#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President,2006 |
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VERSE: Ex11-08b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex12-11a Ex12-13c Ex12-23a Ex14-31a Ex12-23b
Ex10-15a Ex02-16b Ex03-16a Ex11-08b
============================ Ex11-08b ===========================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is to give the meaning of
words the same way the dictionary gives meaning. We
call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING.
All languages allow words to acquire
NEW MEANINGS. Rashi frequently used a
universal principle of all languages---METONOMY.
METONOMY refers to the capacity to name an item
by a related item (such as naming a PEOPLE, Americans,
by the LAND they live in, America)
Some standard METONOMYS name words by their
- FORM (e.g. the PENTAGON)
- FUNCTION (e.g. the UNITED NATIONS)
- FEEL (e.g. HARDship)
- SUBSTANCE (e.g. a GLASS, or GLASSES)
We call this the FFF (Form Function Feel) principle.
The examples below illustrate these techniques.
Throughout these example I cite similar IDIOMS
in English. Exploration of English Dictionaries
and Theosaurii may be found at
http://www.dictionary.com/. Some of the examples
of English usage presented below come from this
excellent website.
To illustrate how to use this web reference:
If I say TO GIVE can mean TO ALLOW then you
- type the word GIVE
- in the SEARCH BOX
- of the above DICTIONARY website
- and click the THEOSAURUS
- and click SEARCH.
Among the SYNONYMS for GIVE presented by the
THEASAURUS is TO ALLOW. Hence Rashi's comment
that TO GIVE means to ALLOW is identical with
English idiomatic usage. This idiomatic sharing
between the two languages enhances the meaningfulness
of Rashi.
EXAMPLE 1: Ex11-08b WALKERS=FOLLOWers
-----------------------------------------
In Hebrew as in English FOLLOWers are named
by a typical GOOD EXAMPLE (SYNECHDOCHE!) of
following: Namely PHYSICALLY walking and following
the leader. In ENGLISH we call the people FOLLOWERS
while in Hebrew we call the people WALKERS. In
each case the GENERAL idea of FOLLOWING ADVICE and
GUIDANCE is **EXEMPLIFIED** by physically FOLLOWING
or WALKING after a LEADER.
EXAMPLE 2: Ex12-11a BELTED=prepared/Energetically
--------------------------------------------------
Rashi explains that
--------------------------------------
TO BELT means to PREPARE for the road
--------------------------------------
Clearly a GOOD EXAMPLE (SYNECHDOCHE!) of
preparing for a trek is to put on your
hiking belt. Similarly a GOOD EXAMPLE of
preparation in war is to GIRD your utility
belt.
In English we have similar IDIOMS.
- To GIRD means to PREPARE
- To BELT a SONG means to SING IT ENERGETICALLY
EXAMPLES 3,4: Ex12-13c Ex12-23a To SKIP=To OMIT
-----------------------------------------------
In Hebrew as in Enlish To SKIP something
can mean to OMIT it. Here SKIPPING is a GOOD
EXAMPLE (SYNECHDOCHE!) of AVOIDANCE and OMISSION.
Hence the Rashi on Ex12-13c which describes how
---------------------------------------------
God will punish the Egyptian firstborn but SKIP
over the Jewish firstborn
---------------------------------------------
Rashi comments
-----------------------
To SKIP means to JUDGE
------------------------
We would interpret Rashi as follows
---------------------------------------------
A Judge who SKIPS someone has OMITTED punishment
and forgiven him of judgement
---------------------------------------------
Although Rashi connects SKIP with FORGIVE
we think the primary driving force of Rashi is
that SKIP means TO OMIT and hence OMISSION IN JUDGEMENT
is FORGIVENESS Such an approach to Rashi is intuitive
and consistent with IDIOMS in other languages.
Here we have used the technique of MEDIATING VARIABLES
to resolve the problematic Rashi which connects
SKIP with FORGIVE. We have suggested the more plausible
alternative that
- SKIP connects with OMIT and
- OMISSION in a context of Judgement
connects with FORGIVENESS
EXAMPLE 5: Ex14-31a
--------------------
Rashi explains that the phrase GREAT HAND is an
IDIOM meaning GREAT MIGHT. I would go a step further--
citing Rav Hirsch on Psalms 8 I would say GREAT HAND
in Hebrew is like GREAT HANDIWORK in English and connotes
ACCOMPLISHMENT. Here ACCOMPLISHMENT refers not only to
expenditure of ENERGY (MIGHT) but also SKILL and CRAFTSMANSHIP
Hence Rashi could translate Ex14-31a as
---------------------------------------------
The Jews saw the GREAT CRAFTSMANSHIP of what
God did in Egypt and they reveered God and
they had faith in God and Moses his servant
---------------------------------------------
Here CRAFTSMANSHIP (Connoting both ENERGY and
ARTISAN SKILL) are accomplished principally
thru the hand and hence this idiom is another
example of naming by a typically good example
(SYNECHDOCHE).
EXAMPLE 6: Ex03-16a
-------------------
Rashi explains that the word ELDERS can
also mean the LEADERS, MAYORS, SCHOLARS
of the community.
Here Rashi uses SYNECHDOCHE since the ELDERS
are TYPICAL GOOD EXAMPLES of MAYORS and LEADERS
since generally a statesman must have acquired
alot of experience. There are of course exceptions
but the whole point of SYNECHDOCHE is simply to
take a good example.
Rashi does derive that ELDERS = LEADERS from
logic and OTHER VERSES. However we believe that
the SYNECHDOCHE argument has broader application.
EXAMPLE 7: Ex02-16b
-------------------
The Hebrew root Resh-Hey-Tet means
- Water Troughs
- above-ground bridges connecting two buildings(So07-06)
Here both the above-ground bridge and the water trough
have the same FORM--a long rectangular object.
EXAMPLE 8: Ex10-15a
-------------------
The Hebrew root YUD-RESH-KUPH means GREEN.
Hence it refers to VERDURE, the GREEN covering
of meadows. Here the meadow covering is named
by its FORM and COLOR similar to the English
idiom "ORANGE dress" which names a COLOR by an
object with that COLOR. Note that in English also
VERDURE refers to the VERDENT (Green) covering of
a MEADOW.
LIST871z presents these and
other IDIOMS based on metonomy, synechdoche, and FFF.
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANING
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST871z
List of idioms using METONOMY/SYNECHDOCHE(Meaning by relation)
==================================================================
========================= LIST871z =============================
List of idioms using METONOMY/SYNECHDOCHE(Meaning by relation)
LIST871z continues LIST871d LIST871c LIST871b LIST871a
================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE METONOMY METHOD USED
======== ============== ======================== ===============
Dt22-06b Mother ON eggs NESTING mother METONOMY
Dt28-67a WHO WILL GIVE Oh I WISH(someone gives) METONOMY
Dt28-67b WHO WILL GIVE Oh I WISH(someone gives) METONOMY
Dt28-47a ALOT OF ALL Sufficiency METONOMY
Dt28-07b SEVEN paths MANY paths METONOMY
Dt04-32b 1 END OF HEAVN NATIONS at HORIZON METONOMY*14
Dt04-08a RIGHTEOUS laws ...done by the RIGHTEOUS METONOMY
------- ------------- ----------------------- ------------
Ex13-12a PASS TO God ENDOW to GOD SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex03-19b To GIVE to go to ALLOW to Go SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex03-23b To GIVE to go to ALLOW to Go SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex02-15c To SIT in Mdyn To DWELL in MDYN SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex10-24a will STAND will REMAIN SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex11-08b Your WALKERS your FOLLOWers SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex12-13c To SKIP them To OMIT them SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex12-23a To SKIP doors To OMIT judging houses SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex12-11a To BELT/GIRD To PREPARE SNYECHDOCHE*1
Ex03-16a Elders Leaders,mayors,.. SYNECHDOCHE*1
Lv02-11a HONEY SWEET*1 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Lv21-21c BREAD FOOD*1 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Nu08-02c Candellabrah Central Staff SYNECHDOCHE*1
Nu09-15a Tent Tablets Whole Temple*11 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex31-21c Tent Tablets Whole Temple*11 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Lv18-03a Egyptian-like Sexually perverse*10 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Lv18-03b CanaaniteLike Sexually perverse*10 SYNECHDOCHE*1
Ex14-31a great HAND CRAFTMANSHIP,MIGHT SYNECHDOCHE*1
------- ------------- ----------------------- ------------
Nu14-09b Our Bread Piece of cake(Easy) Metonomy*2
Nu10-31d Our eyes Gleam of our eye(Good) Metonomy*2
Nu14-11a Till WHERE Till WHEN*4 Metonomy*2
Lv18-09b OUT BIRTH OUT of WEDLOCK Metonomy*2
Nu11-20c Out of nose disgusted*12 Metonomy*2
Nu09-20b Numbered days Small number of days Metonomy*2
------- ------------- ----------------------- ------------
Ex10-15a VERDURE Verdent (Green) FFF-Form*3
Ex02-16b Trough high rise bridge connect FFF-Form*3
Nu08-16b SproutFromWomb birth*13 FFF-Form*3
Nu20-22b Mount Mountain Mount on top of mountain FFF-Form*3
Nu04-14a Frighteners Coal rakers FFF-Feeling*3
Nu04-14c Barren Sweep cleam FFF-Function*3
-------- Pentagon Pentagon Institution FFF-Form*3
-------- U.N. U.N. Institution FFF-Function*3
Gn14-17b FLAT VALLEY Stadium FFF-Form*3
Gn21-20a BOW RAINS Archer FFF-Form*3*4
NOTES
-----
*1 An example of SYNECHDOCHE--naming the whole
by the part
*2 An example of METONOMY--naming by something
related
*3 An example of naming by either
- Form (eg Pentagon)
- Function (e.g UN)
- Feel (e.g. Hardship)
We call this the FFF rule.
*4 RULE
----
* ALeph nun hey = WHERE
* UNTIL Aleph Nun Hey= until WHEN
*5 In the case of ARCHER, RAIN OF BOW, refers to the
FORM of the ACTIVITY of the ARCHER (not to the
FORM of the ARCHER himself). A rapid set of
BOW SHOOTS resembles IN FORM a torrential rain.
--------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------
*10 Rashi:
-----------------------------------------------
Since generally sexually-perverse acts are
called EGYPTIAN-LIKE and CANAANITE LIKE we infer
that EGYPT and CANAAN were exemplary in sexual
perversity.
-----------------------------------------------
Here Rashi uses the SYNECHDOCHE principle to
explain the reason for naming sexual perversity
as EGYPT-LIKE and CANAANITE-LIKE.
*11 For reasons of space we have abbreviated.
Nu09-15c literally translated states
-----------------------------
SANCTUARY FOR TENT OF TABLETS
-----------------------------
Ex31-21c literally translated states
--------------------------------
The Sanctuary of Tablets
--------------------------------
The following terms all refer to the Temple
--------------------------------------------
* Sanctuary
* Sanctuary of Tablets
* Sanctuary for the Tent of Tablets
* Sanctuary of the tent of Meeting
--------------------------------------------
While Rashi explains the details
of some of these terms it seems
reasonable to simply view them
all as IDIOMS. Some further comments on
the terms are presented below.
Technically the literal Hebrew term is
--------------------------------------
* Sanctuary of TESTIMONY
--------------------------------------
However the TABLETS with the 10
COMMANDMENTS are called the TESTIMONY
(See Ex31-18 or Ex25-16)Hence we have
translated this phrase as the
-------------------------------
* Sanctuary of Tablets
-------------------------------
The temple is called the
---------------------------------
* Sanctuary of Meeting
---------------------------------
because God designates the Temple
as a meeting place for Prophecy
(Cf. Ex25-22)
*12 The verse states
----------------------------
until it comes out of your nose
and becomes strange
----------------------------
Rashi translates the whole item as meaning
DISGUSTING. Clearly this is an example of
NEW MEANINGS.
*13 Here are a few uses of Pay-Tet-Resh
---------------------------------------
* SPROUTING buds (SPROUTING) 1K06-19
---------------------------------------
* SPROUTING(Leaving) from before King (1S19-10)
* SPROUTING (releasing) water (Pr17-14)
* SPROUTING from Womb (Nu08-16)
---------------------------------------
We clearly have here a naming by FORM.
*14 Rashi gives an alternative explanation
---------------------------------------
This refers to Adam whose stature extended
from ONE OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER
---------------------------------------
Rashi here unifies both parts of the verse
------------------------------------------
- go back in history to ask
- ask Adam
------------------------------------------
The statement that ADAM's stature extended
from one of heaven to the other simply meant
that ADAM like NOACH and ABRAHAM unified the
whole world. We metaphorically indicate the
impact of such people by using words like
GREAT, BIG. The statement
-------------------------------------------
Adam's stature extended from one end of the
world to the other
--------------------------------------------
simply means that
--------------------------------------------
Adam's influence extended from one end of
the world to the other since he unified the
world
--------------------------------------------
Here again Rashi identifies a PERSON with
the LOCATIONS of his REIGN.
=========================================================
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Volume 32 Number 4
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 32 Number 4