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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] enesh Gesenius

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: phil-eng AT ighmail.com
  • Cc: BIblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] enesh Gesenius
  • Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:35:24 -0700

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/






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