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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Ex30-18a


RULE
====

{LIST}
Rashi believed in the 3 letter root theory by which
we conjugate verbs. This theory is adequately explained
in many modern books. For example from the 3 letter root
>Shin-Mem-Resh< we obtain >ShMaRTi<(I watched), >TiShMoR<
you will watch, >ShMoR< (Watch).

Rashi also believed in a complementary 2 letter semantic
root theory. According to this theory the meaning of
every 3 letter root can be obtained by examining the
meaning of the component 1 and 2 letter roots.


Thus Rashi believed in two types of roots. He believed
in 3 letter roots which goven grammatical conjugation.
He also believed in 2 letter roots which determine meaning.
This is a fundamental principle in Rashis approach to
meaning.

EXAMPLE

* The Hebrew root meaning >CRUEL< is spelled >KUF-Zayin-Resh<
We can see the 3 letters-->KUF<, >ZAYIN<, >RESH<

* But the last two letters, >ZAYIN< >RESH< spell the word >ZR<
which means >STRANGER<.

* Similarly the first letter >KUF< when used as a prefix
means >LIKE<.

Thus the three letters taken together say
    >KUF< (Like) a >ZAYIN RESH< (Stranger).

This has a proper ring to it. Since the word CRUEL in fact
does mean LIKE A STRANGER.

We can summarize this whole derivation in one pithy equation
      >KZR< (Cruel)     =   >K< (Like) >A Stranger< (ZRH)

Other examples are compactly presented in the table below
following this format.
=============================================================
ROOT MEANING    1st LETTER MEANING LAST 2 MEANING
KZR  (Cruel)    K          (Like)  ZRH    (Someone strange)
KSR  (Proper)   K          (Like)  YSR*1  (Proper)*1
KVR  (Strong)   K          (Like)  BRH    (Plump)
KRH  (Dig)      K          (Like)  RVH    (Spatious)*2
KYR  (SprayPan) K          (Like)  YRH    (Arrows)*3


NOTES
=====
*1 In modern Hebrew this root is used to denote
   Kosher food. But in the Bible it is used to denote
   anything (food or otherwise) that is proper(Cf Es08-05)

   Technically speaking YSR is itself 3 letters. The
   last two letters of >KShR< are >ShR<. However since
   the >YUD< is a weak letter we treat >YSR< like a
   2 letter root.

*2 In other words when you dig a pit you so to speak
   make the ground spatious.


*3 Thus the KYR was not a traditional washbasin where
   you placed your body in the water but rather
   the KYR was a washbasin that you filled with water
   The water then came out of the sprays in the basin
   on bottom. The water emitting from the sprays
   looked like SHOOTING ARROWS and hence the name.

{END OF LIST}



RASHI RULE 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 9 Number 15


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