#*#*#*#*#  (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
------------------
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

------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE                 WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE              NAMING METHODS
------------------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RASHI RULE
-------------------------------
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
-----------
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
==================================================================

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 16 Number 3


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 16 Number 3