Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Dear Eva,

The Hebrew word for "father" is actually "Ab", which is totally masculine in
form. If anything, one should wonder why "Em" - "mother" - does not have a
typically feminine suffix. And like you wrote, the plural "Abot" has a
feminine ending. "Aba" is Aramaic and usually ends with an Aleph, not
feminine at all. 

As far as God's gender - the world of ancient Israel and its surroundings
was purely patriarchal and male-dominated. Thus God is described as
"Father", "King" etc. To a certain extent, this is human society creating
God in its own image. While theology is not the topic of this list, I doubt
that any present-day Jewish or Christian theologian would deny, that a God
who is without physical form is neither male or female - or maybe is both.

Yigal Levin

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
thebodyofjesusthenazoraion AT juno.com
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 5:46 PM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] b-hebrew tAba'


 tAba' fathers/ Some masculine plural nouns look feminine: 

Why can't fathers be parents or male and female? In Gen. it tells us that
male and female were created in the Image of Elohim.
So why is Elohim not understood as male and female?

Eva Ritsema

____________________________________________________________
Click to become a master auto mechanic, get free information today!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/fc/BLSrjnsCmXNiG2i1A4mWSzHiyriX98K4
fahzAEUCkxF4jmn5RmpQghOyM4Q/
_______________________________________________
b-hebrew mailing list
b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.32/2117 - Release Date: 05/15/09
17:55:00