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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] A linguistic chain?

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>
  • To: Steve Miller <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>
  • Cc: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.Ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] A linguistic chain?
  • Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 23:12:28 +0000

On 14/01/2006 19:42, Steve Miller wrote:

There is also the Semite Ophir, spelled with the consonants Aleph Phei Resh,
transliterated to English as AFR. Add "ica" for a continent, and you have
Africa. Ophir in the Bible is always the place of much gold. South Africa
has 60% of the world's natural gold resources.


Remember that Afar is a region, a people and a language in Ethiopia and the neighbouring region, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar. The link to Ophir is surely quite strong, given the standard shift in Hebrew and Canaanite long A to long O, and this region makes a lot of sense as the source or at least trading port for Solomon's gold.

But see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#Etymology for the origin of the name "Africa". It is probably derived from a different, Berber people called the Afri, but there may also be a link with Semitic 'afar.

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





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