Language Studies

Hebrew Thoughts

''at - אַט (Strong's #328)
Gently, softly

The word אַט 'at (Strong's #328, x6) is first used in Genesis 33:14 of Jacob saying to Esau that he would follow "softly" according to the pace of the cattle, although the text does not mention herds other than contextually in the previous verse, it simply says at "the pace of the work". Translating as "softly", as the AV does in 3 of its 6 uses, almost indicates a fear that the animals might wake up if one's footfall is too loud! Perhaps, a better term would be "gentle" as the JPS has; other versions interpret the word according to the context and mostly use "slowly" (NKJV, NIV, NRSV) which suits the passage but is less literal for we all understand the idiom of a "gentle pace" whilst walking and this keeps the sense of the Hebrew word better.

The presumed unused root suggested by Gesenius is אָטַט 'âtat based upon a similar word in the Arabic language meaning "to utter a gentle sound" as of a tired camel or hungry stomach. Gentle would be perhaps too light a word then as a camel or stomach's rumble is not entirely "soft" to the ears, but something closer to a murmur or rolling sound. So more of a grumbling "go slow", rather than Gesenius' "go gently"!

In 2 Samuel 18:5 David commands Joab and Abishai to be "gentle" with Absalom in battle. Again "slowly" or "softly" do not really fit and to deal "gently" with someone is a recognisable turn of phrase.

Ahab, upon hearing Elijah pass God's judgement on him (1 Kings 21:27), fasts, puts on sackcloth, and "went about softly". This time "gently" would do, but an interpretative "humbly" or "bowed" would fit the context like the NIV's meekly and NRSV's "dejectedly".

Isaiah 8:6 again combines "go about" with "softly/gently" used this time of "the waters of Shiloah" that "flow gently".

Job 15:11 speaks of the comforts or "consolations of God" as also "the word spoken gently with you", which for some unknown reason the KJV renders as "secret things", perhaps thinking of whispered thoughts, quiet words rather than hidden secrets.

The final use of this rare term is in Isaiah 19:3:

"The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel,
And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers." (NKJV)

The Jewish Publication Society version renders the NKJV's "charmers" as "whisperers" here and the NIV and NRSV insert quite boldly an interpretation rather than a translation when they put "idols and the spirits of the dead". The idea here, suggests Genesius, is that of a ventriloquist's murmured voice, as of a medium's gentle groaning imitation of a spirit back from the dead. Others might see it as the seducing soft, gentle words that flatter, deceive and beguile whether in idolatry or necromancy.

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