WH 135

Siglum: WH 135
Transliteration: l qny f h lt qbl l- ʾhl s¹lm f nngy
Translation: By Qny so O Lt [grant] acceptance to the family of S¹lm so that we may be saved

Interpretation

Apparatus Criticus: WH: "...and let us escape"
Commentary: The phrase qbl l ʾhl can be interpreted in two ways: (1) qbl l- ʾhl, where the second l is a dative preposition or (2) as the reduplicated form, qbll. Qbll is common in Safaitic, and should probably be connected to Classical Arabic iqballa, iqbilāl. The reduplicated form can take a direct object, MKWS 8: w s¹lm w qbll ḏ ʾḥbb, or govern a prepositional phrase, AbNSJ 1: w s¹lm w qbll l- ḏ ʾḥb, with no apparent difference in meaning. It might also be the case that instances without the overt expression of the dative simply reflect assimilation with the final l of qbll. The verb nngy is likely the passive of the subjunctive, nungaya. The use of the subjunctive following the conjunction f- expresses the result or effect of the preceding clause, which must have an imperative, wish, or something equivalent in meaning, e.g.: Classical Arabic iġfir lī yā rabbi fa-ʾadḫula al-ǧannata 'pardon me, O my Lord, so that I may enter Paradise' (Wright, Ar. Gr., vol. II §15.d). This explanation is also more phonologically satisfying, since the final y requires an original word final triphthong. WH's reading suggests that the verb was a jussive, which would have either terminated in a short vowel or a diphthong, both of which would not show up in the orthography.

Winnett, F.V. & Harding, G.L. Inscriptions from Fifty Safaitic Cairns. (Near and Middle East Series, 9). Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978.