Column XXXIV

The Great Isaiah Scroll 40:28 to 41:23

For the line by line translation of this page click here

Physical Characteristics:

This is the 1st page of 3 on the 11th strip of leather that makes up the scroll. Except for the stitching of the seam at the right which has been described on the preceding page, there are no anomalies on this page.

Variation in Spacing:

There are the usual paragraph marks indicated by lines not being filled out as in lines 3, 10, 14, and 20 which correspond in order with the beginning of chapter 41; 41:8; 41:12; and 41:17; and paragraph indentations are in line 5 for 41:2 and line 8 for 41:5. Spatiums mark 41:7 in line 9; and 41:14 in line 17 and an unusually large spatium marks the break after 41:20; The importance of the preceding text to the ancients is made apparent by this spatium as well as the presence of a scribal mark which also marks and emphasizes the end of the section.

BUT the most unusual spacing on the page is a blank line in line 16. There is no other example to this point in the scroll of the original scribe leaving a blank line. There are obviously contextual reasons for the scribe setting the later from the preceding verses . The most likely being that there are three words missing from the beginning of verse 12 which are in the M text but not here in Q. If this is the reason that the scribe left the blank line then it must mean that the manuscript that he was copying from did not have the words present but that he knew that the text should have had them. Thus the extra line is left because there is a known omission and the scribe faithfully left only a blank to show there was something missing. Interestingly no editors added the missing words. These are given below under comments on line 16.

Editorial Marks:

There are three sets of editorial marks on this page marking sections which were deemed important enough to be set off from the rest of the text. There are two sets of horizontal lines that are placed in the right margin. The first set sets off vss 41:2 to 4 and the 2nd set sets off vss 41: 17 to 20.. There are two large Xs at the left margin setting off vss 8 to 11. The mark that is used to mark the beginning of an important section that looks like a wide brimmed hat at the end of line 21 is actually a mark meant for the next page. where we will notice it.

Conjunctive waws added A frequent anomaly throughout the Q scroll is the scribe's addition of manifold conjunctive waws; often when it confuses the flow of ideas. There are many examples on this page.

Editorial Additions to the Text

A waw is added above line 8, next to last word, which is a semivowel and stands for a serey.; and the first word in vs 11 omitted by the Q scribe is written above the middle of line 14 as "hen" (behold).

An Extra word added
Above the 2nd word in line 25 is the word "ve-yasiymu" (and they shall consider) with a dot on either end of the word indicates that it is meant to replace the word below it "ve-yabiynu" (and they shall understand). Perhaps "ve-yabiynu" is the "extra" word since "ve-yasiymu" is in the M text.

Variations in the Q Text from the Masoretic:

Line 1: 8th word: Q adds article "he" to part. "nothen" not in M.
Line 6: 6th word: Q = "ve-yedadaphem" and M = "ve-yeradaphem"; 7th word: Q has a conj waw not in M; next to last word: Q = "yebiynu" aleph is missing from this word , verb hifiyl imp 3ms + suf 1pl. (he causes us to come) and M = "yabo' " v. imp 3ms (he will come). But if the word in Q is not misspelled then the form is "yibiynu" verb 3mpl (They understand.) It is identical in form to the 2nd word in lne 25 which is dotted and corrected between the line above.
Line 7: 3rd word: Q = part "qoreh" (calling) spelled with final "he." and M = "qore' " spelled with final aleph.
Line 8: 6th word: Q = "yachdav" (together) and M = "yecheradu" verb imp 2mpl (they will fear). 8th word: Q = "ve- 'ethyun" a misspelling of M = "ve-ye 'ethayun." (and they shall come.)
Line 9: 1st word: Q = "le-'achiyhu" to his brothers and M = "Le-'achiyv" to his brother. 9th word: Q = "paltiysh" and M = "patish." Misspelling? 11th word: Q = " 'olam" (forever?) and M = "holem" (strike). probably another misspelling in Q as the scribe often confused aleph and "he." last word: Q = "yo'mer" imp 3ms and M = part. " 'omer" (saying).
Line 14: next to last words: Q omits the phrase found in M "yihyu ke-'ayin" they shall be as nothing. last word: Misspelled in Q: aleph is missing as first verbal letter after yod waw..
For the rest of the page there are a number of extra conjunctions (waws) that are not found in M.
Line 16: a blank line: Q has a blank line which may have been left because Q omits the first 3 words of verse 12. In M they are "Tebaqeshem ve-l'o timetsa'em." (you will seek for them and you will not find them). See comments above under unusual spacing.
Line 21: 7th word:. Q = spelling Q = final "he" for aleph in M
Line 22: 7th word: Q = a variant spelling with aleph added as a medial letter. Q = "shephe'ayim" and M = "shephayiym." last word Q gives a masc. plural ending on a word needing fem plu. In Q it can be mistaken for "from eyes" and in M it is "from fountains" (of water).
Line 23: 1st and 2nd words: Q = superfluous "he"s. one at the end of the first word and one as an article on the 2nd word not in M.
Line 28: 5th word: Q = " 'o" (aleph waw) not found in M. 6th word a spelling mistake. Q = " 'achariynuth" and M = " 'achariythan" In Q the order of tau and nun are reversed,:

Go to next "Q" scroll page Chapter 41:23 to 42:17

Return to Scroll Directory