Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Yigal:
I don't know this word HXL other than as an hiphil of the verb XLL.

XLL does not mean "to profane" except in a derivative sense. Similar to the
Greek word "koinos", it has the meaning of making common, the opposite of
setting apart, making special QD$ and "hagios". In the hiphil "to cause to
make common" is also used in the sense of bringing into production. XL
"sand", a derivative from the same root, is a common material that is
nothing special. The idea of profanation comes from the idea that treating
something that should be set apart, special, as a mere commonality is
profaning it. Not every use of making common carries with it the idea of
profanation; bringing a field or vineyard into production is a good thing.

I would translate that phrase, "Then it was caused to make common to call
upon the name of YHWH."

Karl W. Randolph.

On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 8:02 PM, Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il> wrote:

> Dear Eva,
>
> I'm not sure what translation you're reading, but in the Hebrew the word
> "men" is not there. What it says is "To Seth, to him also a son was born;
> and he called his name Enosh. Then it was begun to call upon the name of
> the
> LORD." In Enflish, the phraze "Then it was begun" is a little stiff, so the
> translator added the word "men" - "then men began...". Since "Enosh" means
> "man", this might have been understood as an explaination of the name.
>
> The Hebrew word used for "Began" is "huxal". This is similar to the word
> "xalal" which means "profane", but it's not the same word. The form used
> here actually comes from "haxel" which means "to begin". No "profane" it
> the
> verse at all.
>
> Yigal Levin
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <thebodyofjesusthenazoraion AT juno.com>
> To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 1:18 AM
> Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] b-hebrew Digest, Vol 71, Issue 14
>
>
> >
> > NAU Genesis 4:26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his
> > name Enosh. Then men (Chalal  To profane) began to call upon the name of
> > the LORD.  Chalal means To profane or defile
> > It should be where men began is. Should it not read . ... the defiling of
> > the name of the  YHWH?
> > I don't know why chalal is translated men?
> >
> > Someone explain?
> >
> > Eva Ritsema
>