Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Paul Zellmer" <pzellmer AT sc.rr.com>]

Fred,

While the parts of the two roots remaining in the forms found in the verse 
are identical, "two letter consonantal root(s)" are basically non-existent in 
Hebrew.  And there are several ways in which trilateral roots reduce to 
biliteral representations.

The traditional roots for these specific occurrences, the ones resulting in 
our current translations, are חלל (the same root as the nominal form תחלה - 
beginning, first) and חיל (from חול).  If, as I personally believe based on 
the context, these identifications are correct, then the answers to your 
musings would be: 1) the author did not grasp at all to choose these words.  
They were words normally used to express the thoughts expressed in the verse. 
 That their surface representations were similar is merely accidental.  2) 
the two remaining root letters come neither from there being a common root or 
an illusion.  They result from two different phonological processes in the 
language.  3) The two words have different meanings, and their roots have 
different meanings.

If you wish to posit that the two come from a single root, you are welcome to 
do so.  However, the burden then lies on your shoulders to defend what that 
root is (remember--triliteral) and what it means.  To present options of 
alternate roots is an acceptable scholarly exercise, but it is normal to 
demonstrate how the changing the roots also change the meaning of the verse.

Paul Zellmer

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org 
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of fred burlingame
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 11:01 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] language level

Hello all;

In deuteronomy 2:25, two instances of the two letter consonantal root
חל (chet lamed) appear.

strong's concordance iidentifies the two verbs by numbers 2490 and 2342,
respectively.

The first verb appears to mean "begin;" and the second, to
"twist" or "dance."

This usage prompts these questions.

1.  Did the author grasp for these two words in proximity, by chance or by
intent?

2.  Do the two words share a common two letter root; or are two letter roots
illusory?

3.  If so, does the two letter consonantal root enjoy a single meaning?

Your comments are welcomed.

regards,

fred burlingame
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