AYFO means MORE
(C) Dr Hendel, Nov-02
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RASHIS COVERED: Gn27-37b AYFO means MORE
Gn43-11a Gn43-16a Gn27-33b
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
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In these postings we present 4 methods by which Rashi presents
dictionary meaning. The variety enriches our insight to Rashi
- 4 LETTER ROOTS: AVRAYCH means GENTLE (Rch) LEADER (Av)
- NUANCES: KISAY does NOT mean CHAIR;it always means THRONE!
We examine all verses with KISAY & show it means THRONE!
- UNIFIED MEANING: Ch-m-sh always relates to the number 5
There appears to be 5 verses where Ch-m-sh means ARMED
We give elegant arguments that it means FIFTH.Details below
Similarly we show that AYFO always means MORE/FURTHER
- IDIOMS-NEW MEANINGS: ChaLiLah means GOD FORBID
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RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANING
RASHI SUBRULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING
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Today we continue the posting started yesterday--we explore
how Rashi translated AYFO as more.
What a Peach of a Rashi. This Rashi illustrates the technique
of UNIFIED MEANING. The classical grammarians like Radack simply
shrug their shoulders and say that AYFO is an all-purpose word
which changes meaning in each context! Radack states that the
word can mean NOW, WHERE etc.
Not so Rashi. Rashi-is-Simple. AYFO ending with HAY means WHERE.
AYFO ending with ALEPH is a new word whose fundamental
connotation is MORE (Rashi Gn43-11a).
This clearly shows a difference in approach -- one unified
meaning vs many on-the-spot disparate meanings-- between
Rashi and other Rishonim.
The list below explores how AYFO can mean MORE. Note the
punchiness of these translations.
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VERSE
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TEXT OF VERSE WITH yeter TRANSLATED AS more
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Gn27-37b
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what MORE can I do for you *1
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Gn43-11a
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If you are right then we should do MORE: take gifts...*2
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Gn43-16a
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What MORE could we want then for You to walk with us
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2K10-10
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FURTHER know that everything God says will come true*3
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Gn27-33b
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You bring? Who are the OTHER people who brought*3 *4
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COMMENTS
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*1 Compare this with the translation of the Radack
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What can I do for you NOW
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As remarked above Radack sees AYFO as having
disparate meanings WITHOUT a UNIFYING theme.
The above list gives us an appreciation of how
Rashis approach gives simplicitly and vibe to the
verses.
*2 This Rashi explicitly identifies AYFO with MORE
*3 FURTHER and OTHER evolve from the unifying meaning
of MORE
*4 Rashi does suggest an alternate meaning: WHERE
However WHERE corresponds to the Hebrew word AYFOH
ending in HAY. The above list on AYFO (ending with
ALEPH) clearly shows that AYFO with aleph is distinct
from AYFO with HAY---AYFO with ALEPH means MORE;
AYFOH with HAY means WHERE.
Thus the proper approach to this alternate explanation
in Rashi -that AYFO with ALEPH means WHERE-is that if there
were ONLY one verse of AYFO with ALEPH we would be
justified in interpreting it as WHERE (AYFO with HAY)
However in light of the many verses with AYFO (with ALEPH)
it becomes preferable to seek a unified meaning (MORE)
This is why Rashi only states this explanation on the
first occurence of AYFO in the Bible. Here Rashi shows
his great sensitivity as a commentator.
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