SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis 5 main goals is to give the meaning of words
the same way the dictionary gives meaning. We call this the
Rashi RULE of WORD MEANINGS.
Rashi had a variety of vehicles to present meaning. A common
technique of explaining meaning is the skillful use of
IDIOMATIC USAGE--that is collections of words
which mean more than the individual words.We call this the
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS of NEW MEANINGS.
In todays posting we explore how METONOMY can give rise
to NEW MEANINGS. METONOMY refers to the naming of an item by
a related item. For example the word AMERICA which refers to
the COUNTRY can, by METONOMY refer to the people--AMERICANS.
Both idiomatic expressions--which are permanant new meanings
in a language--as well as metonomies--which refer to possibly
one-time uses of metonomy--are governed by the Rashi subrule
of NEW MEANINGS.
EXAMPLE Ex14-07c
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Both in English and Hebrew
The word FIRST can mean
- FIRST
- PRESIDENT (First in land)
The word SECOND can mean
- SECOND
- VICE PRESIDENT (2nd in command)
The word THIRD can mean
- THIRD
- SECRETARY OF STATE
LIST871m presents other examples of METONOMY
We next explore how two or more words can form a new
IDIOMATIC phrase which intrinsically means something
new, over and above the sum of the meanings of the
individual phrases.
EXAMPLE Ex14-08b Nu15-30a
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The expression HIGH HAND can have various meanings
But the basic idea is one of BRAZENNESS. Compare
its usage in the following verses
Ex14-08b
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Pharoh pursued the Jews
But the Jews went out of Egypt BRAZENLY
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Nu15-30a
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[Previous verse discusses inadvertent
sin] But a person who sins WILLFULLY
....
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1K11-26
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He REBELLED against the King
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Mi05-08
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DECLARE WAR on your enemies and they will die
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Dt12-06
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..... your DONATIONS
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LIST854L below summarizes these meanings of RAISE HAND
Here are more examples of idiomatic new phrases
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EXAMPLES Ex14-27b -- At the TURN OF MORNING
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Ex14-27b states-- At the TURN OF MORNING
Rashi translates -- At DAWN
EXAMPLE Ex17-04a
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The verse states
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Moses said to God
What can I do for this nation
A LITTLE MORE and they will stone me
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Rashi comments
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the phrase A LITTLE MORE is an idiom
meaning ANXIETY / FEAR
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So Rashi translates the verse
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Moses said to God
What can I do for this nation
I AM AFRAID they will stone me
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EXAMPLE Ex22-01b
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The verse states
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If a thief was found in a tunnel[to the house]
and was smitten and died
then he[the owner] HAS NO BLOOD
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Rashi comments
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The phrases HAS BLOOD or HAS NO BLOOD
refers0 to responsibility for murder
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LIST854y below summarizes these Biblical Idioms.
Closely related to METONOMY (meaning by RELATION) is
SYNECHDOCHE (meaning by WHOLE-PART) and meaning by
GOOD EXAMPLE. For example, HONEY refers specifically
to HONEY. But HONEY is a GOOD EXAMPLE of any sweet.
Hence HONEY can mean SWEET (whether from HONEY or
not). We can view this HONEY-SWEET derivation as meaning by
- GOOD EXAMPLE: HONEY is a GOOD EXAMPLE of SWEETNESS
- METONOMY: HONEY is RELATED to SWEETNESS
- SYNECHDOCHE: HONEY is PART of the class of SWEETS
To recap: We can name whole classes of objects
by good examples in those classes.
EXAMPLE Ex21-14b
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The verse states
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If a person kills willfully then
take him away from my ALTAR to be executed
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Rashi comments
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The law (of taking him away)
applies to any PRIESTLY service
[altar work is simply a good
example]
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LIST850a provides other Rashis and examples of
meaning by GOOD EXAMPLE
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