Alleged Basic Meanings of the Hebrew Verb qdš “Be Holy”: An Exercise in Comparative Hebrew Lexicography
In: Vetus TestamentumSearch for other papers by David J. A. Clines in
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Abstract
Most Hebraists are familiar with the claim that the “basic meaning” of the Hebrew verb qdš is “to separate.” It was adopted by BDB, and is referred to by HALOT. This paper argues that the claim is unlikely to be correct.
In searching for the origins and rationale for this claim, which goes back at least to Reuchlin (1505), I encountered some other views propounded by Hebrew lexica of the past 500 years about the “basic meaning” of the root, including “be clean” (e.g., Gesenius, 1833), “begin” (e.g., Buxtorf, 1615) and (surprisingly) “be unclean” (e.g., Pagninus, 1529). These proposals also will be shown to lack adequate support.
I will argue that the verb qdš “be holy” and its derivatives have no underlying meaning apart from their denotation of the deity personally and of what belongs to the deity, such as his temple, his priests, his sabbaths, etc.
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Alleged Basic Meanings of the Hebrew Verb qdš “Be Holy”: An Exercise in Comparative Hebrew Lexicography
In: Vetus TestamentumSearch for other papers by David J. A. Clines in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Most Hebraists are familiar with the claim that the “basic meaning” of the Hebrew verb qdš is “to separate.” It was adopted by BDB, and is referred to by HALOT. This paper argues that the claim is unlikely to be correct.
In searching for the origins and rationale for this claim, which goes back at least to Reuchlin (1505), I encountered some other views propounded by Hebrew lexica of the past 500 years about the “basic meaning” of the root, including “be clean” (e.g., Gesenius, 1833), “begin” (e.g., Buxtorf, 1615) and (surprisingly) “be unclean” (e.g., Pagninus, 1529). These proposals also will be shown to lack adequate support.
I will argue that the verb qdš “be holy” and its derivatives have no underlying meaning apart from their denotation of the deity personally and of what belongs to the deity, such as his temple, his priests, his sabbaths, etc.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 656 | 201 | 5 |
| Full Text Views | 104 | 19 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 340 | 119 | 2 |
