Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Nir:

On Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Nir cohen - Prof. Mat. 
<nir AT ccet.ufrn.br>wrote:

>  karl,
>
> you must be mistaken here. even in the quotation you give, mekhon mamre
> translates KRH as "diggeth".
>

So also every dictionary that I bought.

One of the advantages of reading Tanakh through several times, is that one
finds those examples where “digging” does not fit the context, one of which
I listed.


> modern hebrew is very clear about it, using KARAH=dig, MYKHREH=ore mine. BH
> also uses it specifically
> for digging. in the expression "KRH BWR WYXPRHW" there is a clear parallel
> between KRH and XPR, dig.
>
> so, why does BH need two words for digging?
>

Why even assume that they are two words for digging? Why not accept that the
second adds detail, in this case the method by which the first verb was
accomplished?

>
> the problem is not with KRH, it is with XPR. the verb XPR is used for
> wells, canals and city walls, as in the word
> XAPIR=city wall (?). it certainly has a specific meaning that has to do
> with water and stone/brick walls.
>

XPR to delve, unearth, both the digging out and finding meanings [synonyms]
חצב to hew (out), נקר to dig out, שפן to dig up [used once]

XAPIR is not Biblical Hebrew.


> i agree that in the phrase KRH )ZNW one may interpret  KRH in the
> shakespearean sense of "lend me your ears".
> i believe, though, that the meaning is, figuratively, concave:  "bend one's
> ears" to hear better.
>
> nir cohen
>
> **
>
> Karl W. Randolph.