Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Nir:

On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 3:48 PM, Nir cohen - Prof. Mat. <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br> wrote:

dear karl,

you consider WY$TXW and H$TXWH as representing two different roots. i suspect
that this interpretation is incorrect: i consider them the same root, except
that a final H in WY$TXW was dropped by apocope, as is the rule in all the
LH-irregular roots, in the ("short") wayiqtol form: WYR), WYBK etc.

Whoops, I see I was a little too quick in answering, gave wrong examples. I’ve got to stop this remembering something, then looking quickly to get verse numbers.

Look at Genesis 27:29 there is both WY$XW and WY$XWW for plurals, and in Genesis 43:28 there’s WY$TXW. Both cases, the Masoretes gave an assumed Qere for a Kethiv, is there any evidence from the DSS that the Qere is correct? If not, then stick with the Kethiv.

this said, i must admit that i find it difficult to accept XWH as root,
as the essence of the verb is the bowing down, $XH, and not the hand
gesture, XWH. and, so, i suggest that the extra W was added at some
point as the correct hitpael form, H$TXH, sounded too odd, or was
confounded with other words.

$XH is found in Isaiah 51:23 and Proverbs 12:25 in binyanim other than Hithpael,

(a few hours after I started writing this response)

The more I look at this, the more questions I have, and the more I question both what I’ve been taught as well as what conclusions I had reached earlier based on looking at my copy of a concordance and the text.

There is a verb %XH meaning to swim.

There’s another one $XX meaning to bring down.

Is there such a root as $XH? Without points, the consonantal forms of $XY, Y$TXW can be either from $XH or $XX, so is there even a need for a root such as $XH?

Questions, questions, questions — oh for a native speaker to interview …!!

Anyways, is appears that the root $XWH has the meaning “to give obeisance” both in honoring men and in worshipping God.

best
nir cohen

Karl W. Randolph.