Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net>]

Isaac Fried wrote:
> It appears to me that YASHAN, 'old' is but a variant of YESHNO, 
> 'exists'. Finding a "contrast" to this is not an easy matter, but in 
> view of the apparent affinity of the roots GD$, XD$ and QD$, it seems 
> that XADASH existentially means 'added'. 

HH: Isaac, YESHNO is not an independent word but is YESH with a suffix. 
Y$N is a triliteral root that also means "old" in Ugaritic. The roots 
GD$ and QD$ have no certifiable connection with XD$ in meaning. YASHAN 
means old and XADA$ means new.  Renew is a possible meaning for the verb 
XD$, so the idea of the adjective meaning "renewed" is not outside the 
realm of possibility. But it evidently does not mean that in Jer 
31:31-33, where the context indicates otherwise. And in fact OT usage 
does not really confirm the meaning of "renewed" for the adjective so 
far as I have seen.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard