Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David Kolinsky <yishalom AT sbcglobal.net>]

Dear all,
I wish I had more time to make my case, but I am very rushed.

Kalebh does mean dog.  But the KLB root is an expansion from KL(H) which 
means "to contain."  Therefore: 

KLY = container > tool, instrument
KLH = to complete, finish, cease, consume, destroy etc.
KLYH = kidney (container)
KL? = to be encircled, barred in, blocked, bounded, clogged, confining, 
cramped, fettered, restrained  
KwL = all (contained)
?KL = (contain) eat, consume, destroy 
YKL = (contain, embrace, encompass) to be able to do s.th, capable 

KLB also means contain as in:
 cage (Jr5:27)  and (closed ??) basket (Am8:1,2) 
With regard to KLB = dog it means "one who contains = holds on (and does not 
let go),

a trait very characteristic of dogs

In Arabic: be seized by fear of water, be mad / crazy, covet greedily, rouse, 
rave / rage, rush in pounce upon; rabid, hook, cramp-tongs, greedy  

His father's name Y'PhunaH means "who shall be turned around and around"
as in when a dog grabs onto a person who his turning around and around 
struggling to get away from the bite that wont let go.

In this case I agree somewhat with Jim, Kaleb ben Y'Phunah, one of two of all 
the Israelites to enter the promised land, should have a name more worthy 
than "dog"

And in fact he does:  He is the one who grabs on to G-d and the experiences 
that G-d brings forth ( no matter how difficult) and is turned around and 
around by them and yet he does not let go.

Qenaz by the way also means "to remain rigidly fixed"  similar to the Qan 
nest from which it derives.

Chulad = rat derives from LWD = to squeeze through (Hos9:11) 
and is related to YeLeD = child, who squeezes through in being born

It is similar in meaning to (KBR = mouse which is derived from KBR to squeeze 
through (a sieve)

It would not be an insult if one said of you, "You are resilient, like a 
mouse and a rat, you successfully squeeze through life experiences, coming 
out the other end whole and alive, no worse for the experience."

david kolinsky
Monterey CA