Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Chris,

> Are there any meaningful implications that can be drawn from the common use
> of the word: 'BaCHoR' Firstborn and the idea attached to 'PeTeR' as in for
> example 'PeTeR RaCHaM'' at first I thought nothing more of it until I saw
> the Verses from Exodus 13:12-16 where there is constant interchanging
> between the two manners of expressing the 'Firstborn'?

HH: I think they are two slightly different expressions of the same 
essential reality. PTR indicates that which first opens or separates 
the womb, while BKWR simply stresses being the first-born.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard