Dictionary:Cognates and Loanwords/0
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Lexical: Cognates and Loanwords
Akkadian Cognates
- אַדְמָתוֹ – The phrase "וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ" in Devarim 32:43 is difficult from a syntactic perspective. Who is the subject of the verb "כִפֶּר" – Hashem, the nation, or the land? Who or what is the object? How do the words "אַדְמָתוֹ" and "עַמּוֹ" relate to each other?
- While Rashi1 suggests that the verse should be read as if written, "וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ ועַמּוֹ", that Hashem will make expiation for both the land and people, Ralbag suggests that it be understood as if written "וְכִפֶּר אדמת עַמּוֹ",2 that Hashem will purify the land of His nation. Ibn Ezra offers a third possibility, "וכפר עמו [על] אדמתו",3 that the nation itself will expiate the land.
- Tur Sinai4 has suggested that the word "אַדְמָתוֹ" is related to the Akkadian, "adamaֿtu", used in poetic passages to mean "red blood". Hashem will expiate not the land of His nation (which is not mentioned in the verse), but their blood that has been spilled. The second half of the verse is thus intrinsically tied to the earlier clause, "דַם עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם".
- In contrast to all the above explanations, Y. Avishur5 suggests a reading that does not entail adding or deleting letters/words from the verse, proposing that the phrase means "וכפר דמעות עמו,"6 similar to the Akkadian, "dimtassa ikkapar". After avenging the nation's blood, Hashem will wipe away (כפר = מחה), the nation's tears.
- מַבְלִיגִיתִי – This word is a hapax legomenon, appearing only in Yirmeyahu 8:18: "מַבְלִיגִיתִי עֲלֵי יָגוֹן עָלַי לִבִּי דַוָּי". Many commentators7 connect it to the verb "בלג", and from context, understand it to be a noun meaning strength or restraint.8 In contrast, Y. Avishur suggests that it is the feminine form of "מבליג" which is parallel to the Akkadian balaggu, referring to either a musical instrument or song. The verse would mean "and my instrument turned for me into grief", similar to Iyyov 30:31, "וַיְהִי לְאֵבֶל כִּנֹּרִי".
- כַּוָּנִים – This word appears in both Yirmeyahu 7:18 and 44:199 and, due to the context of idolatry in both verses, is understood by Radak and Shadal to refer to some type of food/cake offering.10 This meaning is supported by the Akkadian cognate, kamaֿnu, which refers to sweet cakes which were used in the worship of Ishtar.11 This fits well with the phrase "לַעֲשׂוֹת כַּוָּנִים לִמְלֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם12" as Ishtar is also known as Innana, or "queen of the heavens" and is associated with the star Venus.
- למד – This root generally refers to learning or teaching. The verb appears in Shir HaShirim 8:2, "אֶנְהָגְךָ אֲבִיאֲךָ אֶל בֵּית אִמִּי תְּלַמְּדֵנִי" where it is commonly understood within the metaphoric understanding of the book to refer to instruction in Torah and mitzvot.13 It is less clear, though, what it would mean according to the simple sense of the verse. S.M. Paul notes that in Akkadian, lamadu can refer to sexual knowledge.14 Accordingly, the beloved would be speaking of her hopes to engage in relations.
- נהה – In both Yechezkel 32:8 and Mikhah 2:4, this root means wail or lament.15 However, this definition is a bit difficult to apply to Shemuel II 7:2, "וַיִּנָּהוּ כׇּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵי י״י". Radak explain the verse to mean either that the nation cried and repented of their ways, returning to Hashem, or that they gathered after Hashem (נהו being compared with נקוו). M. Weinfeld explains the verse in light of Akkadian, suggesting that נהה is related to the Akkadian ne'u, meaning "to turn to": The verse states simply that the nation turned back to Hashem.
