534. Repetition

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We have here an illustration of the Oriental style of repetition in language, of which there are several other instances in this book. Thus, in Isaiah 24:19-2019The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. (Isaiah 24:19‑20), we read in our version, “The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard.” This is more literally rendered by Alexander, “Broken, broken is the earth; shattered, shattered is the earth; shaken, shaken is the earth. The earth reels, reels like a drunken man.” So also in Isaiah 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3), we have, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.” The margin gives the literal translation, “Peace, peace.” See also Jeremiah 22:2929O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. (Jeremiah 22:29); Ezekiel 21:2727I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27).
This is not exclusively a Hebrew idiom. Chardin quotes from a Persian letter the words, “To whom I wish that all the world may pay homage,” and says that the language is literally, “that all souls may serve his name, his name.”