Mit ígért Isten Ábrahámnak?
What did God Promise to Abraham?

Notes to the Interpretation of Gen 12:3b

Summary/Abstract: The present study investigates one of the theologically most significant, but at the same time exegetically most debated passages of the Hebrew Bible: the promise of YHWH to Abraham in Gen 12:3b (and related texts). Most previous studies of this text argue that the niph‘al form of BRK should be interpreted either as a passive (‘to be blessed’; also followed by the ancient bible-translations, as well as by Gal 3:8 in the New Testament), a medial (‘to gain blessing’), or a reflexive (‘to bless oneself’). However, these translations are grammatically and theologically problematic. The passive (and the related medial) sense of BRK is expressed by the pu‘al (and in certain cases by the qal part. pass.). Moreover, the act of blessing cannot be reflexive (there is no such thing as ‘blessing oneself’). Instead it is argued here that BRK niph‘al has reciprocal meaning (‘to bless each other’).

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