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Multiple Meanings

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Overview

As in every language, many words in Biblical Hebrew might have multiple meanings.  Sometimes, there is one usage which is prevalent and a second which is much less common.

Polysemous Words

The following words regularly take more than one meaning:

Opposite Meanings

Sometimes the same verb can be used to refer to both an action and its opposite, usually referring to either the removal or addition of something. Rashi (Shemot 27:3) describes the phenomenon: "כי יש מלין בלשון עברית מלה אחת מתחלפת בפתרון, לשמש בניין וסתירה." 

Explanations of the phenomenon:

• Ibn Kaspi (on Bereshit 41:34; cf Vayikra 19:10) explains that in such cases, really the root itself only refers to an aspect of an object, and not whether it is being added or removed. Thus the root "דשן" relates to fattiness; whether it means to remove or add fattiness will depend on context. [In English this might be similar to the idea that addition of prefixes to a certain stem can change its meaning from a positive to a negative.Thus, for example "enthrone" means to put one on the throne, while "dethrone" means to remove him.] 
• See Ibn Ezra (ספר צחות), that one can only claim this if the verbs are being conjugated in different constructions (one kal, an one pi'el, for instance).

Examples of the phenomenon:

• דשן – Compare Yeshayahu 34:7 (וַעֲפָרָם מֵחֵלֶב יְדֻשָּׁן), where it means to be full of fat with Shemot 27:3 (וְעָשִׂיתָ סִּירֹתָיו לְדַשְּׁנוֹ) where it means to remove fatty ashes.
• שרש – Compare Tehillim 80:10 (וַתַּשְׁרֵשׁ שׇׁרָשֶׁיהָ), where it means "to take root" with Iyyov 31:12 "וּבְכׇל תְּבוּאָתִי תְשָׁרֵשׁ" , where it means "to uproot."
• סקל Compare Melakhim I 21:13 (וַיִּסְקְלֻהוּ בָאֲבָנִים), where it means to heap stones upon him, with Yeshayahu 62:10 (סַקְּלוּ מֵאֶבֶן), where it means to remove stones.
• פאר – Normally this means to glorify, but see Rashi and others on Devarim 24:20, "כִּי תַחְבֹּט זֵיתְךָ לֹא תְפַאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ", that here it means "to remove its glory". [Others suggest
• עצם – Rashi on Shemot 23 includes this in his list of examples of the phenomenon. See Yirmeyahu 50:17 where it means "to break bones" (וְזֶה הָאַחֲרוֹן עִצְּמוֹ נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר)¹
• וַיֶּאֱהַל אַבְרָם (Bereshit 13:18) – See Chizkuni
• ויאר את הלילה
• לחטא
• קְדֵשָׁה – ramban, Devarim 23:18
• חרם
• ויזנב
• עלל –
• סעף –
• לשון סגי נהור??

Secondary Meanings

Verbs

Nouns

א-ל , א-להים, י-ה (1 – Though these words generally refer to Hashem (or a foreign god), they might also take on two secondary meanings:

• Judge or ruler – See, for instance, the word's usage in Shemot 4:16, 7:1, 21:6, 22:7-8, and 22:27, Shemuel I 2:25, Tehillim 82:1
• Might / greatness / intensifier –  See RadakBereshit 1:2About R. David Kimchi who notes that when Tanakh wants to amplify an object or action, it often adds  the name of Hashem.  As support he points to Yonah 3:3, Tehillim 36:7 (הַרְרֵי אֵל), Tehillim 80:11 (אַרְזֵי אֵל), Shir HaShirim 8:6 (שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה). See also the phrase  "לאל ידם" in Bereshit 31:29 and Mikhah 2:1 which means the power of their hands.

There are many verses where the meaning of the word is ambiguous and commentators have debated which of the three definitions the verse takes. see:

• בני אלהים
• קללת אלוהים תלוי
• רוח אלהים
•  "כְּנִמְרֹד גִּבּוֹר צַיִד לִפְנֵי י"י"' (Bereshit 10:9) - Compare Radak, and see Nimrod for a discussion of how the various interpretations might influence one's evaluation of Nimrod's character.

Adjectives

General and Individual

Certain words can refer to both an entire category and to a specific item within the category:

• אח – This word can refer to relatives in general, and also specifically to a brother.
• לחם

Multiple Referents

• אהל מועד
• –

¹ See Metzudat Zion there and Rashi on Shemot 23.