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  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben and Jo Crick)
  • To: b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: meaning of golem
  • Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:48:39 +0100


On Tue 10 Sep 2002 (20:55:38 +1000), ansteyfamily AT optusnet.com.au wrote:
> BDB gives the meaning of golem in psa 149:16 as "embryo" but would the
> author have known about embryos? Any other suggestions for the meaning
> here of this hapax? And do you think it is related to galam "to fold up",
> gelom "large garment", both also hapaxes?
>
Dear Matthew,

I assume you mean Psalm 139:16. This is a L:DaWiD psalm, attributed to the
sweet Psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1). The context of verses 13-16 makes
it
clear that the unborn fetus or embryo is intended. Compare Ecclesiastes 11:5.

Verse 15 compares the dark and mysterious womb with the dark and mysterious
nether world.

Root G-L-M seems to mean "rolled up"; a reasonable description of the unhorn
child in the "fetal position".

FWIW, the Septuagint has AKATERGASTON MOU for GoL:MiY. If KATERGAZOMAI is to
finish doing something, then AKATERGAZOMAI would be not to have finished
something; so "my unfinished or unformed [body]" seems to be the meaning.
Aramaic GoL:Ma is an "unfinished vessel", or so I'm told.

HTH

Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm







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