SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals was explaining meaning similar to
how a dictionary explains meaning. We call this the Rashi rule
of WORD MEANING.

Rashi had 10 vehicles by which to explain meaning.

For example, Rashi could explain meaning based on the 1 and
2 letter roots of which the root was composed. Rashi believed
in two sets of roots--for purposes of CONJUGATION Rashi believed
in 3 letter roots; for purposes of MEANING Rashi believed in 2
letter roots. Here Rashi will explain the MEANING of a 3 letter
root based on the meaning of the 2 terminal letters as well as
the meaning of the initial letter. We call this the SUBRULE of
2-4 LETTER ROOTS.

Another method that Rashi used to explain meaning is to contrast
the nuances of words with similar meanings. We call this the
Rashi subrule of SYNONYMS.

EXAMPLE Gn37-25c
----------------
The Biblical text Gn37-25c states
---------------------------------
...they were carrying Nun-Caph-Tauv,
Tzade-Resh-Yud, and Lamed-Tet
---------------------------------

Rashi comments
--------------------------------------
Nun-Caph-Tauv refers to a spice collection
(Rashi cites another verse where this is so)
--------------------------------------

Although Rashi does not explicitly state it, nevertheless
the relation between CRUSHED and SPICES is obvious.
We therefore have the following etymological derivation
- The Hebrew root Caph-Tauv-Tauv means CRUSHED
- Hebrew letter NUN means ALOT OF
- Nun-Caph-Tauv=ALOT OF CRUSHED ITEMS = Perfume/spice collections

Here Rashi uses the rule of 2-4 LETTER ROOTS
The LIST910a below presents other examples where NUN means ALOT.
Actually NUN can have several meanings all illustrated in
that list: LOTS OF, CONSEQUENCE, INTENSE.


EXAMPLE Gn37-25d Gn37-25e
--------------------------
The Biblical Text states that
---------------------------------
...they carried spice collections
...Tzade-Resh-Yud and Lamed-Tet
---------------------------------

Rashi comments that
-------------------------------------
Tzade-Resh-Yud and Lamed-Tet are names
of perfumes
-------------------------------------

Again Rashi does not explicitly state it.
But the meaning of the roots of Tzade-Resh-Yud
and Lamed-Tet are well known

- Tzae-Resh-Yud from root Tzade-Resh means TIGHTS perfume
- Lamed-Tet from root Lamed-Tet means SECRET FRAGRANCE

The TIGHTS and SECRET fragrances are names of perfumes
in many languages. They represent two extremes in
intimacy (SECRETIVE vs TIGHTS).

LIST955a gives other examples of Rashis commenting on
SYNONYM pairs.

EXAMPLE Gn37-27a
----------------
The Biblical text states
----------------------------------------
And Judah said: There is no value in
killing our brother---why not sell him
instead to the Arabs: And the brothers HEARD
----------------------------------------

Rashi comments
---------------------------------------
The Hebrew root Shin-Mem-Ayin can mean either
- HEAR, FIND OUT, LISTEN or
- ACCEPT an idea.
In our verse we should translate it as ACCEPT

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
And Judah said: There is no value in
killing our brother---why not sell him
instead to the Arabs: And the brothers ACCEPTED
HIS ADVICE
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
------------------------------------------

Rashi then brings about half a dozen verses
and shows that the Aramaic translation uses
the terms ACCEPT vs HEAR depending on context.


LIST955a below gives other examples of
pairs of words with similar meanings but
subtle nuances differentiating them.

ROOTS illustrating       NUN=alot,consequence,intense