#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Gn32-23b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn32-23b Gn32-25b
==================== AVK means WRESTLE ===================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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Frequently we learn meaning from CONTEXT. Thus Gn32-25b reads
- and a man was AVAK with Jacob till morning---LET ME GO, he said
The CONTEXT shows that AVAK means some type of FIGHTING
But the Hebrew root AVAK also means DUST. As the LIST below shows
all roots ending in BK refer to some type of ENCIRCLEMENT. Hence
Rashi ingeniously COMBINES a) the context meaning--FIGHTING and
b) the root meaning-DUST.Rashi suggests that AVAK means WRESTLING
WRESTLING combines FIGHTING with ROLLING AROUND IN THE DIRT
Here Rashi shows his ingenuity in combining disparate sources.
Similarly Rashi would translate YBK as an ENCIRCLING River
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TODAYS RASHI RULE WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE NAMING METHODS
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RASHI RULE
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One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain meaning the same way
a dictionary does. Rashi has a variety of methods for
explaining meaning including
- inference from context
- other meanings of a given root
- meanings of similar roots (2 letter meaning theory)
In fact Rashi has a dozen methods of inferring meaning.
I have frequently explained that while Rashi **does** believe in
the 3 letter root conjugation theory he also believed in the
2 letter root meaning theory--that is he believed that the
meaning of each 3 letter root can be inferred from a combination
of its last 2 letters and the meaning of its first letter
An example is presented below
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RASHI RULE
-----------------------------------------
- The 6 Rashi goals
http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm
- The RashiYomi dictionary
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm
- 13 methods of inferring meaning
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/means-32.htm
- The RashiYomi calendar: The MEANS theory was presented Jul 2001
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/calendar1.htm
TODAYS LIST
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We list the 7 roots ending in Beth-Kuph. We show that all of
them mean some type of ENCIRCLEMENT. Thus CBK(hugging) refers to
PEOPLE encircling each other; a RVK (barn) refers to a close
space encircling ANIMALS; a BKBK(Bottle) refers to the
encirclement of ITEMS or LIQUID. From this list we infer that
AVK refers not just to FIGHTING but to VIGOROUS WRESTLING where
the wrestlers ROLL IN THE DUST. Similarly YBK would not just be
a river but an ENCIRCLING RIVER. Here is the list
================================================================
VERSE ROOT TEXT OF VERSE WHAT IS ENCIRCLED
======= ==== =========================== =======================
Gn29-13 CBK He HUGGED and KISSED him people
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
1S28-24 RBK a BARN calf animals*1
Am06-04 RBK Buying calfs from the BARN animals
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
Gn32-23 YBK (ENCIRCLING) RIVER the land*2
Dt02-37 YBK The ENCIRCLING River the land*2
Dt03-16 YBK The ENCIRCLING River the land*2
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
1R14-03 BKBK a BOTTLE of honey items/liquid*3
Jr19-01 BKBK Buy a BOTTLE items/liquid
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
Dn04-23 SBK LEAVE its roots roots by soil*4
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
Gn02-24 DVK CLING to his wife at all points*5
Gn31-23 DVK OVERTOOK him at Gilad at all points*5
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
Gn32-25 ABK ..WRESTLED with him people*6
Ex09-09 ABK ..it became DUST *6
------- ---- --------------------------- --------------
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi explains that the RVK was a CLOSED SPACE set aside
for FATTENING calves (It could be a BARN or any other set
aside space)
*2 Rashi of course was using the method of OTHER VERSES
From the 2 OTHER VERSES in the above list we infer that
YABOK was the name of a River.
But using the above list we can also ifer that YABOK
refers to some type of ENCIRCLEMENT. Combining the
concepts of RIVER and ENCIRCLEMENT we naturally arive at
the concept of a WINDING river ENCIRCLING land.
*3 The Traditional explanation of BKBK is onamanopoetic
(bk bk bk sounds like an emptying bottle). By contrast
the above list is profound and deep emphasizing underling
deep structures of meaning. A BOTTLE encircles LIQUID the
same way HUGGERS encircle EACH OTHER or BARNS encircle ANIMALS
*4 This word is Aramaic but still could fit into the above list
RVK would refer to the ENCIRCLING the roots by SOIL (So when
a tree is cut to SVK the tree means to LEAVE ITS ROOT in
the ground)
*5 The root D-V-K means PASTE, CLINGING and OVERTAKING. The
common denominator is a TOTAL encirclement at all points
of contact. Thus the OVERTAKER COMPLETELY encircles the
person; the CLINGER is completely encircled by that which
he clings to.
*6 AVK
- means DUST.
- But because it is in this list we know it means ENCIRCLEMENT
- From Gn32-25 we infer that it means FIGHTING
Rashi in fact cites different grammarians and translations
each echoing one of the above themes. Rashis genious lies
in combining these meanings all together--Rashi suggests
- AVK means WRESTLING--rolling around in the DUST
A Rashi like this shows us the rich dynamic nature of
word translation. Contrary to common belief, translation is
not a passive routine activity but rather a challenging
activity involving the search for nuances
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RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
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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 16 Number 3
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 16 Number 3