Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Uri Hurwitz <uhurwitz AT yahoo.com>]

  Hi Philip,  

 Keep in mind that the change in meaning occurs
 with the change of Binyan: from Qal to Pi'el.

   As for why the change in meaning from 'peace'
 to 'vengeance', one speculation is as good as
 another.  Here is one - the root $LM refers to
 'wholeness'; 'peace' is a secondary meaning.
 Exacting revenge or recompense is another way
 of restoring a 'wholeness' to a situation.

  You may wish to look up the Piel noun-formation
 of this root 'Shillum',  Also the changes of this
 root from Qal to Piel in Arabic (they have different
  names) of the verb SLM, the equivalent in this case
 of the Hebrew &LM.

  Uri Hurwitz
 





Dear Listees,
Deut 32:41 reads, אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי, וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי
אֲשַׁלֵּם 
This may not be new to
many, but I find it interesting that see the last word in the stitch, i.e. 
אֲשַׁלֵּם , root,שלם  so often used to denote peace is being
used here in totally non-peaceful terms as: “to requite/ revenge, repay”?
What are you thoughts
on this please?
Many thanks,

Philip Engmann