Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Dear Chris,

> 1.      Please forgive my ignorance (I do not yet have a specialised book for
> this) but is the hebrew word ToRaH a feminine singular active participle
> from the root 'yod resh heh' . If this is correct can anyone explain how the
> 'yod' was replaced with a 'tav'?

HH: Do you have a lexicon? TORAH is a noun. It is developed from the 
verb YRH, but it is a noun. There are many ways that nouns can form.

> 2.	Is SHeOL (shin alef vav lamed) an infinite constuct derived 
> from the root
> 'shin aleph lamed' (To inquire, ask intently, desire)?
>
>  I always apreciate the help so that I can be sure that I am understanding
> things correctly.

HH: The lexicon I have indicates that the derivation of Sheol is 
uncertain. it could be related to the verb ask.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard