SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of
meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning.
We call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING.
Rashi had 10 vehicles by which he explained meaning.
Today we explore 3 sub-methods
EXAMPLE: UNIFIED MEANING: Resh-Nun-Hey means EXCITEMENT
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The UNIFIED MEANING submethod seeks to find a UNIFIED
MEANING to a root with disparate meanings. Todays
example is particularly good.
The root Resh-Nun-Hey is usually translated as REJOICE.
The RADACK points out that
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The root really means VOCAL EXCITEMENT. The cause
of the vocal excitement can be
- REJOICING
- PRAYER
- GENERAL excitement
Radack brings several examples to support his thesis
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Here are some of the verses that Radack cites
This verse from Zacharia shows REJOICE EXCITEMENT
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Za02-14 Get EXCITED and REJOICE zion
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The following verses show EXCITEMENT of prayer
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La02-19 Get up--get EXCITED at night-CRY to GOD
P017-01 Hear my EXCITEMENT, God,listen to my PRAYERS
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The following verses show general EXCITEMENT
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Lv09-24a The nation saw (Gods presence) & got EXCITED
P078-65 God woke up like a warrior EXCITED from wine
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Note that Rashi following the Targum sees Lv09-24a
as an example of EXCITEMENT from REJOICING.
EXAMPLE: NAMING BY FORM/FUNCTION
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Rashi frequently identifies meaning by focusing
on the FORM and FUNCTION of words. For example:
Both the UNITED NATIONS and PENTAGON are institutions
that protect but the PENTAGON is named by its FORM,
while the UNITED NATIONS is named by its GOAL and
PURPOSE to unite nations.
EXAMPLE: Gimel-Resh-Hey
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The Hebrew root Gimel-Resh-Hey means TO DRAG.
Hence Gimel-Resh-Hey can mean FOODPIPE since
the food is DRAGGED thru it.(That is the function
of the windpipe is to allow food to be dragged thru
it)
EXAMPLE: TinShaMeth
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The Hebrew root Nun-Shim-Mem means BREATH and can
in general refer to LEVEL OF BREATH INTENSITY. For example
- Da10-17 no BREATH was left in me (Exhausted)
- Jb37-10 the BREATH of God creates FROST
Hence Nun-Shin-Mem can refer to the
- BAT, since the BAT navigates by locating
the echoes of pulsed voiced breaths
EXAMPLE: TinShaMeth
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The CHAMELON is also called the Tinshameth since
the chamelon LOOKS LIKE the bat. Here we name
by FORM.
EXAMPLE: IDIOMS
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Rashi frequently explains not, word meaning, but rather
phrase meaning. That is each particular word in the phrase
may have a known meaning but the collection of words
together form a NEW IDIOMATIC MEANING.
EXAMPLE: CHEWS THE CUD
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Lv11-03 speaks about animals that RAISE THE FOODPIPE.
Rashi interprets this phrase, RAISES THE FOODPIPE as
an idiom which means CHEWS THE CUD. That is these
animals
- chew their food
- digest it
- regurgitate it from the stomach
- then redigest it.
Hence RAISE THE WINDPIPE is a fitting name for this
idiom.
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