Philip Engmann wrote:
Dear Listees, Deut 32:41 reads, ??????? ????? ???????, ?????????????? ?????????
This may not be new to many, but I find it interesting that see the last word
in the stitch, i.e. ????????? , root, ??? 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?
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Ishinan: Like in any language, there exists "homonyms". Hebrew, a Semitic
language is no exception.
Incidentally, I posted a similar response on the very same subject (in August
2009) which I am reproducing below:
"The following are Hebrew scholars, who wrote extensively on the topic of
Hebrew homonyms:
AARON BEN MOSES BEN ASHER who compiled a list of eighty homonyms, "Shemonim
Zugim," which was afterward incorporated in the "Masora Finalis," s.v. ?, and
in the "Oklah we-Oklah" . Aaron ben Moses may be regarded as the connecting
link between the Masorites and the grammarians.
DAPIERA, SOLOMON BEN MESHULLAM (Neo-Hebraic poet of North Spain; died after
1417) compiled a comprehensive dictionary of rimes in three parts, two of which
dealt with homonyms and synonyms
IBN BAL'AM, ABU ZAKARYA YAHYA (R. JUDAH) (Hebrew grammarian of Toledo, Spain,
about 1070-90.) "Ta'lif fi al-Mu?abi? wal-Mujanis" (in Hebrew, "Sefer
ha-Tagnis"), on Hebrew homonyms, still unpublished. Only a fragment of the
original Arabic has been preserved (see Poznanski in "R. E. J." xxxvi. 298).
HEILPRIN, JEHIEL BEN SOLOMON: (Lithuanian rabbi, cabalist, and chronicler; born
about 1660; died at Minsk about 1746). Of Heilprin's numerous works, mentioned
in the "Seder ha-Dorot," the only one which has been published is "'Erke
ha-Kinnuyim," a dictionary of synonyms and homonyms occurring in the Bible,
Talmud, and other works, chiefly cabalistic (Dyhernfurth, 1806).
MOSES BEN MAIMON (Talmudist, philosopher, astronomer, and physician; born at
Cordova March 30, 1135; died at Cairo Dec. 13."
Arabic, a sister language, displays a similar situation. While Salam (slAm)
means peace and recociliation, it has a "homonym" which means: destroying
someone ('Aslamahu lil halkah). Further, the (pre-Islamic) Classical Arabic
language displays an array of unrelated meanings such as:
Salam: Safe and secure, escaped from evils, or trials and afflictions; Salam:
Salutaions; Salam: Peace and reconciliation.
sullam: Ladder.
Sulamiy: Southerly
Sulmiy: The leaves of Theban palm.
Sulamiy: Bones in the camel's foot; Sulamiyah: Any of the fingers.
Sullmu: A name of a famous Arabian stallion.
Salam: He made him captive.
Tasliym: conceding, 'Istislam: Surrender.
Aslam: Leaving behind.
Aslam: Acknowledging the truth.
Salimah: A stone.
Salm: The biting of a snake.
'Aslam: A sale, paying in advance; receiving namely a thing delivered.
All of these are cases of "homonyms" in Arabic. The same applies to Hebrew.
Best regards,
Ishinan Ishibashi_______________________________________________
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