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VERSE: Ex20-22b

======================= GZH means POLISHED/CUT STONE ============

BACKGROUND
----------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain the meaning of words
the way a Biblical dictionary explains words.

REFERENCE
---------
For the 6 Rashi goals see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules-01.htm

THE ROOT
--------
In this Rashi we explain the rare root GIMEL-ZAYIN-HEY.
We also gain insight into how to obtain the meaning of
a rarely occuring root.

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi explains that the word GAZITH refers to CUT STONE


THE LIST
--------
In the list below we examine verses containing the root
G-Z-H. We suggest a unifying meaning of
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 -- CUTTING/REMOVING FROM A SURFACE MANY SMALL PROTRUSIONS
 ---------------------------------------------------------
The list below shows that this applies to HAIR, SHEEP WOOL,
PEOPLE on a land, BIRDS over a sea, STONE PROTRUSIONS.

Note how this REVIEW-THE-VERSES approach gives more
specificity than the usual translation of REMOVAL --
the LIST clearly shows that G-Z-H doesnt mean ANY removal but
rather REMOVAL of MANY PROTRUSIONS OVER A SURFACE. Hence it
applys to STONE CUTTINGS*10
=================================================================
SURFACE MANY OBJECTS ON SURFACE REMOVED  VERSE    OTHER VERSES
======= ================================ ======== ===============
SHEEP   shearing WOOL                    Gn31-19   *1
HEAD    HAIR cut                         Job1-20   *2
LAND    plague of PEOPLE dying           Ps90-10   *3
SEA     catching SEA-GULLS               Nu11-31   *4
STONE   cutting/polishing PROTRUSIONS    Ex20-22b  *5


NOTES
-----
*1 This is the usual meaning of the root G-Z-H

*2 Also see Jer07-29, Mich01-16

*3 A very rare usage.Possibly also see Nach01-12
   Note that this usage is poetic -- people are compared to
   hair on a head or wool on sheep...they are simply cut off
   --a pithy metaphor for the pathos of the life cycle

*4 This is the only occurence of this usage
   Again this usage is slightly poetic

*5 There are 10 other occurences of CUT STONE in the Bible
   E.g. 1R5-31, 1R6-36, 1R7-12, Ez40-42, Am5-11, Lam3-9

---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------------

*10 We have to be explicit: We are deviating from the standard
    translation of many Rishonim and scholars who say that
    G-Z-H means REMOVAL. We dont disagree with this but rather
    add specificity: It means removal of many items from a
    surface.

    As can be seen from the footnotes to the list above
    many of the supporting cases to our thesis ONLY OCCUR in
    1-2 verses.

    The idea that G-Z-H only means REMOVAL seems to come from
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    Ps71-6 from my mothers womb you have G-Z-H me
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    Thus it sounds like the Psalmist is acknowledging that
    God CUT him from the womb.

    But such a translation contradicts the other usages of
    G-Z-H presented above.(Note: Rashi does not comment on
    this verse)

    Rather we suggest a different interpretation:
    Reviewing the other verses in this Psalm we see
    that God is portraryed as
    - My ROCK
    - My MOUNTAIN ROCK
    - My FORTRESS
    But then it would be consistent with these usages to
    translate
    - GZH as MY POLISHED STONE HOUSE (Cf Am05-11 for this usage)
    In other words we would translate Ps71-06 as
    ----------------------------------------------
    From the time I left my mothers womb YOU, God,
    have been my POLISHED-STONE-HOUSE for me
    ----------------------------------------------

    Such a translation is consistent with the other usages
    shown above.

    I believe the above analysis is a good illustration on
    what goes into determining meaning
=================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 12 Number 25


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#