{"id":2122,"date":"2020-11-08T22:38:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T04:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=2122"},"modified":"2020-11-08T22:50:57","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T04:50:57","slug":"biblical-hebrew-wordplay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/biblical-hebrew-wordplay\/","title":{"rendered":"Biblical Hebrew Wordplay…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Hebrew Scriptures are filled with various kinds of wordplay<\/em>. In addition to some humorous play on words (i.e., puns), you will discover alliteration, acrostics, parables, similes, metaphors, hyperbole, gematria, theophorisms, and other literary devices used in the Hebrew text. Some scholars even suggest that the first two words of the Torah (i.e., \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \/ bereshit bara<\/em>) were intentionally spelled using the same initial three letters (\u05d1\u05bc.\u05e8.\u05d0) for the sake of \u201calliteration\u201d (i.e., repetition of sound). At any rate, examples of wordplay often appear on the surface-level of the texts. For example, Adam<\/em> (\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd) is a play on the word adamah<\/em> (\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4, \u201cground\u201d); Chavah<\/em> (\u05d7\u05b7\u05d5\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4, \u201cEve\u201d) is a play on the word chai<\/em> (\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9, \u201clife\u201d); Kayin<\/em> (\u05e7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05df, \u201cCain\u201d) is a play on the verb kanah<\/em> (\u05e7\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4, \u201cto get\u201d), and so on (see Gen. 2:7, 3:20, 4:1). Even the name \u201cJesus\u201d (i.e., Yeshua<\/em>: \u05d9\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7) plays on the Hebrew word for deliverance or salvation (i.e., yeshuah<\/em>: \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b8\u05d4). Of course, many other examples could be cited. <\/p>\n

Of particular relevance to this week\u2019s Torah portion<\/a> is the name Yitzchak (\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7, Isaac<\/em>), which plays on the verb tzachak<\/em> (\u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7, \u201cto laugh\u201d). Some have said that tzachak is \u201conomatopoeic,\u201d that is, it imitates the sound of laughter itself. Appropriately enough, the root appears a number of times in the story of Isaac, though often with different connotations. The simple stem (kal<\/em>) of tzachak conveys the idea of laughter, whether in joy or incredulity, though the stronger stem (piel<\/em>) suggests more intense expressions, for example rejoicing, playing, and making love — or (negatively) mocking, scorning, and deriding. In other words, the motive for laughter (like most other linguistic things) is only contextually understood. After all, there\u2019s a big difference between laughing at<\/em> someone and laughing with<\/em> them.<\/p>\n

At any rate, God Himself named Isaac in response to Abram\u2019s laughter over the prospect of having a child in his old age. Here\u2019s some of the \u201cback story.\u201d God originally called Abram to leave Ur of Mesopotamia for the land of Canaan (Gen. 12:1). When he arrived there, God appeared to him (vayera<\/em>) and promised that his descendants would inherit the land (Gen. 12:7). Abram was 75 years old at this time. Abram wandered through the land waiting for God\u2019s promise to be fulfilled. Some time later (but before the birth of Ishmael<\/em>), God came to him in a vision and reaffirmed his promise that he would have a son \u201cfrom his own loins\u201d (Gen. 15:1-5). It was at this time that Abram \u201cbelieved in the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness\u201d (Gen. 15:6). The LORD then made the “covenant of the pieces” to seal the agreement to give the land of Canaan to Abram\u2019s descendants (Gen. 15:7-20). Ten more years passed, however, and Abram and Sarai were still childless. In a lapse of faith, Sarai urged Abram to cohabit with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to produce the family heir. Ishmael was born when Abram was 86 years old (Gen. 16:16).<\/p>\n

Yet another thirteen years passed before God appeared to Abram to renew his earlier promise that he would become a \u201cfather of a multitude\u201d (Gen. 15; 17:7). Abram was now 99 years old. To symbolize Abram\u2019s changed status, God changed his name from Avram<\/em> (\u201cexalted father\u201d [from \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1, \u201cfather,\u201d + \u05e8\u05b8\u05dd, \u201cexalted\u201d]) to Avraham<\/em> (\u201cfather of a multitude\u201d [from \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1, \u201cfather\u201d + \u05d4\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05df, \u201ccrowd\u201d]). (Note that some scholars regard Avraham\u2019s name to mean \u201cfather of mercy\u201d (from \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1, \u201cfather\u201d + \u05e8\u05d7\u05dd, \u201cwomb\u201d). Likewise God changed Sarah\u2019s name from Sarai<\/em> (\u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9, \u201cprincess\u201d) to Sarah<\/em> (\u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4) — the exchanged Hey (\u05d4) for the Yod (\u05d9) was given to indicate that the Divine Presence was to replace of the \u201chand\u201d of Sarah\u2019s design. (Indeed, the root of Sarah\u2019s name (i.e., \u05e9\u05c2\u05e8, \u201cprince\u201d) later reappears when her grandson Jacob was renamed \u201cIsrael<\/em>.\u201d The wordplay occurs in the phrase “for you have striven (sarita<\/em>) as a prince (sar<\/em>) with God and with men and have prevailed” (Gen 32:28)). God reaffirmed his promise to make Abram into a great nation and then gave him the commandment of brit millah<\/em> (\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4, ritual circumcision) as a token or \u201csign\u201d of the agreement. (There is yet another play on words used here: Abraham\u2019s male descendants who would refuse to \u201ccut off\u201d their foreskins would be \u201ccut off\u201d from the terms of the covenant).<\/p>\n

Getting back to the wordplay on Isaac\u2019s name, when the LORD repeated his promise that Abraham would sire a son in his old age, he \u201cthrew himself on his face and laughed<\/em> (\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7) as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old, or can Sarah bear a child at ninety?” (Gen. 17:17). When Abraham attempted to recommend Ishmael <\/em>as his heir, God said “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yitzchak<\/em> (\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7, \u201che laughs\u201d)…. (Gen. 17:19). After this vision of the LORD, Abraham promptly circumcised himself along with his son Ishmael (Gen. 17:23-26).<\/p>\n

Rashi says it was the third day after Abraham’s circumcision when he was visited by the Angel of the LORD (\u05de\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) accompanied with the two other angels. When Sarah overheard the Angel of the LORD say, “I will certainly return to you next year, and your wife Sarah shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10), she laughed<\/em> (\u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7) within herself (lit, “at her insides”) and thought, “Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment, my husband being so old?” (Gen. 18:12). The LORD (\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) then asked, \u201cWhy did Sarah laugh (\u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b2\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4)? Sarah denied it (\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9, \u201cI didn\u2019t laugh\u201d), but the Angel of the LORD said, \u201cNo, but you did laugh\u201d (\u05dc\u05d0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0).<\/p>\n

Jewish tradition maintains that Abraham laughed in joy at the prospect of becoming a father, whereas Sarah (initially) shook her head in disbelief. Sarah underwent teshuvah<\/em>, however, even before her conception (see Heb. 11:11), and after the miraculous birth of her son exclaimed in heartfelt joy: “God has made laughter (\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05e7) for me; everyone who hears will laugh<\/em> for me (\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7\u05be\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9)” (Gen. 21:6).<\/p>\n

After Isaac was weaned, however, Abraham held a celebration, but Sarah saw Ishmael mocking<\/em> (\u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05e7, i.e., the piel participle of \u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7, \u201cto laugh\u201d) her son and demanded that he be sent away. This grieved Abraham greatly, but God reassured him that Ishmael would become a great nation in his own right (Gen. 21:11-13). The promise of an heir belonged to Isaac alone – the miraculously given son that would bring laughter to the hearts of all those who believe.<\/p>\n

A further example of wordplay on the name \u201cIsaac\u201d occurs when the Torah records how he fled to the Philistine city of Gerar to escape a famine in the land. Like his father Abraham, Isaac lied by telling people that his wife Rebekah was his \u201csister.\u201d The Torah records that his deception was detected when Abimelech saw him caressing\u00a0Rebekah: \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05e8\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \/ “Isaac was \u2018sporting\u2019 with his wife Rebekah\u201d (Gen. 26:8). The verb translated \u201csporting<\/em>\u201d is the intensive (piel) form of tzachak<\/em> (\u05e6\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7, \u201cto laugh\u201d), and clearly suggests the idea of caressing and fondling — i.e., making love.<\/p>\n

Hebrew wordplay was also applied to Isaac\u2019s sons. When the twins were born, the first came out hairy and was named Esau<\/em> (\u05e2\u05b5\u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05d5), perhaps from the word esev<\/em> (\u05e2\u05b5\u05e9\u05c2\u05b6\u05d1), \u201cgrass\u201d or \u201cweed\u201d of the field), whereas the second came out with his hand on his brother\u2019s heel, and was named Ya\u2019akov<\/em> (\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05d1, \u201cgrappler,\u201d from the word \u05e2\u05b8\u05e7\u05b5\u05d1, \u201cheel\u201d). Later, when Esau learned that Jacob had taken away his blessing, he exclaimed, “Is he not rightly named “heel holder” (i.e., \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05d1)? For he has taken me by the heel (\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05e7\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9) these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing” (Gen. 27:36).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Hebrew Scriptures are filled with various kinds of wordplay. In addition to some humorous play on words (i.e., puns), you will discover alliteration, acrostics, parables, similes, metaphors, hyperbole, gematria, theophorisms, and other literary devices used in the Hebrew text. Some scholars even suggest that the first two words of the Torah (i.e., \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-dvar","category-torah"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2122"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2131,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions\/2131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}