Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

Yaakov,

Yes. Very reasonably R' Akiba's SAPIR=white, granulated [as being  
composed of a CIBUR or SIPUR [otherwise, a CIBUR of words] of gems]  
marble polished to a high sheen. He, who is known to have paid great  
attention to the language, may have read LBNT as LEBENAT or LIBNAT.
The word K-MA-(ASEH in Exodus 24:10 indicates that reference is to  
something compounded or made.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On May 15, 2008, at 12:19 PM, Yaakov Stein wrote:

> > Assuming that SAPIR is a native Hebrew word, then its root is SPR
>
> I would say that it is related to $PYR, meaning beautiful.
>
> >  I don't know if what he said was before or after his visit to Rome
>
> Since Ben Azai and Ben Zoma were already his colleagues and not his
> students,
> I would guess the story is rather late in Akiba's life.
> His travels (to Babylonia and to Rome) were at the request of  
> Gamliel of
> Yavne.
>
> >  Technically speaking, the W-TAXAT RAGLAYW of Exodus 24:10 is, in my
> opinion, 'below his feet', not 'under his feet'
>
> Absolutely agree.
>
> So have we broken the code ?  Did Akiba translate SPYR as marble ?
> I am still unsure, but don't have any other explanation.
>
>
> Yaakov (J) Stein