#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Dt33-25a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt33-25a Dt33-25b
===================== Dt33-25 Asher Is Strong ===================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The bottom line translation of Dt33-25a is as follows:
-The LOCK (on the land of Israel) is iron-copper
-The FLOW (of goods with Israel) is as long as you live
Rashi explains that Asher, to whom this verse was addressed,
lived on the borders of Israel. Moses describes these borders
as SECURED with IRON-COPPER LOCKS. Rashis contribution here is
to give the etymology of rare poetic phrases
-- A SECURE BORDER is metaphorically called by an object with a
similar FUNCTION--a LOCK whose purpose is to block out
-- ECONOMIC FLOW(D-V-A)comes from D-V,bird DUNG,that easily flows
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: INFERRING MEANING
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE & SUBRULE
-----------------------------------
One of Rashis goals is to explain meaning, similar to the goal
of a dictionary that explains meaning. Rashi may have to explain
-- the meaning of unknown words
-- the meaning of poetic phrases that occur once
In the references below we describe
-- 8 methods of naming concepts
-- 13 methods of inferring meaning.
When the Bible commentaries disagree on meaning that disagreement
is frequently also a disagreement in HOW TO INFER MEANING of
HOW TO NAME ITEMS. The list of examples connected with each
meaning technique enriches our understanding.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RASHI RULE
----------------------------------------
The RashiYomi dictionary http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
The 8 methods of NAMING: http://www.RashiYomi.com/naming-8.htm
13 INFERENCE methods: http://www.RashiYomi.com/means-32.htm
TODAYS LISTS
------------
List 1--Rashis final interpretation. This interpretation
emphasizes CONTRAST of the 2 phrases of Dt33-25
List 2--Radack uses ALIGNMENT to explain D-V-A as STRENGTH
Radack uses PARALLEL vs CONTRASTING alignment
List 3--Rashi and Radacks father use letter interchange
to explain D-V-A as meaning OLD AGE
List 4--Review of the 3 suggested meanings of D-V-A
with an eye on how they fit into the meaning
of the whole verse
In LIST 1 below we present the bottom line translation
of the verse Dt33-25
=================================================================
PHRASE1 PHRASE2 PHRASE3
================================= ======== ======================
The LOCK*1 (on land of Israel) is (as) iron-copper*2
The FLOW*3 (of goods with Israel) is as long as you live
NOTES
-----
*1 Dt33-25 was spoken to the tribe of Asher whom lived on
the border of Israel. Moses describes this border as
SECURE like the IRON-COPPER lock of a door.
Thus Moses uses the method of naming by FUNCTION: The
SECURE border is called a LOCK since both the border
and LOCK have the same FUNCTION--to keep people out.
*2 This double reference (IRON COPPER) is not further explained
by Rashi. I would simply suggest (in lines with modern
metallurgy) that such a substance would be both HARD
as IRON but as FLEXIBLE as COPPER (Today we would use
ALUMINUM that has these 2 properties of HARD/FLEXIBLE)
*3 Rashi derives the meaning of the root D-V-A from the
root D-V. D-V refers to BIRD DUNG and D-V-A refers
to economic flow. Both verbs have the same ACTIVITY
FORM (A small but rapid continuous change of state)
=================================================================
======================== DVA means STRENGTH =====================
In this list we explain DVA=STRENGTH.
Such an inference comes from a PARALLEL alignment
of the verse halves. This translation (DVA=STRENGTH)
comes from the Radack in his book ROOTS It is not mentioned
by Rashi
=================================================================
PHRASE1 PHRASE2 PHRASE3
================================= ======== ======================
The LOCK (on land of Israel) is (as) iron-copper
Your STRENGTH*1 is as long as you live
NOTES
-----
*1 In this approach the 2 verse halves are PARALLEL
- the first half speaks about the STRENGTH of ISRAEL
- the 2nd half speaks about the STRENGTH of the PERSON
=================================================================
======================== DVA means OLD AGE ======================
In this list we suggest DVA means OLD AGE.
This appraoch comes from Rashi & Radacks father.
In this approach the 2 verse halves are perceived
as complementary and PARALLEL
=================================================================
PHRASE1 PHRASE2 PHRASE3
================================= ======== ======================
The LOCK (on land of Israel) is (as) iron-copper
Your OLD AGE*1 is as your other years
NOTES
-----
*1 Again, the 2 verse halves are seen as parallel
- Your LAND is strong and secure
- Your PERSON is strong (Even in old age)
However in this list the ETYMOLOGY of D-V-A is from
letter reversal. D-V-A comes from D-A-V--to groan.
Thus we name D-V-A, OLD AGE, by the root with the
letters reversed, D-A-V, TO GROAN. That is, we
name OLD AGE, by HOW IT FEELS. The HOW-IT-FEELS
method is one of the 8 methods of naming objects.
Another common English example is the word HARDSHIP
which comes from HARD, denoting how the HARDSHIP feels
=============================================================
====================== MEANINGS OF D-V-A ======================
We compare the 3 suggested meanings of D-V-A
Each meaning gives rise to a different ALIGNMENT method
Each meaning gives rise to a different etymology
===============================================================
MEANING OF D-V-A ALIGNMENT METHOD THE 2 VERSE HALVES
================= ================== ==========================
ECONOMIC FLOW CONTRAST*1 Secure border;good flow
STRENGTH PARALLEL*2 LAND secure;YOU strong
OLD AGE PARALLEL*3 LAND secure;YOU strong
NOTES
-----
*1 The etymology would be by FUNCTION FORM. Both economic
flow and bird dung have a smooth, small easy flow
Other examples of naming by function form are
- SURFing the net
- brainSTORM
*2 This etymology would be solely based on the verse
alignment (It is brought by Radack)
*3 This etymology would be based on letter reversals
and based on how something feels. D-V-A would come
from D-A-V, to groan and would denote old age by
how it feels Both Rashi and Radack mention
the D-A-V D-V-A connection
=============================================================
RASHI METHOD USED: WORD MEANINGS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 15 Number 12
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 12