Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Mike Burke <michaelgburk AT yahoo.com>]

Thank you.

The sources I've checked seem to say that this word is derived from a word meaning "fight," or "war."

Doesn't that seem kinda odd?

Does it indicate ancient food wars or cannibalism?

Michael Burke

P.S. I haven't added an automated signature yet, but thank you.

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From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
To: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 12:51 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] ובלחם

Mike,

I've looked in Clines' Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, and it lists the following:

4. grain for producing bread, Is 28.28 30.23, representative of food in general (distinction from §2a unclear), Gn 41.54.55 47.12.13.15.17.17.19.

In each of these cases, my previous comments hold, which is that לחם is seen as the stereotypical produce for food. So while there is a connection with grain, the connection is there only insofar as bread is connected with grain. The word doesn't appear to mean 'grain' specifically. DCH also includes non-biblical texts, like the Dead Sea Scrolls and inscriptions, so there is nothing outside these references within Hebrew.

(PS: Why don't you automate your 'signature' in your email software so that your name appears with every email?)

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia

From: Mike Burke <michaelgburk AT yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Mike Burke <michaelgburk AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, 11 April 2013 2:39 PM
To: George Athas <george.athas AT moore.edu.au>, B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] ובלחם

>>>>...I think even HALOT here has overstated things. It mentions Isa 28.28 and 36.17 as meaning 'grain for food'. But in both those cases, the text may imply grain, but only does so in the sense that it's 'incipient' bread. It's a bit like us talking about getting petrol from the ground. What that would mean is getting oil, which is then processed into petrol. But petrol doesn't actually mean oil. By talking about 'bread' in those two references, the texts are merely stating what goes into the making of 'bread'. I'm open to correction on that, but the word itself doesn't mean 'grain' as far as I can see.<<<<

I'm interested in the semantic range of this word.

Does anyone know if the word is ever used (outside the Bible) to mean grain?

Are there any Midrash on Isa. 28:28 or 36:17?

Michael Burke (I'm sorry I forgot to sign last post, and I apologize to all.)

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