13 Methods for inferring meaning:#7 of 32
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GOALS:
------
I decided its time for a longer unit.

This unit will focus on a major Rashi task--explaining
the MEANINGS OF WORDS.

Explaining the MEANINGS of WORDS is more than looking
something up in a dictionary. There are METHODS to
explaining WORDS.

Thus in this module we will explore HOW Rashi determines
the meanings of words.



TODAYS UNIT
-----------
In yesterdays unit we showed how Rashi inferred
the meaning of PEGS (YaThaYD) from THE USAGE OF
THE WORD IN VERSES. Upon inspection the last
footnote in the table yesterday was in error. We
therefore today and tomorrow explain
---How Rashi new the meaning of the Hebrew YTR--cord
---How Rashi new which Levite tribes carried which
   items

REFERENCE:
----------
This module comes from the following references in the
Rashi-is-Simple series.

http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h10n9.htm


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

EXAMPLE 17: RASHI: Ex35-18b  YTR means CORD

===== The Hebrew YTR means CORD--UNIFED MEANING APPROACH ========

 Rashi on Ex35-18b says that YTR means a CORD

 How do we know that the Hebrew word YTR means CORD?
 There are 2 approaches to explaining this meaning.
 We present both approaches and then show which one
 is preferable.

 First we use the technique of UNIFIED MEANINGS. RADACK
 presents a LIST of meanings of YTR in his book ROOTS.
 The unified meaning is LEFTOVER in the sense of SLACK

 Notice how the following list leaves a person with a
 an empty unsatisfied feeling. We havent really proven
 our point. Indeed, the LIST appears homiletic.

=================================================================
MEANING   Relation to LEFTOVER   VERSE     Text of Verse
========  =====================  =====     ======================
Leftover  Leftover               1Sam15-14 We destroyed the rest
More      LEFT OVER / SLACK      Ecc7-12   More to those who see
Finger    SLACK of LIVER *1      Ex29-13   Finger of liver
BowString Slack String on bow*2  Ps11-02   Arrow on bowstring
TentCord  Slack Cord for tent*3  Ex39-40   Tent peg & cord

NOTES
=====
*1 That is, the FINGER OF THE LIVER (Gall bladder?)
   looks like a protrusion, a SLACK or LEFT OVER
   protrusion from the LIVER

*2 Bow strings arent just strings---they function
   by providing slack to shoot

*3 A tent cord is not just any cord but rather a
   cord that provides slack by which to hold
   tight the tent
=================================================================



==== The Hebrew YTR means CORD-- MEANING BY USAGE APPROACH ======

 Rashi on Ex35-18b says that YTR means a CORD

 How do we know that the Hebrew word YTR means CORD?
 There are 2 approaches to explaining this meaning.
 We present both approaches and then show which one
 is preferable.

 We use the method of INFERRING MEANING FROM USAGE
 IN VERSES. Notice the punchiness of this derivation.
 Notice our feeling of certainty after reviewing this
 list. *4 *5
=================================================================
VERSE    TEXT OF VERSE WITH THE HEBERW YTR MEANING CORD
======== ========================================================
Isa54-02 Widen your tent..Lengthen its cords..strengthen its pegs
Jer10-20 My tent plundered..its cords broken..they do not support
Ex39-40  The courtyard curtains..their pegs and cords *1
Ps21-13  Prepare your bowstring against them*2
Ps11-02  They prepare their arrows on bowstrings *3

NOTES
=====
*1 The phrase THEIR PEGS AND CORDS occurs almost identically
   in several other verses such as Nu03-37, Nu04-32.
   We might also mention the parallel phrase of PEGS AND ROPES
   of a tent in Isa33-20 where the Hebrew word for ROPE
   is CHEVEL not YTR

*2 In this verse YTR refers to a BowString not to a tent string
   but the idea of string is the same

*3 This verse uses the Hebrew YeTeR without the prefix MEM
   as in MaYThaR. Both mean slack-cord.

*4 MYTR only occurs 9 times in the Bible; 6 referring to the
   temple

*5 In conclusion: The method of INFERRING MEANING BY USAGE
   IN VERSES is seen as superior---this corresponds to the
   Rabbi Ishmael rule of GENERALIZATION FROM SEVERAL VERSES.

   The method of UNIFIED MEANING can however supplement
   this method by making us aware of nuances. In this case
   we became aware that YTR refers not to any cord but rather
   to SLACK CORD.
===============================================================

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