Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Dear Vince,

>  > I know that this question has been addressed thoroughly on this list for
> >  the past few days, and I don't want to drag it out, but another question
> >  occurs to me and I thought it might be profitable to explore it.
>  > Is it possible that, over time, the term qadeshah became a technical
> >  term for prostitute and, at least in some usages, lost its cultic
> >  overtones? This is apparently what happened with the word KN(NY
> >  "Canaanite," which in some contexts is simply a synonym for "trader" or
> >  "merchant"-See Prov. 31:24; Zech. 14:21.
> >
> >  I don't know if this theory has any legs, but perhaps it's worth
>  > considering.

HH: The verse you have been concerned about is in Genesis 38, which 
is one of the early portions of Scripture, in my opinion. In the 
later portions of Scripture qadeshah has a connection with sacred 
activities. The word itself also suggests such a connection.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard