Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Peter:

Now we are getting back into a discussion of the evolution of the Hebrew 
language. I thought that was off list.

I disagree.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>

>
> Hebrew XBL is (according to BDB) related to two quite different Arabic 
> words with different letters and sounds for the first radical. According 
> to many scholars, this suggests two different pronunciations in early 
> Hebrew. One of the Arabic verbs (with a pharyngeal fricative rough H 
> sound) means "bind"; the other (with a uvular fricative KH sound) means 
> "corrupt or render unsound" or (in another form) "be deranged (in mind)" 
> (quoting BDB here). BDB links the words XABAL "act (ruinously) 
> corruptly) and XEBEL "destruction" with the latter root, and the other 
> senses to the former root. The details are uncertain, but the evidence 
> suggests at least that it is dangerous to try too hard to find a common 
> meaning.
> 
> -- 
> Peter Kirk
> peter AT qaya.org (personal)
> peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
> http://www.qaya.org/
-- 
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