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VERSE: Gn37-25c
RASHIS COVERED: Gn37-25c Gn37-25d Gn37-25e Gn37-27a
======================== Gn37-25c ===============================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals was explaining meaning similar to
how a dictionary explains meaning. We call this the Rashi rule
of WORD MEANING.
Rashi had 10 vehicles by which to explain meaning.
For example, Rashi could explain meaning based on the 1 and
2 letter roots of which the root was composed. Rashi believed
in two sets of roots--for purposes of CONJUGATION Rashi believed
in 3 letter roots; for purposes of MEANING Rashi believed in 2
letter roots. Here Rashi will explain the MEANING of a 3 letter
root based on the meaning of the 2 terminal letters as well as
the meaning of the initial letter. We call this the SUBRULE of
2-4 LETTER ROOTS.
Another method that Rashi used to explain meaning is to contrast
the nuances of words with similar meanings. We call this the
Rashi subrule of SYNONYMS.
EXAMPLE Gn37-25c
----------------
The Biblical text Gn37-25c states
---------------------------------
...they were carrying Nun-Caph-Tauv,
Tzade-Resh-Yud, and Lamed-Tet
---------------------------------
Rashi comments
--------------------------------------
Nun-Caph-Tauv refers to a spice collection
(Rashi cites another verse where this is so)
--------------------------------------
Although Rashi does not explicitly state it, nevertheless
the relation between CRUSHED and SPICES is obvious.
We therefore have the following etymological derivation
- The Hebrew root Caph-Tauv-Tauv means CRUSHED
- Hebrew letter NUN means ALOT OF
- Nun-Caph-Tauv=ALOT OF CRUSHED ITEMS = Perfume/spice collections
Here Rashi uses the rule of 2-4 LETTER ROOTS
The LIST910a below presents other examples where NUN means ALOT.
Actually NUN can have several meanings all illustrated in
that list: LOTS OF, CONSEQUENCE, INTENSE.
EXAMPLE Gn37-25d Gn37-25e
--------------------------
The Biblical Text states that
---------------------------------
...they carried spice collections
...Tzade-Resh-Yud and Lamed-Tet
---------------------------------
Rashi comments that
-------------------------------------
Tzade-Resh-Yud and Lamed-Tet are names
of perfumes
-------------------------------------
Again Rashi does not explicitly state it.
But the meaning of the roots of Tzade-Resh-Yud
and Lamed-Tet are well known
- Tzae-Resh-Yud from root Tzade-Resh means TIGHTS perfume
- Lamed-Tet from root Lamed-Tet means SECRET FRAGRANCE
The TIGHTS and SECRET fragrances are names of perfumes
in many languages. They represent two extremes in
intimacy (SECRETIVE vs TIGHTS).
LIST955a gives other examples of Rashis commenting on
SYNONYM pairs.
EXAMPLE Gn37-27a
----------------
The Biblical text states
----------------------------------------
And Judah said: There is no value in
killing our brother---why not sell him
instead to the Arabs: And the brothers HEARD
----------------------------------------
Rashi comments
---------------------------------------
The Hebrew root Shin-Mem-Ayin can mean either
- HEAR, FIND OUT, LISTEN or
- ACCEPT an idea.
In our verse we should translate it as ACCEPT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And Judah said: There is no value in
killing our brother---why not sell him
instead to the Arabs: And the brothers ACCEPTED
HIS ADVICE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
------------------------------------------
Rashi then brings about half a dozen verses
and shows that the Aramaic translation uses
the terms ACCEPT vs HEAR depending on context.
LIST955a below gives other examples of
pairs of words with similar meanings but
subtle nuances differentiating them.
=================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== ========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANING
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: 2 Letter semantic roots
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST910a
ROOTS illustrating NUN=alot, consequence, intense
----------------- ---------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS SYNONYMS
SEE BELOW LIST955a
List of Synonym pairs-differ minutely
=================================================================
================ LIST910a ================================
ROOTS illustrating NUN=alot,consequence,intense
==========================================================
ROOT MEANS NUN MEANS END MEANS
============= ======== ============== ==== ===============
Nun-Beth HOLLOW CHILD OF*8 b INSIDE
Nun-Zayin-Kuf DAMAGE CHILD OF z-k SPARKS
Nun-Mem-Resh LEOPARD CHILD OF m-r BRAZENNESS
Nun-Tzde-Lamd SAVE CHILD OF z-l SHADE
Nun-Kuph-Mem REVENGE CHILD OF k-m STANDING UP
Tauv-NUN-Caph Earlobe CHILD OF T-Ch INSIDE
Beth-Hey-NUN Thumb CHILD OF B INSIDE*9
----------- ------ ----------- --- --------
A-M-N Nurse Consequence of A-M Motherhood
Ch-L-N Window Consequence of ChL empty space
Ch M N Sun-god Consequence of Chmh sun
A D N Happy Consequence of A-D having extra
----------- ------ ----------- --- --------
Sh N H Sleep*5 Lots of Sh.. Sh... sound*1
D M N Destroy Lots of D-M silence
S Ch N Abcess Lots of(Very) SCh Low
S T N Satan Lots of S-T deviation
G-R-N Granary Lots of G-R harvest itms*2
D-Sh-N Plump Lots of D-S growth*3
A-N-F Enraged Lots of A-F Anger
N-K-T*11 Spices Lots of K-T Crushed items
----------- ------ ----------- --- --------
YRyVN Fight Intensely R-V disputing*4*10
B---N between Intensely B-O in
B-Ch-N Test Intensely B-O (look) into*5
Ch ShN Chshn*4 Intensely ChSh feeling out*6
S R N Governor Intense S-R Prince*7
NOTES
-----
*1 This is onomatopoeia (word meaning by sound)
Another (famous) Hebrew example is BAK-BOOK for
BOTTLE (Water coming out of a bottle sounds
like BAK-BOOK BAK BOOK)
*2 A-G-R is said to mean GATHERING but more specifically
refers to HARVESTING (eg. Dt28-39 -- you will not drink
or harvest wine)
*3 D-Sh-A refers to HERBIAGE -- minor field growth.
A PLUMP/FAT person could be said that
--------------------------------------
HIS field (stomach) IS GROWING WILDLY
--------------------------------------
Note that D-Sh-N does frequently mean FAT
Also note that FIELD can refer to STOMACH
(Songs07-03)
*4 Cf Ex21-18 If men FIGHT and one hits the other with a
stone or a fist....
*5 Just like the English metaphor for TESTING/INVESTIGATION
-- LETS LOOK INTO IT --
*6 The ChShN was one of the eight PRIESTLY garments.
The ChShN held the URIM vTUMIM -- these were
lettered ornaments with prophetic capacity. When
the High Priest asked a question of God he would
get the answer by having a vision of the ChShN
with the letters answering his question lit up on
the URIM.
Hence the ChShN containing the URIM vTUMIM enabled
the High Priest to FEEL OUT (ChSh) a case -- compare
the similar English FEELING OUT A CASE
*7 The word SRN refers both to the GOVERNOR as well
as to the STATE over which he governs (Cf Joshua 13:3)
SR by itself refers to any leader. Hence GOVERNOR
(Srn) is an INTENSE (N) Leader (SR) or the PINACLE
of LEADERSHIP
*8 Throughout the Bible if you want to state that
someone was KNOWN for something then you
state that the person was the CHILD OF it.
eg RIF RAFS are called CHILDS OF NO-NAME
*9 Functionally, the THUMB opposes other fingers
and enables humans to grasp objects. Hence
the THUMB enables things to be held INSIDE
ones hand
------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------
*10 Some scholars interpret a terminal NUN as indicating
LESS -- but it should be clear from this example --
YRVN vs RV -- that a terminal NUN indicates INTENSITY
(DISPUTE - FIGHT)
*11 Gn37-25c
================================================================
========================= LIST955a =====================
List of Synonym pairs-differ minutely*1
========================================================
VERSE WORD BASIC IDEA NUANCES
======== ====== ========== =============================
Gn37-27a $M& Hear Accept*14
Gn35-22 $M& Hear Listen / Find out*14
-------- ------ ---------- -----------------------------
Gn37-25d CRI Perfume The TIGHTS perfume *13
Gn37-25e L@ Perfume SECRET fragrance *13
-------- ------ ---------- -----------------------------
Dt28-63b N-S-X Remove DRAG
-------- @-Q-R Remove UPROOT
------- ----- --------- -----
Dt06-11a ChTzV Dig Pit DIG pit IN STONE
Ex21-31a PTaCH Dig Pit OPEN the pit(previously dug)
Ex21-31b CaReH Dig Pit DIG the pit (CREATE it)
------- ----- --------- -----
Ex15-16a AyMaH Fear ANXIETY(Long term fear)*12
Ex15-16b PaChaD Fear FEAR(Short term fear)*12
------- ----- --------- -----
Ex05-07b L-V-N To Build BRICKS used for building
Ex05-07a T-V-N To Build STRAW used for building
------- ----- --------- -----
Ex01-07a S-R-Tz Reproduce Reproduce alot*9 *11
-------- P-R-W Reproduce
-------- R-B-W Reproduce
------- ----- --------- -----
Gn47-23a HAY HERE I am giving this to you*8
-------- HNH HERE
------- ----- --------- -----
Gn43-28a KiDaH BOW BOW
Gn43-28a SaChaH BOW PROSTRATE
------- ----- --------- -----
Gn15-05a NBT SEE To FACE a situation
-------- RAH SEE
------- ----- --------- -----
Gn29-17b TOAR Good looks Good FIGURE
Gn29-17c MAREH Good looks Good LOOKS
------- ----- --------- -----
Lv15-03a R-R To SPILL To OOZE out*1
------- $PK To SPILL
------- ----- --------- -----
Lv14-41a YQTzA To CUT To SANDPAPER*2
------- KRT To CUT
------- ----- --------- -----
Lv11-35a KIRaIM STOVES OVEN*3
------- T-N-R Stove
------- ----- --------- -----
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 vs Top Grindstone*6
Dt24-06b RCV Grindstone Top vs Bottom 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 HAY only occurs twice in the Bible (The other occurence
is at Ez16-43). The difference between HAY and HINAY
seems to be that
- You use HINAY (HERE) when the object you are giving
is actually there
- You use HAY (HERE) when the object you are giving
is not necessarily physically there but accessible.
Hence since Joseph said HERE, I AM GIVING YOU SEED,
and was referring to SEED he possessed (but not
seed that he had immediately before him) we use
the word HAY not HINAY. (This suggested difference
is conjectural; there are verses with Hinay that
would seem to contradict it--if so HAY and HINAY
would simply be two synonyms with the same meaning)
*9 So eg REPRODUCE and INSECTIFY both have the same
basic meaning of HAVING CHILDREN. But INSECTIFY
has the added nuance of having MANY CHILDREN
---------------------- 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 Rashi-s actual language is
-----------------------------------------
S-R-Tz means to have 6 children at a time
-----------------------------------------
The number 6 has sent the Rashi commentators
into a frenzy. Some Rashi commentators derive
the number 6 from the 6 verbs in Ex01-07
- (1) The Jews REPRODUCED
- (2) and INSECTIFIED
- (3) and MULTIPLIED
- (4) and became HUMONGOUS
- (5) ALOT
- (6) ALOT
However a simpler approach to Rashi is the following
- The word INSECTIFY means HAVE CHILDREN LIKE INSECTS
- So INSECTIFY means HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN AS YOU CAN
- But the maxmimum children a woman can have is 6
- So Rashi-is-Simple
*12 e.g. Gn15-12 Abraham had ANXIETY on the vision of
what would happen to him over the next 400 years
vs. Dt28-66 You will FEAR Day and NIGHT.
(It is hard to prove exact nuances from the
verses--it may be more precise to state that
AYMAH is NON-SPECIFIC ANXIETY while PACHAD is
SPECIFIC FEAR. This would be consistent with
the etymology of AYMAH = AY MAH = WHERE IS IT?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN -- that is, ANXIETY is a state
of excessive concern on what will happen without
being specific.)
*13 SECRET FRAGRANCE and the TIGHTS are names of
perfumes in English also. They represent two
opposite approaches to intimacy (SECRETIVE
vs TIGHTS).
*14 Rashi brings about half a dozen verses where
the Hebrew root Shin-Mem-Ayin can mean either
HEAR or ACCEPT
========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 24 Number 4