#######################################################
#       12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE         #
#                    Feb 03, 2011                     #
#                    YEAR 12 of 12                     #
#                                                     #
#           VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES             #
#           -----------------------------             #
#         HOME   http://www.RashiYomi.Com             #
# WEEKLY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rule.htm    #
#  DAILY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm#
#                                                     #
#  Reprinted with permission from WEEKLY RASHI,       #
#  (c) 1999-2011, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
#   Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED   #
#          it is not printed for profit               #
#                                                     #
#######################################################
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2011, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Lv26-34a Lv26-41c
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1413.htm
      Brief Summary: Resh-Shin-Ayin means a) to desire, b) to please

Rashi presented 10 distinct meaning methods. Today we examine meaning based on grammatical transformation.

    Although most conjugation rules refer to the conjugation of verbs, there are also conjugation rules for transfroming nouns into verbs. We list several common methods for transforming nouns into verbs:
  • create the noun: e.g. to flower
  • remove the noun: e.g. to dust
  • use the noun: e.g. to hammer
  • the verb(activity) done to this noun: e.g. Dt21-04b: neck the calf in other words kill it with a blow to the neck

    Using this principle of meaning based on grammatical transformation we have the following elegant sequence:
    • From the verb Resh-Tzade-Hey, meaning to want, to desire we obtain
    • the adjective RaTzuy meaning desirable, pleasing
    • Then in term from the adjective desirable, pleasing we obtain
    • the verb to make desirable, to please..
    When Hebrew assigns two meanings to the same root it will frequently use different grammatical modes to accomplish this assignment. In this case the active mode of the root Resh-Tzade-Hey means to desire while the Intensive mode of the root Resh-Tzade-Hey means to please.

Applying this meaning, Resh-Tzade-Hey to please to verses Lv26-34a, Lv26-41c we obtain the following translations: Then [after they are exiled for not observing the land-sabbaticals] the land shall please her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye are in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and repay her sabbaths. and I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; if then perchance their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and then they please themselves from their sins, [then...]

Advanced Rashi: The phrases land please her Sabbaths and they will please themselves from their sins doesn't sound 100% right. There is a general problem in translating between languages. There is no verb in English which means to make desirable. Hebrew because of the richness of its modes can reuse the verb desire to mean make desirable. The English to please is the closest we come in English to a verb meaning to make desirable. Such searching for good translations is characteristic of advanced biblical study. If a more accurate translation was desired we could translate they will make themselves desirable from their sins and the land will make itself desirable with land-sabbaticals.


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2011, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#