.
, upon, stands nine times for , “until,” as Gen 49:13; Jos 2:7; Jos 13:16; Judges 7:29,
, upon, stands twice for , “with,” as Gen 30:40; 1Sa 20:8.
Without enlarging Upon this list, we will remark for those interested in that subject that these are given in alphabetical order by Frensdorff in his Massora Magna; the first part is entitled Massoretisches Whr-terbuch, p. 369 sq. See Buxtorf, Tiberias, p. 257 sq.; Levita, Massoreth Ha- Massoreth (ed. Ginsburg), p. 225 sq. (B. P.)