SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One  of Rashis 5 main goals is to give the meaning of words
the same way the dictionary gives meaning. We call this the
Rashi RULE of WORD MEANINGS.

Rashi had 10 vehicles to present meaning. A common
technique of explaining meaning is the skillful use of
IDIOMATIC USAGE--that is collections of words
which mean more than the individual words. We call this the
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS of NEW MEANINGS.

EXAMPLE: Ex19-21d
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The Biblical verse states
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God told Moses: Go down and warn the people [standing
at the mount footsteps] lest they BUILDING SHATTER up to God
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Rashi commets
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The word BUILDING-SHATTER can refer to
- shattering a building structure
- shattering a structure of people
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Note the English analogy: BREAK UP the group

Hence Rashi translates the verse as follows
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God told Moses: Go down and warn the people [standing
at the mount footsteps] lest they BREAK FROM THE GROUP up to God
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Another powerful vehicle of explaining meanings is to focus
on several verses with the same root but disparate meanings.
Here Rashi acts as a poet painting a unified meaning to the root

LIST854y below presents several examples of Biblical idioms

EXAMPLE  Ex20-15d
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Rashi explains that the Root Nun-Vav-Ayin (NW&) refers to
a TREMBLING type motion. Hence it can refer to
- a FLUTTERING heart
- TREMBLING from freight
- dance RATTLES
- the acts of a SIEVE

LIST863Q below lists several verses where NW& clearly means
TREMBLING.

EXAMPLE Ex18-18a
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Rashi explains that the root Nun-Beth-Lamed fundamentally refers
to WITHERING. Hence it can mean
- a withered FLOWER
- a withered ANIMAL CARcASS
- a worn out PERSON
- a harp [harp sounds WITHER vs TRUMPET blasts grow]
- a thermos--- the thermos prevents contents from withering

LIST863r below lists several verses showing that NBL means WITHER

List of verses with      Nun-Beth-Lamed meaning WITHERING