Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Chris Watts <dekruidnootjes AT eircom.net>]

From the very first use of this word "bless" to the contexts within  
its use throughout scripture I would have to conclude that its  
meaning is fundementally:  'increase' in a good favourable way.  The  
seventh day is 'blessed' (were not the other days blessed)? No,  
because they were incomplete and unable to produce fruit, they were  
in the making.  But the seventh day was complete, all was ready for  
nature to begin its natural cycle of repetitive 'increase' into which  
of course God was involved and had set laws of how things should  
increase, but more importantly, He, (God) was all about fruitfulness  
and increase for the good, so instead of reading:  "...and He blessed  
the seventh day..."; I read: "...and He came down and became an  
active participant with His created things...His creation was now  
finished, but His work (as in, simply by being present) continued,  
thus it was also 'set apart/distinguished a sbeing a different day  
from the rest".  Once again in the absence of etymolgy, is this allowed?

  The link with pool, (if there is a link, and in the absence of  
etymological evidence), I presume to be perhaps the fact that a pool  
in the desert would be a source of (blessing)?  or enabled an  
increase? for life to grow, camels to fill up their humps?  This is  
my speculation.  Again, just speculating, the heh ending makes this  
noun feminine, and things like earth and land and Torah are feminine  
and this alludes, I believe, to a sense of cherishing in the word, in  
the way that Mother cherishes and gives and sustains life.  I know  
this is a deviation from strict analytical devices, but I often see  
this as complimentary rather than a deviation, if a sensible balance  
is kept.

Chris Watts
Ireland


On 1 Jul 2013, at 03:10, George Athas wrote:

Chris,

There is debate about the connection between ברך (knee) and ברך  
(to bless); they may or may not be related. However, ברכה (pool)  
is probably a distinct word which, although using the same root  
letters, is unrelated. However, that's not a definitive conclusion,  
as the etymology of ברכה (pool) is not fully known.

GEORGE ATHAS
Dean of Research,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia