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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      10. RASHI METHOD: SYMBOLISM
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi provides symbolic interpretations of words, verses, and chapters. Rashi can symbolically interpret either
      • (10a) entire Biblical chapters such as the gifts of the princes, Nu-07
      • (10b) individual items, verses and words
      The rules governing symbolism and symbolic interpretation are presented in detail on my website.
      This examples applies to Rashis Gn06-14b
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n5.htm
      Brief Summary: Noah made his ark from LAVA-wood (Wood with a crusted type surface) to symbolically exhort his generation that God would punish them with LAVA type explosions for their sins.

God will sometimes communicate sensitive emotional statements using puns. For example, the generation of the flood had many serious sexual and monetary crimes. Confronting them would evoke resistance because of the sensitive nature of the sins. God therefore commanded Noah to build the ark of lavawood to symbolically intimate to his generation that God would punish them with lava like explosions if they did not repent. Other examples of Biblical uses of puns are presented in the table below.

Verse Hebrew Root Meaning 1 Meaning 2 Text of Verse Pun Interpretation
Gn06-14a Gimel-Pay-Resh Lava Lava Wood Lava-type rough appearance Make thee an ark of Lava wood; with rooms shalt thou make the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Remind your generation that of the flood of molten Lava that will punish them if they don't repent.
Ex20-23a Ayin-Lamed-Hey Steps Fantasies thought that come up in your mind Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon. You should not have fantasies while serving on my altar in the Temple
Ex17-11a Ayin-Lamed-Hey to raise to pray To raise to God ones feelings in prayer And it came to pass, when Moses Raised his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. When Moses [and the Jews] prayed the war went their way; when they didn't pray they were losing.
Nu21-09a Nun-Cheth-Shin Snake Copper color as in copper-head, snakes are colored copper And Moses made a copper snake, and set it upon the pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived. The copper color on a raised pole symbolized praying against the attack of snakes.

Sermonic Points: Many people consider puns childish and silly. The Bible however considered them useful. Puns are a powerful way of reinforcing and getting across a point.


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#