Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Kirk Lowery <klowery AT wts.edu>]

Trevor Peterson wrote:

> > ===== Original Message From watts-westmaas <watts-westmaas AT zonnet.nl> =====
> > And why would a verb,
> > (BRCH), that essentially linked to 'Kneeling' also be used to mean 'To
> > Curse' since I know of at least 4 hebrew words for 'Curse'? Thankyou all.
> >    
>
> I think it's generally understood to be a euphemism, so instead of actually 
> saying "curse," you could be more polite by saying "bless."
>  
Here are some places where BRK is understood to be euphemistic:

1 Kings 21:10,13
Job 1:5,11

Blessings (no euphemism intended! :-)

Kirk
--
Kirk E. Lowery, Ph.D.
Director, Westminster Hebrew Institute
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament
Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

Theorie ist, wenn man alles weiss und nichts klappt.
Praxis ist, wenn alles klappt und keiner weiss warum.
Bei uns sind Theorie und Praxis vereint:
nichts klappt und keiner weiss warum!

>