THE FORGOTTEN MEANING OF ʿāpār IN BIBLICAL HEBREW (original) (raw)

2017, Journal of the American Oriental Society

In the mining context of Job 28, ʿāpār (vv. 2,6) does not designate dust or its derivatives (earth, dirt, ashes), as so frequently assumed, but rather designates ore. Furthermore, in contrast with the figurative meanings of ʿāpār as dust (abasement, humiliation worthlessness), it is associated in Job 28 with preciousness, rarity and wisdom. The use of ʿāpār as ore, in the Bible, is apparently not restricted to Job 28. This is revealed by how the ore dimension of meaning clarifies the content of eight further verses (Gen 3:14; Isa 34:7; 41:2; 65:25; Ezek 26:12; Job 22:24; 30:6; Prov 8:26) which remain obscure as long as ʿāpār is approached as dust and its derivatives. Furthermore, it is shown that the meaning of ʿāpār as ore also clarifies the obscure etymology of ʿōperet and gāperît. These data reveal that a dimension of meaning of ʿāpār as ore coexists in biblical Hebrew with the traditional association of ʿāpār with dust. The ignorance of such a reality, already attested in the Septuagint, overlooked the meaning of these verses and the theology inspiring them.

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