Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

I'm unconvinced, Jonathan. I think this is reading too much into etymology. I can't see how we get from 'beating' to 'eating bread'. Also, it doesn't explain the Arabic cognate, which means 'meat'. There are, it seems, two distinct roots: to fight, and to have a meal.

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia

From: Jonathan Mohler <jonathan.mohler AT gmail.com>
Date: Friday, 12 April 2013 7:42 AM
To: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: George Athas <george.athas AT moore.edu.au>, "michaelgburk AT yahoo.com" <michaelgburk AT yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] ובלחם

George and Mike:

My theory is that there is only one root, להם.  This original root is "to beat," hence "to fight." The idea of beating dough or kneading leads to the noun, lechem, bread.  Subsequently the a new verb arises as lacham, to have bread with someone.  A branching off from the original root, rather than two homonyms.

Jonathan E. Mohler