Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Mike,

Isaac's approach to semantics is completely unique.

Here's some info on the etymology from the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT). There are four possibilities given if you sift through the details.

MHeb. JArm. uncertain derivation; for possibilities cf. Gesenius-B.; Gray Kings 707; and de Ward ZAW 89 (1977):8f: 1) denominative of עָנָן, so MHeb. JArm. (Dalman Wb. 317b) to interpret the clouds, cf. Reymond 224, see poel; 2) from Arb. ʿanna to appear suddenly, show oneself, intervene as an obstruction (Kopf VT 8 (1958):190): ע׳ to interpret observed phenomena, see piel; 3) from Arb. ġanna to hum, buzz (of people or insects): ע׳ to tell fortunes in a quietly droning voice; 4) from Ug. ʿnn (Gordon Textbook §19:1885; Aistleitner 2061a): to recite to music: ע׳ to recite magic spells (Albright Yahweh 107 esp. on ʿnn ʿaṯrt Dietrich-L. Texte 1, 4:iv:59; cf. van Zijl AOAT 10 (1972):22, 102ff); —4 is the least probable of these suggestions.

However, this is only etymology. Don't mistake the origin and development of a word with its meaning. From Gen 9.14, it is seems to imply making something visible or making something appear. How this relates to magic practices is unknown. Conjuring? Clarifying? Clairvoyance? We're just not sure.

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia