Numbers 30:17 - On the noun אִישׁ

(The above rendering comes from the RJPS translation, an adaptation of the NJPS translation. Before accounting for this rendering, I will analyze the plain sense of the Hebrew term containing אִישׁ, by employing a situation-oriented construal as outlined in this document, pp. 11–16.)

Here, as usual, אִישׁ is employed to schematically depict a situation—in this case, a situation that revolves around its key participant. It marks the participant in question (in this case, a hypothetical person) as essential for grasping that situation. This is a classic function of the situating noun, and a summarizing statement like this one is a classic setting for that function.

As for rendering into English, the NJPS rendering ‘man’ nowadays overstates gender as being at issue. (This noun formerly labeled its referent reliably in terms of the situation, making it usually the best equivalent for the meaning of biblical אִישׁ.)

In this case, for an idiomatic gender-accurate English translation, it is important not to imply that the text is framing the topic of discussion in terms of gender distinctions per se (“man” versus “woman”), given the longstanding and widespread confusion about the meaning of אִישׁ at the start of this passage, in verse 3; see my comment there.

For translating in contexts of use like this one, where the English situating noun is not (or no longer) suitable, a relational noun most often serves as the best equivalent to אִישׁ by calling attention to the situation under discussion. In particular, the role noun “husband” serves that function well here. Its usage here is further supported by the fact that the situation under discussion is already discourse active.

Rendering as ‘husband’ here is not a claim that אִישׁ means “husband” in Hebrew. Rather, in this setting, ‘husband’ is the best available rendering in English.