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  • From: Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>
  • To: Mike Tisdell <mike AT netronix.com>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Euphemistic curse
  • Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 16:29:15 -0400

Mike,

I am not sure what you mean by "euphemism", but you may be overlooking a simple thing. The root BRK is neutral, all it refers to is material aggregation. Indeed the root BRK spawned the disparate words BRAK-AH, 'blessing', BEREK, 'knee', and BREK-AH, 'pool', that have all nothing in common [discounting the "common wisdom" about kneeling during blessing, or for sipping water from a pool.] In this general sense BARAK may be but a variant of CARAX, 'screamed, shrieked, yelled, shouted', as in Isaiah 42:13, which has also nothing to do with CRIAX, 'turret, spire'.
The root BRK is also akin to BRX, 'separate, escape', BRQ, 'polish, shimmer, discharge', PRX, 'flourish', PRK, 'brittle' and PRQ, 'take apart'. Notice that DBR generated, among other, the distinct words DIBR-AH, 'saying', DOBR-AH, 'raft' and DBAR-IM, 'things'.
So, BERAK-TA of 1 Kings 21:10 is easily just 'talked loosely, spread loose talk'. In its essence, QLL, 'curse', is also but raise the voice, 'QOL', to GLL, 'roll, [bad words]', or to KLL, 'accumulate, include, [bad words of ill meaning]'. The kindred HLL is the same accumulation, but of good words.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On May 12, 2008, at 10:35 AM, Mike Tisdell wrote:

Can anyone tell me the basis for treating BRK as a euphemistic curse i.e. as is
translated in Job 1:5,11; 2:5, 9; 1 Ki 21:10, etc.?

Is there anything published that deals with this Euphemism?

Thanks,

Mike Tisdell

San Jose, CA
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