"He May Do Harm . . .": Translation and Meaning of 2 Sam 12.18. Issue 3 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Ethan
• Is Part Of: Bible translator. Volume 71:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 319
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: 2 Sam 12.18 -- David -- reflexives; 220.405
• DOI: 10.1177/2051677020949651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-6770

Abstract

Three major English translations, NRSV, ESV, and NASB, render וְאֵיךְ נֹאמַר אֵלָיו מֵת הַיֶּלֶד וְעָשָׂה רָעָה׃‎ as "How then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." These translations insert the reflexive pronoun "himself" as the object of עשׂה‎. While such a reading is possible, it is not at all probable when we take into account how reflexives are expressed in Biblical Hebrew, as well as the syntax and semantics of עשׂה‎. This article contributes to our understanding of 2 Sam 12.18 not by offering a new translation of וְעָשָׂה רָעָה‎, but by providing a linguistic explanation for why translators should reject the reflexive "harm himself" and instead render the phrase as "he may do harm" (so MEV).