Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

Another thing. 

1. Onkelos indeed translates הכושית HA-KU$IYT as שפירתא $APIRTA from the root שפר $PR (an obvious variant of SPR 'tell a tall tale'), 'accumulate'. In spoken Hebrew שיפור $IYPUR is 'improvement', namely, the accumulation of good things.  

2. We should also mention here the root קשט Q$T of which we have the קשיטה Q$ITAH 'coin, nugget' of Gn. 33:19, and קושט QO$T, 'piece', of Prov. 22:21. In spoken Hebrew קישוט QIY$UT is 'ornament, accessory'.

3. Also relevant here is the QASQAS = QAS-QAS, 'scale, hard flake', of Lev. 11:9.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Mar 16, 2013, at 5:48 PM, Joseph Roberts wrote:

I did notice that Targum Onkelos in the rendering of this verse says the following:

And Miriam and Aharon spake against Mosheh, because of the fair woman whom he had taken