Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 21/09/2003 07:00, Philip Engmann wrote:

> Gesenius[1]  defines wn@xe ('enesh) as "a primitive word, in singular
> not used, signifying A MAN, vir, hence  homo, man in general. The
> Hebrews used for it the contracted and softer form, wyxi ('ish).
> (compare Greek eiV for enV, gen. enoV), a man, vir, also the prolonged
> form wOnx< ('enowsh) homo. From the primary form is the feminine hw.Axi
> ('ishah) for hwAn4xi ('inshah), and plural Mywin!x3 ('anashim).
> The signification of sickness and disease which is found in the root
> wn1xA ('anash), is taken from another source (from the theme wn)
> altogether foreign to this noun as a root".
>
>
> Can anyone comment on the last paragraph?
> "The signification of sickness and disease which is found in the root
> wn1xA ('anash), is taken from another source [from the theme wn (nsh)]
> altogether foreign to this noun as a root".
>
>
>  _____  
>
> [1] H. W. F. Gesenius, Gesenius's Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old
> Testament, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1979. Page 66,
> Section 606.
>
>
>
>  
Probably Gesenius is trying to say that there are two unrelated roots 
alef-nun-shin, one meaning "man" and the other "sickness". But his whole 
discussion is based on the fallacy that the meaning of a word is 
determined by its root. The English word "nice" is derived from the 
Latin "nescius" = "ignorant", and the great difference of meaing between 
"nice" and "ignorant" does not disprove that.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/