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b-hebrew - Re: [b-Hebrew] Elohim

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: Bearpecs AT aol.com
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-Hebrew] Elohim
  • Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 02:57:30 -0800

On 27/01/2004 20:54, Bearpecs AT aol.com wrote:

I've read that the singular G-d is 'el -- and 'eloah is a back-formation without basis in other Semitic languages. ...

What about elah (Aramaic) and allah, ilah (Arabic)? What about cuneiform -(i)lu(h)a and -ila(h)i? What about Ugaritic plural 'ilhm, fem 'ilht? What about old south Arabic 'LH, fem 'LHT? All of these have a clearly pronounced h as a root letter, as h is not used as a silent letter/mater in these languages. See HALOT for most of this evidence.

... Does anyone have a citation or (better yet) a proof one way or the other?

Is 'elohim the plural (a) of 'eloah, or (b) of 'el?

(a). This is clearly true by the regular rules of making a plural. In principle (b) could also be true (one plural can have several singulars e.g. "axes" in English). But a plural ending with a he in it would be unique in Hebrew.


--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/





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