Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Awohili AT aol.com]

"Egypt" is *khme* in Sahidic Coptic and *kimi* in Bohairic, reflecting the  
hieroglphic KMT, usually vocalized as "Kemet."  It is from Egyptian  (Coptic) 
*kmom*, "to be, become black."  In Bohairic Coptic, an Egyptian is  
*remenkimi*, "a person of Egypt."
 
However, the Amarna Tablets use *misri*, similar to the Arabic  *misr*.  It 
is found in the Qur'an at 2:61, though some translators prefer  to simply use 
"town" as the translation there.  I would think that *misr*  is Semitic and 
related to the Hebrew word.
 
Solomon Landers
 
In a message dated 3/22/2007 3:47:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il writes:

The  Egyptians themselves called their land KMT (vocalllization unclear), 
which  means "black", referring to the dark earth of the fertile Nile valley, 
as  compared with the "yellow" sands of the surrounding deserts (so I have  
been taught - I do not claim to be an expert on  Egyptian).



 
" The one loving his soul will lose it, and the one hating his  soul in this 
world will find it, for life forever."
–- Coptic John  12:25



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