re: barah, br'
Jan de Koning (dekoning@idirect.com)
Mon, 31 Mar 1997 17:57:44 -0500Gesenius' Lexicon gives the following translations:
(1) To cut, to carve out, to form by cutting. As to this primary meaning
of this root he refers to Dr.Davidson's Lectures on Biblical Criticism.
(2) to create, to produce. He compares the word with German "schaffen",
Danish "skabe", Dutch "schaven". The meaning of these words is to make
smooth, to polish. Hence, says Gesenius, to fashion, to create. (Being
familiar with Germaan and Dutch I add that the word for create in Dutch is
"scheppen", in German "schaffen".) Here severaal texts are mentioned of
how God made heaven, earth, men, Israel, etc.
(3) to beget, hence "bar" = son
(4) to eat, to feed, to grow fat, so called from cutting food.
In Piel form it is used
(1) in Eze.23:47 to cut down as with a sword; in Josh.17:15 cut wood wit
an axe.
(2) to form, to fashion Eze.21:24
In Hiphil form: to make fat, to fatten: 1Sa.2:29.
Thus far Gesenius. I am not a Hebraicus, but in view of the above we have
to be careful saying: only God can "barah". I agree, that in the true
sense of create, only God can create. We still hear of painters creating a
work of art.
Jan de Koning
Willowdale, Ont.