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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Re: Genesis 1:6-7, 8:1, Waters Above and Below

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: Noam Eitan <neitian AT nyc.rr.com>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Re: Genesis 1:6-7, 8:1, Waters Above and Below
  • Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 02:36:44 -0700

On 14/06/2004 17:49, Noam Eitan wrote:

...

BTW - how about the etymology of shamayim: sham-mayim (water-there) - does
it have any validity, or is it a zwei Groschen etymology?
Noam Eitan, Brooklyn, NY



I think this is worth zwei Groschen but possibly more than two of the smallest units of exchange used in ancient Sumer. Both mayim and shamayim are derived from common Semitic roots found in almost every Semitic language. In most of these languages the word for "sky" is the similar to the word for "water" plus a prefixed s- or sh-. (The only complete exception is Modern Mandaic erqiha "sky", obviously linked to raqia`.) So it is possible that "sky" goes back to something like "there water", but if so the naming must go back at least to proto-Semitic times - perhaps even to Adam in the garden!

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





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