Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2004 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 23 Number 1 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h23n1.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Aug 19-th, 2004 WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
Whats new and hot in this issue? | ||
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE | |
COMING SOON | The FAQ will be posted on website soon | |
2 Letter Root | e.g.: ACR(farmer)=PERSON(Aleph)who DIGS(CR) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10 | |||
# | LIST | BRIEF SUMMARY OF RASHI EMPHASIZING USE OF RASHI RULES | |
7 | 854z | SHRTZ HAOF=INSECT BIRDS=flys;KRTH SHAFCHA=cut pourer=castrated | |
7 | 910h | DuChiFath = ENOUGH(Dai) to HANDLE(Caf)=Bird with DOUBLE CROP | |
7 | 815a | TEO = WILD OX = Animal that SCOUTS (TEO) out terrain | |
7 | 910j | AK=wild goat=ANIMAL(Aleph) of CLEFTS(KiK); | |
7 | 910k | KKV(star)=LIKE(K) Extinguished(KB);SLCH=bird like SNATCHER-Slh | |
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*10 The explanation of the list should be clear - The first column gives the NUMBER of the RASHI RULE used All Rashi rules may be found with examples at http://wwww.Rashiyomi.com/workbook.htm - The second column gives the LIST ID (eg LIST210z) which contains many examples of a particular Rashi technique and includes the example presented in the third column - The third column gives a lightning summary of the Rashi with particular emphasis on the Rashi rule used. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Dt14-04b | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
Dt14-04c | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
Dt14-17a | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
Dt14-18a | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
Dt14-19a | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
Dt23-02b | WORD MEANINGS | AKO=in clefts-wild goat,Shlch=snatchr | |
--------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt14-04b
RASHIS COVERED: Dt14-04b Dt14-04c Dt14-17a
Dt14-18a Dt14-19a Dt23-02b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals was the explanation of words the same way the dictionary explains words. Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain meaning. EXAMPLE - Words named by FUNCTION: TEO=Wild Ox=Scouter Dt14-04c --------------------------------------------------------------- The TEO, a wild Ox, is an animal that SCOUTS (TAH) before hunting EXAMPLE - IDIOMS: NEW MEANINGS Dt14-19a Dt23-02b ------------------------------------------------- - CASTRATED = Cut(KRUTH) Pourer(Shafchah) - FLYS = insect(SHERETZ) birds(HAOF) EXAMPLE - Words named by 2 letter roots Dt14-04b Dt14-17a --------------------------------------------------------- - The AKO (Wild goat) is an ANIMAL(Aleph) living in CLEFTS (kik) Here ALEPH means ANIMAL, PLANT or HUMAN Other examples are presented in the lists below - The SHLACH(bird of prey) is a bird whose hunting patterns RESEMBLE (Caph) DISLODGING (Sholeh) since it snatches fish from the sea Here CAPH means RESEMBLES. Other examples are presented in the lists below EXAMPLE - 4 Letter words = sum of meanings of 2 two letter words ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thus the DUCHIPATH=has ENOUGH (Dai) HANDLES (KAPH) and refers to a bird with a DOUBLE CROP | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NEW MEANINGS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST854z | |
List of 2-3 word | Biblical idioms | |
---------------------- | ------------------------ | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | 2-4 Letter roots | |
SEE BELOW | LIST910h | |
List of | 4 letter roots=sum of 2 letter roots | |
---------------------- | ------------------------ | |
SEE BELOW | LIST910j | |
List of | roots with ALEPH=Animal,Plant,person | |
---------------------- | ------------------------ | |
SEE BELOW | LIST910k | |
List of | roots with CAPH=resemble | |
---------------------- | ------------------------ | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | 8 METHODS OF NAMING | |
SEE BELOW | LIST815a | |
List of words | Naming by FUNCTION/PURPOSE |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||||
List of roots with ALEPH=Animal,Plant,person | |||||
Root | MEANS | ALEPH | that | Meaning of Last 2 letters | |
LVA | LION | Animal | that | does according to its HEART(LV) | |
LTZ | LIZARD | Animal | that | HIDES(LT) | |
AKO | WILD-GOAT | ANIMAL | that | lives in CLEFTS (KIK)*1 | |
AIL | RAM | ANIMAL | that | TOs (LAMED) the herd (leads the herd) | |
--- | --------- | ------ | ---- | ------------------------------------- | |
ASL | LeafTree | PLANT | that | Provides TRANQUILITY (SHALVAH) | |
AGZ | Nut | PLANT | that | looks SHAVEN(GZ) | |
PRA | WildGrass | PLANT | that | grows WILDLY (PRA) | |
BCA | WeepWilow | PLANT | that | looks like it is CRYING (BCA) | |
--- | --------- | ------ | ---- | ------------------------------------- | |
ACR | Farmer | PERSON | that | DIGS(CR) | |
ARX | Guest | PERSON | from | STREETS (RVCH) | |
AM | Mother | PERSON | who | is SOURCE (MEM) | |
SNA | Hated | PERSON | who | is a THORN(SNH) in my side | |
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*1 Dt14-04b Rashi. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of roots with CAPH=resemble | ||||
Root | Means | KAPH=LIKE | Meaning of last two letters | |
CLV | Dog Does | LIKE Its H | EART (LAV) | |
CYR | MultiBushel Pot | Like | SPACIOUSNESS (RVCh) | |
CDR | Ball | Like | something FREE (DRR) | |
KVR | Sieve | Like | a SEPARATOR (BRR) | |
KKV | Star | Like | something EXTINGUISHED (KBH) | |
SLK | Bird of prey | Like | DISLODGING (SLH)*1 | |
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*1 Rashi, Dt14-17a. This refers to a bird that snatches fish from the sea |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of words Naming by FUNCTION/PURPOSE*10 | |||
# | The function of NAME | Relation to FUNCTION | |
(4) | The function of UNITED NATIONS | is to unite countries | |
(5) | The function of LAWNMOWERS | is to MOW your LAWN | |
(6) | The function of HANGERS | is to HANG clothing | |
(7) | The function of PHOTOCOPIERS | is to make COPIES*6 | |
(8) | The function of HEARing aids | is to help you HEAR | |
(9) | The function of TELeVISIONs | is that it TELls VISION | |
(10) | The function of CAN OPENERs | is that it OPENS CANS | |
(11) | The function of TYPEWRITERs | is that it WRITES in TYPE | |
(13) | The function of STANDs | on which you STAND stings | |
-------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | |
Gn08-02b | The function of SHEEP PENS | is TO WITHOLD going out*1 | |
Gn23-06a | The function of SHEEP PENS | is TO WITHOLD going out*1 | |
Ex36-06a | The function of SHEEP PENS | is TO WITHOLD going out*1 | |
Gn24-11a | The function of the KNEE | is to BEND / KNEEL*2 | |
Nu15-38a | The purpose of Tzitzith | is to GLARE at them*3 | |
Dt14-04c | The function of the WILD OX | is to SCOUT(Tah) out | |
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*1 Hence the verses ------------------------------------------ Gn08-02b Rain was WITHELD from the heavens Gn23-06a No person will WITHOLD their land from you Ex36-06a The nation WITHELD further bringing -------------------------------------------- *2 Hence the meanings of KNEELING and LIEING DOWN *3 That is to GLARE at them and remind one of ones obligation to do Mitzvoth. | |||
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10* Here is a nifty example. The PENTAGON is named by its FORM (Looks like a PENTAGON) while the UNITED NATION is named by its FUNCTION |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of 4 letter roots=sum of 2 letter roots | ||||
4 LETTER ROOT | MEANING | 1st 2 LETTERS | LAST 2 LETTERS | |
DuChiFath | Enough Handl | Enough(DAI) | KAPH(Handles)*9 | |
YeHoShuA*8 | God will Sav | God (YAH) | Will Save(SHA) | |
AVRAYCH*1*4 | Good leader | Father | Gentle/soft | |
MMZR*1 | Illegitimate | Blemished | (From a)Stranger | |
ARAL | Angel | Lion (of) | God | |
BLAD | Except | Without (BLi) | Others | |
BRZL | Iron | Strong (BRi) | Branch (ZLZL) | |
ZLAF | Fright | Worthless | (and) Fatigued*3 | |
SRAF | Branches | A Pot (ie nest) | (for) Birds *2 | |
PANAYACH | Insightful | Brings out(POA) | The Hidden(NAX)*5 | |
ChachLiL | Intoxicating | Swirling(LL) | the palate(XC)*6 | |
SnaPir | Fish fins | Shrub like(SN) | used to fly*7 | |
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*1 There are two approaches to 4 letter roots. Sometimes we try and see them as 2 two letter roots and sometimes we try and see them as a 3 letter root with an extra letter. Thus ASTR is explained in the Talmud as ASR. Rav Hirsch stuck to the 3 letter approach even in obvious cases--thus he takes MMZR from MZR a rare word in Job. Similarly Rashi cites a controversy on AVRAYCH: -- A double 2 letter approach would yield: AVRAYCH=Gentle(Rc) Father(Av) -- A 3 letter approach would yield: AVRAYCH=Kneel (Brch) to me (Aleph) *2 Note the poetic lisence in e.g. SRAF = BIRD(AF) POT (SiR)= Something for Bird nests This type of small poetic lisence is common in etymologies and makes their study difficult *3 Note the finer nuances in some translations. For example ZLAF occurs rarely in TNACH and its meaning is inferred from its context. The RDQ in his book of ROOTS says its meaning is SOME TYPE OF FRIGHT....this could go well with the verse cited by RDK: "fright has overtaken me" But perhaps a BETTER translation is feeling worthless and tired So that the verse with ZLAF would mean WORTHLESSNESS & FATIGUE HAS OVERTAKEN ME Then again perhaps there is no way to see which translation is better *4 Rashi Gn41-43b *5 Rashi Gn41-45 *6 Rashi Gn49-12a *7 The following may help: - PRCh means to FLY; in connection with fish it could refer to swimming throughout the water - SN can mean THORNBUSH or BRANCHES (Songs07-09). I therefore suggest it means SHRUB like. So SN-PR would refer to SHRUB-LIKE(SN) protrusions by which a fish FLYES (PR) - SNPR. *8 Rashi Nu13-16a *9 The reference is to a bird with a DOUBLE CROP. Since DU in ARAMAIC means TWO it appears that Rashi is saying ------------------------------------------------- DuChiFath = Double(DU) Handle(Caph)=Double CRop ------------------------------------------------- However we think it preferable that Rashi used Hebrew roots to explain Hebrew words(Provided simple exaplanations exist) Hence we read Rashi as saying -------------------------------------- DuChiFath = ENOUGH (Dai) Handles(CAPH) -------------------------------------- Thus the word does not DIRECTLY mean DOUBLE CROP. Rather the essential meaning of the word is ENOUGH HANDLES. The method by which this particular bird implements this ENOUGHNESS is thru use of the DOUBLE CROP. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
A List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY LIST854z continues LIST854d | ||||
VERSE | BIBLICAL PHRASE | TRANSLATION | NOTES | |
Dt14-19a | BIRD INSECT | flys | ||
Dt23-02b | CUT POURER | castrated | ||
Lv01-15c | BLOOD BE SQUEEZED | Squash animal on wall | *7 | |
Ex30-27f | BY ITSELF BY ITSELF | Equally for each one | ||
Ex30-04a | SIDE OF SIDES | Corner | *6 | |
Ex14-05b | CHANGE OF HEART | Changed his mind | ||
Gn43-29a | FIND GRACE | Wish(ed) you well | *5 | |
Gn24-57a | ASK HER MOUTH | Discuss/get opinions | *4 | |
Ex12-06d | BETWEEN THE EVES | NOON | *3 | |
Gn37-03a | SON OF OLD AGE | Youngest | *1 | |
Gn37-26b | COVER BLOOD | Conceal murder | *2 | |
Ex21-21a | DAY OR DAYS | 24 hours | ||
Lv13-39a | DULL WHITE | DULL WHITE | ||
Lv16-08a | PLACE A LOT | Have a lottery | *9 | |
Lv13-20a | SHALLOW APPEARANCE | DEEP wound | *8 *11 | |
Lv13-03b | DEEP APPEARANCE | DEEP wound | *8 *11 | |
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*1 Rashi points out 3 equally possible meanings - Youngest son (Son born while father was ELDERLY) - Wisest son (ELDER=WISDOM) - Son who resembles father (despite old age he still looks like son) *2 This is an example of a DOUBLE METONOMY Blood is ASSOCIATED with life and COVER is associated with denial. Hence COVER-BLOOD=conceal-murder *3 NOON is the midpoint between EVE and DAWN. Hence NOON is the BETWEEN THE EVES. *4 The context is the proposed marriage of 15 year old Rivkah to Isaac from another country. The offer had been made by the servant of Abraham to Rivkahs family The Biblical text states: Let us(her parents) ASK HER MOUTH This is the ONLY time in the Bible that this phrase occurs(The verb ASK occurs frequently). Apparently this phrase means - Lets DISCUSS or LETS GET AN OPINION*10 Such an interpretation is appropriate for a marriage decision *5 FIND-GRACE can equally mean I WISH YOU WELL or YOU WERE WISHED WELL. Rashi points out that GRACE by itself has this same connotation (Without the full phrase FIND GRACE). See LIST854g for further details *6 Tzade-Lamed-Ayin means SIDE (and hence can refer to the RIBS). Thus Ex30-04 speaks about the SIDE OF SIDES--that is the CORNER. *7 Actually the idiom consists of two parts - SQUEEZE the blood - use of the passive (Blood is SQUEEZED) Hence the idea that the slaughtered animal is pushed against the altar wall until the blood oozes forth. *8 In other words the WHITE PATCHES on the skin appear to be a DEEP WOUND (rather than a superficial skin discoloring) *11 *9 The Bible uses a variety of phrases to indicate lotteries such as - SHOOT A LOT Jo18-06 - THROW A LOT Jo18-08 - RAISE A LOT Jo18-11 - PLACE A LOT Lv16-08 - CAST A LOT Is34-17 *12 | ||||
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*10 Hence the Rashi on Gn24-57b: The Biblical text states that Rivkah responded: I WILL GO. But Rashi, surprisingly states: I WILL GO WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. Why did Rashi read such an emphasis into the simple question and answer ------------------------------------------ PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man RIVKAH: I will go. ------------------------------------------ The answer is that the Bible says ------------------------------------------ PARENTS: We will DISCUSS THE MATTER with her; get her opinion PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man RIVKAH: I will go. ------------------------------------------ Thus the context shows that Rivkah was not INTERESTED IN A DISCUSSION--she had already made up her mind *11 Rashi appears to say the following --------------------------------------- ALL WHITE appears deep; like the SUNLIT part appears deeper than the SHADE --------------------------------------- But the sunlit part does NOT appear deeper than shade. Hence we interpret this Rashi as follows -------------------------------------------- [The skin whiteness is not speckled but] ALL WHITE; [it appears] deep like a BURN appears deeper than just on SURFACE OF SKIN --------------------------------------------- By comparing the capped words in these two interpretations of Rashi we infer that we interpret - ChaMMaH as meaning BURN vs SUNLIT - SHADE as referring to non-burnt skin (vs shade) We also interpret -- [The skin is] ALL WHITE (not speckled); It appears... vs -- ALL WHITE APPEARS DEEP (This is a change in punctuation) *12 Superficially these phrases seem to be the same However Rashi on Lv16-08 states that PLACE A LOT means CASTING A LOT and PLACING the WINNING/LOSING TICKETS on the winners/losers. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#