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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 3:15 and order of ideas

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  • From: "Isaac Fried" <if AT math.bu.edu>
  • To: "Gary Dikeman" <grbike AT sbcglobal.net>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 3:15 and order of ideas
  • Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 07:51:05 +0200

Gary,

The root ZR( essentially means 'spread'. Hence ZERA( for the loose plant seeds to be disposed and fanned out over the earth as in Genesis 1:11, also 'sperm, semen' for the emitted fertilizing fluid, as in Leviticus 15:32, and the result of procreation multiplying and spreading over the land as in Genesis 13:16.

From the same root we have also ZRO(A , 'arm', as in Deuteronomy 33:20, for
the folding up and spreading out upper, or for-, limb system.

Notice also the semantic affinity of the roots ZR( and SR( [with sin], 'spread out', as in Isaiah 28:20.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Dikeman" <grbike AT sbcglobal.net>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 5:04 AM
Subject: [b-hebrew] Genesis 3:15 and order of ideas
[cut]

The real question at this point is whether the Hebrew word zera is meant to convey the idea of offspring, or at least whether or not this is the sole intent of the word as used here.
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