Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Hi Brurya,

 

Nir Cohen addressed this in his post from a couple of days ago. In general,
first of all, the position of the term "ahi" in such names is exactly where
we would expect a theophoric element to be. Specifically, it is though that
"brother" as a term of endearment, famility and so on could refer to the
deity.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Yigal

 

From: Yodan [mailto:yodan AT yodanco.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:01 PM
To: 'Yigal Levin'
Subject: RE: [b-hebrew] Hiram Hirom Huram

 

Yigal, shalom again,

 

I hope this is not a bother...

 

I haven't heard back on my question, so I thought I'll re-send the email
below with the question "why would AH = brother" be used as a reference to
deity? I understand the use of father as God, but why brother? 

 

Toda rabba!

 

Bruryah

 

-----Original Message-----

From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Yodan

Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 10:02 AM

To: 'Yigal Levin'; b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Hiram Hirom Huram

 

Yigal, Shalom, 

 

 

 

Thank you! Helpful information. 

 

 

 

I knew about HIRAM = AHIRAM but I didn't know about AH(I) or AV(I) being

epithet for the deity. Do you have more information about this? I can see

why one would refer to a deity as "father", but why "brother"?

 

 

 

Toda rabba,

 

Bruryah Tashah

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org

[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Yigal Levin

Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 9:17 AM

To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Hiram Hirom Huram

 

 

 

Other than in Isaac's reconstructions - no. The usual assumption is that

 

Mount Hermon was called that because it was considered sacred by the local

 

Canaanites (or whoever). 

 

 

 

As far as Hiram, it is usually considered to be a shortened form of Ahiram,

 

a fairly common Phoenician and Hebrew name, literally meaning "my brother is

 

exalted", where "brother" is an epithet for the deity, similar to

 

"Ab(i)ram", "Ah(i)ab" and so on. So the name Hiram is actually not derived

 

from XRM.

 

 

 

Yigal Levin

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

b-hebrew mailing list

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew