Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Russ Bellon" <russbellon AT gmail.com>]

Pharoah's Cup bearer would have spoken in Eqyptian. Whatever Egyptian word
was used would have had its own subtle connotative distinctions. We can
assume that some shade of meaning overlapped with the Hebrew word used to
record the conversation but beyond that arguing the distinctions unique to
na'ar is not going to prove your theory.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: JimStinehart AT aol.com
> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:58:21 EDT
> Subject: [b-hebrew] 6-Month "Year"
>
> George:
> 1.  You wrote:  "The word *na`ar*  does not have as its basic meaning
> someone
> who is
> young of age.  Rather, it has the sense of someone who  is inexperienced.
> This often  corresponds with people who are young in age, and therefore
> who are
> inexperienced in life, but not always. It might also refer to someone who
> is
> inexperienced at a trade or profession (i.e., a trainee or
> apprentice).  In
> any case, it generally is indicative more of social status than
> actual  age."
> (a)  The Internet sources all seem to say that "na'ar" means what you say
> it
> does not mean:  "someone who is  young of age".
> Strong's definition of "na'ar":  "a boy…, from the age of infancy to
> adolescence;  by implication, a servant…: -- babe,  boy, child,…lad,
> servant, young
> (man)."
> Blue Letter Bible:  "a boy,  lad, youth, servant, retainer".
> Gesenius:  a boy or a  servant.
> (b)  But let's go with your  view that the primary meaning of "na'ar" is
> "someone who is inexperienced".  However, I hope you will agree that
> a  male age 8
> – 13 would be a "na'ar" in any event, regardless of how experienced  or
> inexperienced he might be.  Fair  enough?
> Now we ask the key question.  Is Joseph described in this text as being
> "inexperienced"?  Here is what the text says:
> "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand  all the
> prisoners
> that were in the prison;  and whatsoever they did there, he was the  doer
> of
> it.  The keeper of the  prison looked not to any thing that was under his
> hand,
> because the LORD [YHWH]  was with him;  and that which he  did, the LORD
> [YHWH] made it to prosper.  And it came to pass after these things, that
> the butler
> of the king of  Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of
> Egypt.  …
> And he put them in ward in the house of  the captain of the guard, into
> the
> prison, the place where Joseph was bound.  And the captain of the
> guard  charged
> Joseph to be with them, and he ministered unto them;  and they continued a
> season in  ward."  Genesis 39: 22-23;  40: 1,  3-

<snip more riffage on same irrelevent theme>
> Jim  Stinehart
> Evanston,  Illinois
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's new at
> http://www.aol.com
>
>
>
> --
> Russ Bellon