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KPR means a JAGGED STICKY COVERINGS |
BACKGROUND
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The Hebrew root Kaph-Pay-resh has about 12 meanings: These
include atone, tar, lion, perfume...etc
REFERENCES
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Both Radack in his book ROOTS and Rashi discuss the multiple
meanings of this root.
THE LISTS
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In todays list we study the meaning TO CLEAN. Yesterday
we saw that as a NOUN(OBJECT), KOFER refers to a JAGGED
STICKY COVERING like TAR or FROST.
But it is standard in Hebrew for the ACTIVITIES (verbs)
derived from OBJECTS (nouns) to refer either to their
CREATION, REMOVAL or USAGE. For example TO PLANT means
to CREATE a PLANT while TO DUST means to REMOVE DUST!
So too, TO TAR could mean TO CREATE A TAR COVERING.
But it could also mean TO CLEAN/REMOVE THE TAR (just
as TO DUST means to remove dust). See footnote *1
for examples. Here are 2 Rashis where KOFER refers
to SPIRITUAL CLEANSING. The footnotes further illumine
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| VERSE |
MEANING |
TEXT OF VERSE |
| dt32-43e |
Appease*2 |
I-ll send presents to Esauv;APPEASE him |
| Ex32-30a |
atone*3 |
Vigorously REMOVE SINS sticking like tar |
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COMMENTS |
*1 The following list shows that when a verb/activity comes from
a noun/object then the activity may refer to either the
CREATION, DESTRUCTION or USAGE of the noun.
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NOUN VERB ACTIVITY RELATION
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Plant To plant Create the plant
Wave To wave Create a wave
Tar To Tar Place the Tar
Hammer To hammer Use the hammer
Dust To dust Remove the dust
Tar To TAR To remove the Tar
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*2 First note how Rashi commented on this verse twice:
-- in Gn32-21a Rashi says I WILL CLEAN HIS ANGER AWAY
-- in Dt32-43e Rashi says I WILL APPEASE HIS ANGER
But recall from the 2nd list in this posting
that Kaph-Pay-Resh refers
to the removal of a jagged sticky substance like Tar
or Frost. It refers to a vigorous cleaning activity
So the real meaning here is that Esauv hated Jacob for
20 years for stealing his birthright. The hate stuck
like tar and Jacob was CLEANING IT UP, APPEASING HIM
REMOVING THE HATRED.
*3 E.g. Suppose someone committed adultery. The sin sticks like
tar. He can no longer see her or her husband without having
a fight. Thus to ATONE the sin is to CLEANSE the TAR LIKE
after-effects of the sin
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