Rejoice, dear Zion! : Hebrew construct phrases with "daughter" and "virgin" as nomen regens

The phrase “Daughter of Zion” is in recent Bible translations often rendered “Daughter Zion”. The discussion behind this change has continued for decades, but lacks proper linguistic footing. Parlance in grammars, dictionaries, commentaries and textbooks is often confusing. The present book seeks to remedy this defect by treating all relevant expressions from a linguistic point of view. To do this, it also discusses the understanding of Hebrew construct phrases, and finds that while there is a morphological category of genitive in Akkadian, Ugaritic and Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic and Syriac do not display it. The use of this term as a syntactical category is unfortunate, and the term should be avoided in Hebrew grammar. Metaphor theory and the use of irony are also tools in the discussion of the phrases. As a result of the treatment, the author finds that there are some Hebrew construct phrases where nomen regens describes the following nomen rectum , and the description may be metaphorical, in some cases also ironical. This seems to be the case with “Daughter of Zion” and similar phrases. This understanding calls for a revision of the translation of the phrases, and new translations are suggested. Preface 5 Chapter 1. Signs of Zion 9 1.1 Types of Questions Raised 15 1.2 The Problem 18 Chapter 2. Does “Daughter of Zion” Refer to a Collective or an Individual? 20 Chapter 3. “Daughter (of) Zion” in Recent Research 42 3.1 Personification and More 65 3.2 Metaphor 73 3.3 Irony 78 3.4 The Different Interpretations 79 Chapter 4. The Genitive and the Construct State in Semitic Languages 81 4.1 The Understanding of the Construct State in Contemporary Hebrew Grammar 81 4.2. The Genitive and the Construct State in Some Semitic Languages 90 4.3 Morphology of the Construct State in Hebrew 100 4.4 Syntax of the Construct State 104 4.5 Terminology 113 4.6 Conclusion 120 Chapter 5. Semantic Analysis of the Construct Phrases with “Daughter” and/or “Virgin” 122 5.1 The Phrases 122 5.2 The Senses of the Lexeme ַּבח 125 5.3 The Senses of the Lexeme ְּבתּזׇ֔לה 137 5.4 The Senses of the Lexeme ִצּיֹזן 141 5.5 Paradigmatic Observations on ַּבת־ׅצּיֹזן 145 5.6 Syntagmatic Analysis of Constructions with ַּבת־ׅצּיֹז 151 5.7 Analysis of ַּבת ְירּזָּׁשָלם 156 5.8 Analysis of ַּבת ־ְיהּזָדה 156 5.9 Analysis of ַּבת ־ַּגּׅלים 158 5.10 Analysis of ַּבת ־ַּכְׂשּׅדים and ,ְּבתּזַלת ַּבת־ָּבֶבל ,ַּבת־ָּבֶבל 159 5.11 Analysis of ְּבתּזַל ַּבת־ׅמְצָרׅים and ַּבת־ׅמְצָרׅים 162 5.12 Analysis of ְּבת־ֱאדׄז 164 5.13 Analysis of ַּבת־ׄצר ,ַּּבת־ּׅדיבׄזן 165 5.14 Analysis of ְּבתּזַלת ַּבת ׅציד֔ׄזן and ַּבת־ַּתְרּׁׅשיּׁש 166 5.15 Analysis of ַּבת־ַעּׅמי 167 5.16 Analysis of ְּבָבַבת ֵעיגֹז 167 5.17 Other Expressions with “Daughter“ 168 5.18 Summary 169 Chapter 6. Can Nomen Regens in Biblical Hebrew be a Metaphor Applied (in Apposition?) to Nomen Rectum? 171 6.1 Nomen Rectum as an Attribute to Nomen Regens 171 6.2 Construct Phrases where Nomen Regens is a Metaphor Applied to the Following Nomen Rectum 172 Chapter 7. Dear Zion 187 Bibliography 193 Index of Modern Authors 202 Index of Ancient Sources 204 Subject Index 206 Discussions About The Phrase Daughter Of Zion Have Not Come To Rest. The Present Book Is A Study Of This And Similar Phrases From A Linguistic Point Of View. Genitive As A Category In Semitic Grammar Is Treated In A Separate Chapter, And Metaphor And Irony Are Brought Into The Discussion. The Author Proposes New Understandings And Translations Of The Phrases ...--back Cover. Signs Of Zion -- Does Daughter Of Zion Refer To A Collective Or An Individual? -- Daughter (of) Zion In Recent Research -- The Genitive And The Construct State In Semitic Languages -- Semantic Analysis Of The Construct Phrases With Daughter And/or Virgin -- Can Nomen Regens In Biblical Hebrew Be A Metaphor Applied (in Apposition?) To Nomen Rectum? -- Dear Zion. Magnar Kartveit. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 185-193) And Index. Biographical note: Magnar Kartveit, School of Misssion and Theology, Stavanger, Norway