Once Again: The Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך in the Abrahamic Blessing for the Nations

Abstract

The meaning of the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך in the Abrahamic blessing for the nations (Gen. 12.3b; 18.18; 22.18; 26.4; 28.14) has been a long-standing debate among scholars. Traditionally, scholars have assumed that the variation of the wording is stylistic. Therefore, they have usually argued that the force of the verb is either passive, middle or direct reflexive consistently in all five instances. More recently, some scholars have proposed that the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך bear distinct nuances, though they do not agree on those specific nuances. Based on grammatical evidence as well as support from the literary and narrative context of Genesis, this article argues that while the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך largely overlap in their meaning, they also bear distinct nuances—the Niphal is passive (‘be blessed’) and the Hithpael is an indirect reflexive that bears an estimative-declarative force (‘regard themselves as blessed’). Finally, this article will also discuss the theological implications arising from such an understanding.

Israel’s priority in Old Testament missiology

“… 8. Flury-Schölch (2007); Grüneberg (2003); Jeppesen (2013); Lee (2012). Further bibliography can be found in Kaminsky (2012: 643 n16). …”