Difference between revisions of "Literary Devices – Shemot 15/0"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
m |
|||
Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Wordplay and Alliteration | <category>Wordplay and Alliteration | ||
+ | There are several examples of wordplay in the song: | ||
<subcategory>Examples | <subcategory>Examples | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li>The word “גאה” in verse 1 has the double meaning of “has triumphed” and “has surged”.<fn>See, for example, its usage in  Yechezkel 47:5 and Tehillim 89:10 to refer to surging waters.</fn>  This forms a play on words, as Hashem triumphs by engulfing His enemies in surging waters.<fn>See Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary (New York, 2019).</fn> </li> | + | <li><b>גאה</b> – The word “גאה” in verse 1 has the double meaning of “has triumphed” and “has surged”.<fn>See, for example, its usage in  Yechezkel 47:5 and Tehillim 89:10 to refer to surging waters.</fn>  This forms a play on words, as Hashem triumphs by engulfing His enemies in surging waters.<fn>See Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary (New York, 2019).</fn> </li> |
− | <li>Amos Hakham suggests that it is possible that the word “רמה” (hurled) is used here due to its associations with the root “רום” (to raise / be exalted), often paired with the word “גאה”.‎<fn>See, for example Yeshayahu 2:12.</fn>  Here, “רמה” ironically has the opposite meaning of רם and גאה.</li> | + | <li><b>רמה</b> – Amos Hakham<fn>See Da'at Mikra (Jerusalem, 1991): 264.</fn> suggests that it is possible that the word “רמה” (hurled) is used here due to its associations with the root “רום” (to raise / be exalted), often paired with the word “גאה”.‎<fn>See, for example Yeshayahu 2:12.</fn>  Here, “רמה” ironically has the opposite meaning of רם and גאה.</li> |
+ | <li><b>Alliteration of "א"</b> – Almost every word of the first half of verse 9 begins with the letter "א", meaning:"I will", (<span style="color: #ff00ff;">אָ</span>מַר <span style="color: #ff00ff;">א</span>וֹיֵב <span style="color: #ff00ff;">אֶ</span>רְדֹּף <span style="color: #ff00ff;">אַ</span>שִּׂיג <span style="color: #ff00ff;">אֲ</span>חַלֵּק שָׁלָל ). The alliteration reflects the content of the verse, highlighting Paroh's arrogance and self confidence in his victory.</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | </subcategory> | ||
+ | <subcategory>Articles | ||
+ | The following articles contain general discussion of wordplay in Tanakh:<br/> | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>See<a href="https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/docman/rendsburg/791-word-play-an-eclectic-collection/file"> Wordplay in Biblical Hebrew: An Eclectic Collection</a>, by Gary A. Rendsburg, for exploration of various forms of Biblical wordplays.</li> | ||
+ | <li>See <a href="https://www.sbl-site.org/assets/pdfs/pubs/9780884144762_OA.pdf">Wordplay in Ancient Near Eastern Texts</a>, by Scott B. Noegel, for a book-length treatment of the range of permutations of wordplays in Tanakh and in other Ancient Near Eastern texts.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</subcategory> | </subcategory> |
Version as of 23:57, 13 December 2023
Literary Devices – Shemot 15
Structure
Prof. Cassuto suggests that the song of the sea can be divided into three strophes, each ending with a celebration of Hashem's supremacy, formulated with a poetic doubling.1 The division is further marked by the fact that the penultimate verse2 of each stanza contains a comparison of the drowning Egyptians to either stone or lead. The poem would be divided as follows:3
- Verses 1-6: Introduction
- Verses 7-11: Details of the Miracle
- Verses 12-end: Wish for Future Salvation4
Wordplay and Alliteration There are several examples of wordplay in the song:
Examples
- גאה – The word “גאה” in verse 1 has the double meaning of “has triumphed” and “has surged”.5 This forms a play on words, as Hashem triumphs by engulfing His enemies in surging waters.6
- רמה – Amos Hakham7 suggests that it is possible that the word “רמה” (hurled) is used here due to its associations with the root “רום” (to raise / be exalted), often paired with the word “גאה”.8 Here, “רמה” ironically has the opposite meaning of רם and גאה.
- Alliteration of "א" – Almost every word of the first half of verse 9 begins with the letter "א", meaning:"I will", (אָמַר אוֹיֵב אֶרְדֹּף אַשִּׂיג אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל ). The alliteration reflects the content of the verse, highlighting Paroh's arrogance and self confidence in his victory.
Articles The following articles contain general discussion of wordplay in Tanakh:
- See Wordplay in Biblical Hebrew: An Eclectic Collection, by Gary A. Rendsburg, for exploration of various forms of Biblical wordplays.
- See Wordplay in Ancient Near Eastern Texts, by Scott B. Noegel, for a book-length treatment of the range of permutations of wordplays in Tanakh and in other Ancient Near Eastern texts.