Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

Dr. Joe Sprinkle:

Where in Tenakh does NP$ have the meaning of “throat” or “gullet”? I missed 
it and would like a reminder.

I thought the word for throat or gullet was GRWN garown as opposed to GRGRWT 
gargarowt refering to the outside of the throat or (RP orep meaning neck.

I am rather concrete in my understanding of Biblical Hebrew words: use only 
meanings that are used in Tenakh, not hypothetic meanings nowhere used.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Joe Sprinkle" <jsprinkle AT crossroadscollege.edu>

>
<snip>
> 
> My point more generally is that this word seems to have a wide range of
> meanings contextually.  As I try to trace the word's hypothetical history,
> the following is a reasonable guess:  NEPHESH it starts with the concrete
> meaning of "throat/gullet."  By synecdoche (a part representing the whole)
> gullet can stand for the body.  That develops two ways: the meaning of
> "self" (Bless the LORD, O my NEPHESH -- though the original meaning of
> gullet is not entirely left behind here) or "person" or "entity," and can
> refer more concretely to the body, especially a dead body (rendered "corpse"
> or similar).  But since throat is associated with eating, the meaning
> "appetite" could naturally follow by metonymy.  Likewise the throat is
> associated with breathing, so again by metonymy the associated meaning
> "breath" is a natural development.  But since breath is associated with
> life, the meaning "life" naturally follows from the meaning "breath."  But
> since the gullet is also the seat of the feelings, the sense of "emotion,
> feelings" follows as well.
> 
> It is an interesting word with a very broad semantic range and no English
> equivalent.
> 
<snip>
> 
> Joe
-- 
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