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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
  | PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
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VERSE: Gn01-02a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn01-02a Gn01-02b Gn01-02c

RULE: The meaning of words can be inferred by a variety of
methods including

{LIST3}4 Methods of Researching the meaning of a Word
======================================================
METHOD          WHAT DO WE LOOK AT?
======          ========================================
VERSE USAGE     What does this word mean in other VERSES
ROOT USAGE      What do other words with this ROOT mean
SYNONYMS        How do words with the same MEANING compare
PARALLELISM     What is the meaning of PARALLEL WORDS

In the method of PARALLELISM we line up the phrases in a
verse and compare the meanings of words in >SIMILAR POSITIONS<

EXAMPLE:
{LIST4}The unknown Hebrew words >Tohu< and >Bohu< in Gn01-02
are >PARALLEL< to the word >darkness< which has a known meaning
===============================================================
& The earth was         >Tohu<
                        & >Bohu<
                        darkness on the deep

Thus Rashi-is-simple.The words >Tohu< and >Bohu< means >darkness<

True, Rashi does cite specific meanings on these words including
similar Old French words and the Aramaic translation.However
Rashi is simply saying that these words mean >DARKNESS<. Note,
that these verbs do NOT occur in any other verses, nor are there
other words from the same root. Hence all we can do is say that
these words mean >DARKNESS<(or similar meanings like DESOLATION)

It is instructive to compare Rashi to other commentaries. The
Radack cites the Greek philosophical approach that >Tohu and
Bohu< refer to the primeval matter and primeval form from which
God created the world. By contrast Rashis approach is fresh and
to the point. Rashi is in effect saying >We do not have any other
verses with this word; we do not have any other words with this
root; hence ALL we can do is say that it refers to some type of
DARKNESS<

As can be seen the method of PARALLELISM is quite powerful.


RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website

Volume 7 Number 23


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