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Document Details :

Title: Does דרך Sometimes Mean 'Rule, Power' in the Bible?
Author(s): CLIFFORD, Richard J.
Journal: Biblica
Volume: 103    Issue: 4   Date: 2022   
Pages: 607-616
DOI: 10.2143/BIB.103.4.3291471

Abstract :
Ever since the mid-twentieth century publication of the Ugaritic texts and the discovery that the noun drkt in certain contexts means 'rule, dominion', a few biblical scholars and major translations have claimed that Hebrew derek, ordinarily 'way, path', can in some contexts mean 'rule, dominion'. This article assesses fifteen instances of the claim, finding that six biblical occurrences of דרך as 'rule, deed of power' seem certain, two uncertain, and seven unlikely. As criteria for assessment, the article makes use of parallelism, context, dictionaries, word studies, LXX, and acceptance by major English, French, and German translations.

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