Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Jim West <jwest AT Highland.Net>]

At 12:08 AM 8/24/99 -0400, you wrote:

>
>On a related topic, can anyone explain how Shem can also be used for
>'Semite' !(ben'ey Shem). How did this derivation from Noah's son come to
>mean both Semetic people as well as a term defined as "the name." ? Was
>this some kind of odd mixup with the Hebrew or is it from some other
>greater reasoning?

These really are two different words which merely are spelled alike- just
like the English words "light" = not heavy; and "light" = illumination froma
source such as the sun or a lamp.  I dont think anyone would assume there is
some etymololgical link between these two.

Best,

Jim

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
email- jwest AT highland.net
web page-  http://web.infoave.net/~jwest