Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Bryan:

As far as I can tell, the names are Semitic. But then, if the 
pharaoh in question was Hyksos as I believe, even 
Hyksos midwives assigned to the Hebrews would have 
Semitic names.

Assuming that they are Hebrew, PW(H apparently comes 
from the same root as P(H, attested to only once in 
Tanakh with a doubtful meaning of crying out in pain. 

Can you imagine a father who wanted a son, and the 
cry from the infant was a painful reminder that he had 
a daughter?

$PRH is found as "brightness", related to shofar $PR and 
royal pavilion $PRWR and a verb apparently meaning to 
give a bright and lusty sound.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>
> 
> Hi Dave,
> 
> The names look Hebrew to me, but I haven't been able to confirm this for
> sure.  If they are Hebrew names, they may be nicknames.  I say this
> because the proposed meanings are "beautiful" and "sparkly" (I think I
> got the info from HALOT).  Such a pair of meanings for midwives seems
> too literary to be true.
> 
> Shalom,
> Bryan

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