Benjamin J. Noonan, «Hide or Hue? Defining Hebrew #x$ At%A», Vol. 93 (2012) 580-589
The word #$xAtA% has long puzzled Hebrew lexicographers. The present paper evaluates the most common definitions for this elusive Hebrew word, focusing particularly on Stephanie Dalley’s recent consideration of this term. Dalley’s proposal that #$xAtA%A% is derived from Akkadian dušû and means «faience beadwork» falls short linguistically as well as contextually. More plausibly, Hebrew #$xAtA% originates with Egyptian ths, a term used with reference to leather. This well suits the contexts in which #$xAtA% occurs and reflects Egyptian influence on the tabernacle and its terminology.
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589
HIDE OR HUE?
loanword, and Egyptian ṯḥs provides a suitable donor term phonologically.
Egyptian ṯḥs also offers a good match semantically: the contexts in which
Hebrew #$xA tA% occurs describe a material frequently associated with rw(,
implying that #$xA tA% denotes a type of leather. Lastly, an Egyptian origin
for Hebrew #$xA tA% is consistent with Egypt’s significant influence on the
tabernacle, not only in the form of its plan and structure but also in the
form of Egyptian loanwords for its components.
Hebrew Union College Benjamin J. NOONAN
3101 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45220-2404 (USA)
SUMMARY
The word #$ xAtA% has long puzzled Hebrew lexicographers. The present
paper evaluates the most common definitions for this elusive Hebrew word,
focusing particularly on Stephanie Dalley’s recent consideration of this term.
Dalley’s proposal that #$xA tA%A is derived from Akkadian dušû and means
“faience beadwork†falls short linguistically as well as contextually. More
plausibly, Hebrew #$xA tA% originates with Egyptian ṯḥs, a term used with refer-
ence to leather. This well suits the contexts in which #$xA tA% occurs and reflects
Egyptian influence on the tabernacle and its terminology.
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