Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Lewis Reich" <lbr AT sprynet.com>]

David Kolinsky suggests that " /aDaM comes from the verb DMH "to think" so
Adam - /aDaM = 'the thinker' (a fitting name for human being - don't you
think?)"

While "the thinker" might be a fitting appellation for a human being, the
Anchor Bible Dictionary discussion of the etymology focuses on roots that
have to do with redness, and from there to the (red fertile?) earth -  )DMH
- from which the adam is created. (In Genesis )DM is merely a noun, with the
possible exception of Gen. 3:17.  The first human is always referred to as
H)ADM - "the adam"; the occurrence in 3:17 is L)DM; the Masoretic
vowelization of the intial lamed is a shwa, giving "to Adam", but vowelizing
with a patakh would give "to the adam", consonant with the other
occurrences.)

Lewis Reich

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of David Kolinsky
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 2:02 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] Wild-ass of a man

Dear List,

Eventhough, the explanation for the name Yishmael is "because haShem heard
your affliction," metaphorically it means "One who is attentive to G-d."  

He is described as PeRe/ /aDaM. (/= aleph)  

The word PeRe/ is related to words that mean "to scatter."  Such as the
hitpael PRR "to crumble away"(Is24:19); the piel of PRPR "to throw about /
all around" (Jb16:12); and PRY = fruit (literally = what is scattered
about).  PaRa/ means "a wild ass-donkey."  It is related to the hiphil of
this root "to go wild, behave wildly' in (Hosea13:15). 

/aDaM comes from the verb DMH "to think" so Adam - /aDaM = "the thinker" (a
fitting name for human being - don't you think?)

A person who is "attentive to G-d" and the many things that G-d brings forth
in life must be a thinker whose attention is scattered in all directions, a
PeRe/ /aDaM, and as a consequence of being attentive to so many of the
things being brought forth by G-d, "his hand will be upon everything and the
hand = power = influence of everything will be upon him."

Compare this to Job 11:12 :
"And a hallow man (/eeSh) shall become wise, when of a colt of a wild-ass, a
man (/aDaM) shall be born."  The word for colt (\aYeeR) (\ = ayin) is
related to \eeYR (city), and Ya\aR (forest) - all of which literally mean
"something that is stirred up" related to the verb \WR "to stir up or
awaken."  

In other words, a hallow man shall become wise, when a wildly scattered
person is stirred and awakened, thus producing :"a thinking man." 

Yishmael is a person who has thus achieved Job11:12 because he is attentive
to G-d.

Thanks for your time,

David Kolinsky
Monterey, CA


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