Genesis 24:33

What is Read vs. What is Written (Qere vs. Ketiv)

In many places in the Hebrew scriptures two words are supplied:

[ויישם] (וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם)

The one in parenthesis is an alternative reading found in the margins of the old Masorete manuscripts. It is assumed by many that this was done by the Masoretes, although the origins of this practice is uncertain. Two ideas are that it was done as a means of making “corrections” without erasing the original written text or it may be due to an ancient collation of manuscripts that had variant readings. The FLT translation adheres to what is written (the ketiv) in every case.

The Pulpit Commentary on this word to set/place notes “if the Kethib [what is written] be preferred, then וַיַּישֶׂם is the fur. Qal of יָשַׂם, signifying, and he set”. This unique construct of the verb he is setting is found here and in Gen. 50:26 and has been conjectured to be a special passive or intransitive form, to be set/to be placed. Gesenius was uncertain himself and commented on these two verses,

“A passive of Qal from שִׂים may perhaps be seen in וַיִּ֫ישֶׂם Gen. 50:26 (also Gen. 24:33 Ketiv ויישם, Qerê וַיּוּשָׂם)…The explanation of יישם as a passive of Qal arising from yiysam, = yuysam (so Barth, ibid., note 1), is certainly also unconvincing, so that the correctness of the traditional reading is open to question.”

Cf. The Origins of Ketiv-Qere Readings by Michael Graves in TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism (ISSN 1089-7747)