A Text-Linguistic Analysis of Deliberative Discourse in Hebrew with Review of the LXX Translation

This thesis intends to demonstrate that linguistics, specifically the text-linguistic (TL method), may be practically applied to biblical translation and interpretation. Consequently, one may use text-linguistics to discover the biblical author’s intended meaning expressed through the structure of the text. Foundationally, the work of Robert Longacre and Kenneth L. Pike is applied. Functionally, this thesis tests the process described in the dissertation of Ewell Ray Clendenon. While the word test is used, the test is not intended to validate or invalidate the TL method. Rather, the test is analogous to that of a mathematician whereby a proof test is applied to ensure that the steps in solving an equation were properly executed. Comparatively, biblical interpreters and exegetes typically use established lexical, grammar, and syntax (GSL) references to accomplish their goals. Thus it is proposed that the TL method may be effectively applied as a companion to GSL references in the task of interpretation and translation.