#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Gn06-04a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn06-04a Dt02-11a Dt02-11b Nu05-18e
Nu05-18f Gn22-06a Nu25-03a Ex20-04a
Lv19-04a Dt29-16a Dt29-16a Gn38-05a
================= 8 METHODS OF NAMING OBJECTS ===================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
There are 8 distinct methods by which items are named
- by FUNCTION (eg the UNITED NATIONS has a function to unite)
- by FORM(eg the PENTAGON looks like a pentagon)
- by FORM OF ACTIVITY (eg SURFING THE NET)
- by SUBSTANCE (eg PLASTER)
- by HOW IT FEELS--eg HARDship
- by PROPERTIES -- a REVOLVER is a gun with revolving cylinder
- by EXAGGERATION -- eg a SKYSCRAPER doesnt scrape the sky
- by a GOOD EXAMPLE -- eg HONEY can refer to anything sweet
Over the next few days we give several dozen Rashis on naming
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TODAYS RASHI RULE RabbiIshmael
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE NAMING METHODS
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE AND SUBRULE
-----------------------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary explains words. In explaining words
Rashi will have occasion to focus on the method of naming
words. There are 8 distinct methods of naming objects--
conflicting methods of naming objects can cause confusion
unless explicitly identified. The clarification of this
confusion sheds further light on the meaning of these words.
STANDARD REFERENCE FOR THIS RULE
--------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm The 6 Rashi Rules
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm The RashiYomi dictionary
http://www.RashiYomi.com/naming-8.htm The NAMING series
http://www.RashiYomi.com/ri-14.htm R Ishmael contradictions
Or Visit the RashiYomi calendar
(http://www.Rashiyomi.com/calendar1.htm)
- Visit July 2001 where we did the NAMING series.
- Visit Mar-May 2000 for the Rabbi Ishmael Contradiction series
One major method of CONTRADICTION is ETYMOLOGY CONTRADICTION
STANDARD EXAMPLE FOR THIS RULE
------------------------------
Perhaps the best illustration of this rule are the different
names for IDOLS (some of which are produced in the list below)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-- PESEL- a CARVED object--looks on the PAST--HOW it was made
-- PEOR - the UNCOVER IDOL-looks on FUTURE--How do you serve it
-- ELIL---the DONT-er------looks on PRESENT-idols PROHIBIT action
-- SHIKTZ-the DISGUST------looks on FEELING-how idols FEEL
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In effect Rashi addresses the contradictions in the names
-- On the one hand you can call an idol a DONT-er
-- On the other hand you can call an idol a DISGUST
The various names of idols reflect equally different viewpoints
on the same item
TODAYS LISTS
------------
The point in todays list is that objects can be named
by what they do to others (FUNCTION-FUTURE ACTIVITY) or
by HOW THEY WERE MADE (FORM,SUBSTANCE) or by HOW THEY FEEL
In the next few days various other naming methods will
be reviewed in Rashi.
=================================================================
VERSE WORD IT IS NAMED BY WHAT IT DOES TO OTHERS(FUNCTION)
======== ======== ===============================================
Gn06-04a NEFILIM WARRIORS--they Cause others to fall(N-F-L)*1
Dt02-11a REFAIM WARRIORS-they create WEAKNESS(R-F-A)in others*1
Dt02-11b AYMIM WARRIORS--They cause FEAR(AYM) to others*1
-------- -------- -----------------------------------------------
Nu05-18e BITTER BITTER WATER: They cause the Womans death*2
Nu05-18f CURSED CURSED WATERS:They curse the sinful woman*2
Gn22-06a MACELETH A Knife: A utensil used to Make FOOD(ACEL)*4
-------- -------- -----------------------------------------------
Nu25-03a PEOR An IDOL you UNCOVER YOURSELF TO TO DEFECATE*3
Ex20-04a PESEL An IDOL that is CARVED (PESEL)*3
Lv19-04a ELILIM IDOLS that NEGATE(AL) what you want to do*3
Dt29-16a SHIKUTZ IDOLS--DISGUSTING(SKTZ) objects*3
-------- -------- -----------------------------------------------
Dt29-16a SHIKUTZ IDOLS--DISGUSTING objects*5
Gn38-05a BICZIV*5 She stopped(was DOUBLE CROSSED on) giving birth
-------- -------- -----------------------------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi point is that
- these arent FALLEN people but rather cause others to FALL
- these arent WEAK people but rather cause others WEAKNESS
- these arent frightened people but cause fright in others*10
*2 Rashis point is that
- the waters dont taste bitter
- rather they cause bitterness (Death)
Similarly the waters
- arent cursed (Indeed the Bible calls them HOLY water)
- rather they cause Curses on others
Thus Throughout these Rashi we see inuendos of CONTRADICTION.
For example, Rashi explains how the waters could be called
BOTH HOLY and CURSED. Indeed, there SUBSTANCE was HOLY since
they were made in the Temple, while their FUNCTION was CURSE
since they cursed the sinning woman.
*3 This was the method of worship of the The uncover Idol
You UNCOVERED & defecated to it (To show oneness with nature)
The Hebrew root for uncover is PRA
Notice how idols are named in a variety of manners
-- (PAST) How they were MADE--CARVED (PSL)
-- (PRESENT) What they DO -- PROHIBIT/NEGATE actions(AL)
-- (FUTURE) Their Goals--UNCOVER/STRIP-become 1 with nature
-- (FEELING) DISGUST-----How you feel about them
*4 Thus the knife is not named by a property(An eaten metal)
but rather by its function (It enables food)
*5 Rashi holds to the principle that Biblical names indicate
events *11. The root CZV means DOUBLE CROSSED--this can
explain the emotion of a woman who can no longer have
children. Rashi also cites a MIDRASH RABBAH on the name
SHAYLAH (meaning STILLBIRTH) which can also refer to the
fact that she can no longer have children.
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------
*10 Rashi at one point does say
-------------------------------------------
They FELL and now cause others to FALL
-------------------------------------------
But the emphasis is on WHAT THEY DO TO OTHERS
not on their properties.
*11 The following list displays many Biblical names that
indicate and refer to events that had just happened
Using the Rabbi Ishmael rule of BINYAN AV (GENERALIZATION)
we can infer that it is proper to explain ALL Biblical
names as referring to EVENTS.
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VERSE What the NAME Means Explicitly said?
--------- -------------------------------- -----------------
Gn04-01 KaYiN= I ACQUIRED(KNH)a Child Yes
Gn05-29 NOACH=He will comfort (NCHm) us Yes
Gn10-25 PELEG=The world SPLIT(PLG) up Yes
Gn11-09 BABEL=The world was CONFUSED(BL) Yes
Gn27-36 YAKOK=He DOUBLE-CROSSED(AKV) me Yes
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RASHI RULE USED: RabbiISHMAEL
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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 15 Number 6
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 6