#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Gn18-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn18-08a Gn18-08c Gn18-11a Gn18-11b Gn18-16a Gn18-23a
=================== Gn18-08a ===================================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is the explanation of
meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning.
Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain meaning
EXAMPLE-MEANING BY NUANCES
--------------------------
- ChDaL = subside, gradually stop; ebb away; dwindle
- ShKaF = Scan, (spy), scrutinize
- NaGaSh= Meet
EXAMPLE-MEANING BY ETYMOLOGIES
------------------------------
- CheMaH = Cream = Island (Aleph) from Heated Milk (Cham)
EXAMPLE-MEANING BY PHRASES
--------------------------
- WAY OF WOMEN = Having periods
EXAMPLE-RARE MEANINGS
---------------------
- ASaH = Fix
================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =======================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854d
List of Biblical 2-3 Word idioms
------------------------ -------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS 2-4 LETTER ROOTS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST910c
List of roots With ALEPH meaning ISLAND
------------------------ --------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NUANCES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST955a
List of Word pairs belonging to the same class(oven:stove)
------------------------ ---------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS UNIFIED MEANING
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST862f
List of verses with Root Ayin-Sin-Hey = MAKE/CREATE
================================================================
====================== LIST862f ========================
List of verses with Root Ayin-Sin-Hey = MAKE/CREATE
This root can mean DO, MAKE, ACQUIRE, FIX, SQUEEZE
========================================================
VERSE VERSE WITH MEANING OF AYIN-SIN-HEY CAPPED
========= ==============================================
1S12-06 God who MADE Moses and Aaron
-------- ----------------------------------------
Dt12-08 Do not DO like the idolaters*1
-------- ----------------------------------------
Gn12-05 The staff they ACQUIRED in Charan*2
Dt08-17 Thru my own might I ACQUIRED this wealth
-------- ----------------------------------------
Dt21-12a FIX her nails*3
2S19-25 He hadnt FIXED his mustache
Gn01-07a God FIXED the heavens
Gn18-08c Abraham FIXED up the beef
P139-15 I was FIXED in the darkness (of the womb)
-------- -----------------------------------------
Ez23-21 When Egypt SQUEEZED your breasts*4
Ez23-08 SQUEEZE her virgin breasts
NOTES
-----
*1 To DO something is to CREATE an action
*2 We could also translate: The staff they MADE in Charan
(eg they converted the people). Both MAKING and
ACQUIRING refer to making an object your own. But in
MAKING you take an ALREADY existing object and transfer
its ownership
*3 Both FIXING and CREATING refer to making an object
usable. In one case you create the object from scratch
In FIXING you take an object that ALREADY EXISTS
and re-create it
*4 I would suggest that SQUEEZING the breasts refers
to FIXING the breasts (When they are overloaded with
milk -- the same way working mothers have machines
that unload the milk).
The phrase VIRGIN breasts does not mean the BREASTS
of VIRGINS but rather the breasts that have never
nursed
=======================================================
=================== LIST955a ================================
List of Biblical word pairs which belong to the same
class but differ in some nuance (eg SPILL-OOZE)
=============================================================
VERSE WORD BASIC IDEA NUANCES
======== ====== ========== ==================================
Gn18-16a S-K-F SEE Scan, scrutinize*11
Gn18-11a Ch-D-L Stop Dwindle away; subside*12
Gn18-23a N-G-Sh Close MEET*8
Lv15-03a R-R To SPILL To OOZE out*1
Lv14-41a YQTzA To CUT To SANDPAPER*2
Lv11-35a KIRaIM STOVES OVEN*3
Lv02-05a MChVT Pots FRYING-PAN:Pot*4
Lv02-07a MRChST Pots FRYING-PAN:Pot*4
Lv13-02a SAYTH White SNOW-WHITE:CLOUD-WHITE*5
Lv13-02b BHRT White SNOW-WHITE:CLOUD-WHITE*5
Dt24-06a RChIM Grindstone Bottom Grindstone:Top Grindstone*6
Dt24-06b RCV Grindstone Bottom Grindstone:Top Grindstone*6
Ex31-18a KIYOR BASIN Vat:Sprinkler*7
NOTES
-----
*1 This root occurs very infrequently We have
- Lv15-03a oozing (RR) of sexual secretions
- 1S21-14 (Spittle)
- Jb06-06(Oozing of plants or spittle)
*2 Thus YQTziA doesnt just refer to ANY CUTTING but
rather to SANDPAPERING. Hence this root can
also refer to CORNERS and EDGES
(which get their distinctness from being SANDPAPERED)
*3 I used an English analogy. Actually TNUR vs CIRaYIM
seem to refer to a ONE-burner vs a TWO-Burner
hot plate. I am not actually sure on all details*10
*4 Both of these are pots. One is shallow--the type
used for frying. The other is deep--the type
used for rich cooking*10
*5 These are two shades of white. I dont know if analogies
exist in English (CLOUD-WHITE or
SNOW-WHITE vs MARBLE WHITE)*10
*6 I dont believe English has technical terms for the TOP
vs the Bottom grindstone*10
*7 Again there are no English words. The Kaph-Vuv-Resh
refers to a VAT that can hold about 200 Gallons
By contrast the Kaph-Yud-Vuv-Resh refers to a hugh
TANK of water with faucet holes. This TANK was
used to wash hands and legs in the temple (The water
sprinkled out of the holes and washed the person)
*8 As Rashi points out N-G-Sh (MEETING) can be done for
- confrontational purposes (eg 2S10-13)
- supplicatory purposes (eg Gn44-18)
- prayer before God (eg 1K18-36)
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------
*10 I believe Rashis basic thrust in all these verses is
explaining items that are ALMOST similar in meaning
but have some subtle nuance (Like STOVE OVEN).
However Rashi goes further and gives etymologies of
some of these words eg
- SeAyTh = CLOUD WHITE (From NaSiH=cloud)
- MaChaVath= FRYING PAN (Has a rim that HIDES(Cheth-Bet)
- MaRCheSeth= Deep Cooking Pan(food BUBBLES (RaChSh))
- RCV=Top Grindstone that RIDES(RCV) on the other grindstone
There are more etymologies; some of these have been
discussed elsewhere. I believe these are the basic ones.
*11 A beautiful example of how to over-rule Rashi is given
on Gn18-16a For Rashi states
-----------------------------------------------
Sh-K-F always has a nuance of SEEING for BAD
except for one verse Dt26-15 (SCAN FROM HEAVEN
AND BLESS YOUR LAND)
-----------------------------------------------
But this is simply not true!!!!!! The Root Sh-K-F
occurs about 28 times. At least 20% of the time
(not once) it refers to good things
-----------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TRANSLATION OF VERSE WITH SCAN
----------- -----------------------------------------------
Song06-10 a women who is SCANNED like a dawn
Ps85-12 Truth buds from earth;Justice SCANS from heaven
Dt26-15 SCAN from heaven and bless this land
2S24-20 He SCANNED ...and saw the King coming
Ju05-28 His mother SCANNED from the window looking for him
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thus Sh-K-F means INTENSE SEEING. This would correspond
in English to the nuances of SCANNING and SCRUTINIZING
Thus the Rashi comment
--------------------------------------------------------
Sh-K-F refers to SEEING for ThE BAD except in one verse
--------------------------------------------------------
Should be translated as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Sh-K-F refers to INTENSE SEEING.INTENSE SEEING in turn
is usually done when you wish to look for faults and
cause trouble; however there are exceptional verses
where you intensely see to give a blessing
-----------------------------------------------------
The above analysis shows the value of using lists
to enhance the meaning of Rashi.
*12 As the following verses show ChaDaL does not mean
so much STOP as SUBSIDE or DWINDLE AWAY. cf
-------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH word ChaDal=Dwindle away
------- -----------------------------------------------------
Gn11-08 God confused their language; so the building SUBSIDED
Dt15-11 poverty will not SUBSIDE from the land
1S09-05 His concern over the donkeys will SUBSIDE
Is01-16 Let the corruption among you SUBSIDE
Ez02-05 I doubt they will obey or SUBSIDE from rebelling
--------------------------------------------------------------
=============================================================
================== LIST910c ==============================
List of roots with ALEPH meaning ISLAND*10
==========================================================
ROOT MEANS MEANING OF LAST 2 LETTERS ALPEH=ISLAND
====== =========== ========================== ============
AGam Marsh Reed Island *2
C-L-A Animal pen Self contained Island *5
G-V-A Spring A High Island *4
ChMah Cream Heated-milk Islands*1
A-R To Light Space(Silouette) Islands*3
NOTES
-----
*1 When you heat milk the cream islands settle on top
*2 Marsh = An Island with reeds
*3 When you shine light on say a wall you see the
alternating shadows (Silouettes) and lights.
Thus LIGHT (Aleph-Resh) shows the ISLANDS IN SPACE
*4 A rare word--from context it seems to mean a water
source (eg Is30-14 ...to scrape water from
a G-V-A) It could also be translated as PIT.
Since however GV means HIGH (as in BACKBONE,
EYELASHES, ALTAR FRAME) I would suggest G-V-A
means a HIGH ISLAND (i.e. a SPRING)
*5 C-L-A can also mean prison (C-L refers to Sustenance)
Thus the PRISON or PEN refers to a self contained
island where animals or prisoners exist
----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------
* 10 In the 2 letter
theory the meaning of the 3 letter root (eg ChMah=cream)
is explained as emanating from the 1 letter root (ALEPH=
ISLAND) and the meaning of the 2 letter root (CHAM means
HOT). Thus CREAM refers to the ISLANDS that come from
HEATED MILK. Note that Rav Hirsch DID believe in a 3
letter grammatical theory. However Rav Hirsch SUPPLEMENTED
the 3 letter grammatical theory with an additional
2 letter theory that explains meaning.
=================================================================
======================= LIST854d ================================
A List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
=================================================================
VERSE BIBLICAL PHRASE TRANSLATION NOTES
======== ======================= ===================== ==========
Gn18-11b WAY OF WOMEN Having Periods *9
Ex13-10a FROM DAYS DAYS YEARLY *1
Dt17-11a LEFT AND RIGHT A LITTLE BIT *2
Ex21-21a DAY OR DAYS 24 hours
Dt22-17a Spread the Garment Prove your point *3 *4
Ex22-02a If Sun shines on him If it is Clear *4
Dt25-09a Spit IN FACE Spit TOWARDS HIM *5
Lv05-04a Swear by lips Verbally(Explicitly) *6
-------- ----------------------- --------------------- ---------
Lv16-21a TIMED person An APPOINTED person *8
Ex21-02a JEWISH SLAVE a slave AND Jewish *7
Lv13-39a DULL WHITE DULL WHITE
Lv23-40a GORGEOUS FRUIT Ethrog *10
-------- ----------------------- --------------------- ------------
Ex28-08a Belt OF his AYPHOD Belt USED with AYPHOD *7
Ex28-31a the dress OF AYPHD Aypohd USED with DRES *7
Dt16-17a GIFT OF HIS HAND INCOME LEVEL *7 *4
Dt16-10a TAX OF DONATION OF HAND INCOME LEVEL *7 *4
Dt21-13a GARMENT OF CAPTIVITY Worn in war to seduce *7
NOTES
-----
*1 See LIST854e below for Biblical examples
*2 See LIST854c below for further Biblical examples
*3 Probably when people had a sexual fight (who did what)
they could SPREAD THE GARMENT to clearly prove their
point*10
*4 Many idioms in this list are examples of SYNECDOCHE,
the use of the (distinguished) PART to indicate the
WHOLE. Thus honey is a GOOD EXAMPLE of something
sweet, bread is a GOOD EXAMPLE of food, day(12
hours) is a GOOD EXAMPLE of the 24 hour period. Hence
almost all languages develop idioms: HONEY=SWEET,
BREAD=FOOD, DAY(12 HOURS)=DAY(24 HOURS).
Similarly in the above live SPEADING THE GARMENT
is a GOOD example of PROVING MATTERS (In sexual
disputes), the SUN SHINING is a good example of
CLARITY, GIFT OF HIS HAND is a good example of
a HIGH INCOME LEVEL.
*5 Cf However Lv15-08a Spit ON Him = Actually spit on him
The rule seems to be that SPIT ON HIM is literal
whereas SPIT ON FACE (use of FACE vs FULL PERSON) means
SPIT TOWARDS HIM
*6 eg If I am angry and mentally curse or if I
am angry and start ranting and raving without
however fully articulating everything on my mind
-- in these two cases I may have sworn IN MY MIND
but I have not sworn WITH MY LIPS (Explicitly)
*7 Contrast Ex20-03a OTHER GODS=GODS OF OTHER PEOPLE
vs Ex21-02a JEWISH SLAVE = SLAVE AND JEWISH
Technically the possessive --OF-- can mean
- OWNED BY (eg OTHER GODS = gODS of OTHERS)
- PROPERTY (eg JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE who is JEWISH)
- ASSOCIATED WITH (eg BELT OF GARMENT=Belt USED
with Garment)
Note Rashi proves the JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE WHO
IS JEWISH by citing an other verse Dt15-12 *11
*8 For the relationship between TIME and DESIGNATION
cf the English APPOINT-APPOINTMENT
*9 Cf Gn31-35 for the sister phrase PATH OF WOMEN
which also refers to HAVING PERIODS
-------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------
*10 (The following comes from my article PSHAT & DRASH
TRADITION Winter 1980)
We must distinguish between
- HOW we know what the idiom means
- WHY the idiom means this
HOW we know what the idiom means comes from USAGE
It can usually be inferred from context. Thus
the Biblical verses here state
when a person slanders his newly married
wife...then the womens parents shall sue
him and SPREAD THE GARMENT before the judges
-------------------------------------
Hence SPREAD the GARMENT is simply an idiom
for PROVING ONES POINT.
By contrast the question of WHY the idiom
means what it does is something more
speculative--maybe I am right that frequently
in sexual fights a SPREAD GARMENT proved a
point. But maybe I am wrong...in such a case
I am still sure about WHAT the idiom means.
I am just not sure about WHY it means this.
Another example occurs at Lv23-40a and Lv23-40b.
I am certain that the ETHROG was called the
GORGEOUS FRUIT but I am not quite sure why. Rashi
offers two explanations
EXPLANATION 1:
The ethrog is an EVERGREEN and DWELLS YEARLY
(This uses a pun on EVERGREEN=HADAR vs
HODOR=GORGEOUS)
EXPLANATION 2
-------------
The TREE and FRUIT taste the same; Hence
the tree is Gorgeous.
EXPLANATION 3
-------------
Rav Hirsch offers a 3rd explanation. Rav
Hirsch reviews botanical classifications and infers
that the Ethrog is one of the more advanced
fruits in the tree Kingdom.
I am still not sure WHY the phrase GORGEOUS
FRUIT means ETHROG but I am sure that this
phrase was used to denote the ETHROG
*11
Here is another example:
GARMENT OF CAPTIVITY does NOT mean
- the GARMENT she wore WHEN captured
(That is the GARMENT with the PROPERTY that
it was worn at the time of capture) but rather means
- the GARMENT she put on in case she is captured
(That is the garment ASSOCIATED with the
possibility of CAPTURE)
Rashi explains that non-jewish women would have
special garments they wore in case they were
captured during a war in order to seduce their
captors and prevent themselves from being murdered.
=========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 19 Number 15
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 19 Number 15