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      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 Dt25-13a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1306.htm
      Brief Summary: STONE can mean WEIGHTS since the STONES were MADE from weights. Items can be NAMED by what they are made of: e.g. GLASSES, IRONS, etc.

    The FFF submethod states that words can be named by Form, Feel, and Function.
  • Some examples of naming words by Form include (a) the leg of a chair, (b) the handle of a pot, (c) the branch of a family tree, (d) surfing the net or (e) brainstorming Some of these examples illustrate naming objects by form while other examples illustrate naming activities by form.
  • A good punchy example distinguishing naming by form vs. function is pentagon-UN. The pentagon is named after the shape and form of the building while the United Nations is named after the function and purpose of the building. Although both these buildings have as a purpose world peace they are named differently.
  • Examples of naming by feel/substance are glasses, hardship, ironing-board, plaster etc.

The FFF principle is a special case of the literary techniques of synechdoche-metonomy. These literary principles, universal to all languages, state that items can be named by related items, by parts of those items, or by good examples of those items. For example honey refers to anything sweet since honey is a good example of something sweet. Similarly hot refers to matters of love since the two are related. Todays Rashi can best be understood by applying these principles.

Biblical verse Dt25-13a requires keeping proper weights. The Bible uses the word stone to mean weight. A stone is what weights are made from. Thus the Bible names weights by their substance similar to the English naming of glasses, ironing boards, plaster by their substance. As indicated above this is a primary method of naming objects.

Advanced Rashi: Frequently when several early authorities rishonim are cited it it usually in the context of controversy. However rishonim can also be cited as supporting and complementing each other. Frequently when explaining a Rashi meaning I used the Radack's beautiful book, Shoroshim, Biblical roots. This wonderful book which is highly underrated lists each Biblical root as well as its meanings with illustrations. The root Aleph-Beth-Nun Even has 3 meanings: 1) Stone 2) weight, 3) founder (the founder of a nation is called its stone)

When people ask my advice for studying meaning I warmly recommend purchasing a copy of Roots and using it when studying the Bible. It is obtainable in most Hebrew book stores as well as on the internet.


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