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  • From: furuli AT online.no
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Nephesh and Mesopotamian Myths
  • Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 15:53:14 +0100

Dear Walter,

I teach Accadian, so I know that the answer is negative. I would just point out that in the Hebrew cognate language Accadian where they have the word ETEMMU referring to the spirit of a dead person (the word can also denote a necromancer, ( cf. Hebrew (I++YM), even there NAPISTU did not refer to an immortal soul. There is no word in Hebrew denoting any immortal part of man, as there is in Accadian and Ugaritic.


Best regards

Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo



Rolf asked:

"The Accadian word NAPI$TUM, which corresponds to Hebrew NP$, does it
ever denote an immmortal soul ?"


Dear Rolf,

I am not a Linguist. I do know, however, where you can get the answer to
your question. Try the ANE list hosted by the University of Chicago. They
have Linguists trained in Akkadian that "hang out" over there who would know
the answer (especially Bob Whiting who edits the Assyrian Annals series).
Another source is the COMPREHENSIVE multi-volumed "Real-Lexicon" on the
Akkadian Language used by ALL professional Assyriologists (this work also
noting Hebrew forms of Akkadian words and concepts).

Regards, Walter

Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld , M.A. Ed.
www.bibleorigins.net





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