Hi Philip, Keep in mind that the change in meaning occurs with the change of Binyan: from Qal to Pi'el.
As for why the change in meaning from 'peace' to 'vengeance', one speculation is as good as another. Here is one - the root $LM refers to 'wholeness'; 'peace' is a secondary meaning. Exacting revenge or recompense is another way of restoring a 'wholeness' to a situation. You may wish to look up the Piel noun-formation of this root 'Shillum', Also the changes of this root from Qal to Piel in Arabic (they have different names) of the verb SLM, the equivalent in this case of the Hebrew &LM. Uri Hurwitz Dear Listees, Deut 32:41 reads, אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי, וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם This may not be new to many, but I find it interesting that see the last word in the stitch, i.e. אֲשַׁלֵּם , root,שלם so often used to denote peace is being used here in totally non-peaceful terms as: “to requite/ revenge, repay”? What are you thoughts on this please? Many thanks, Philip Engmann _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
