Peshitta Forum

Full Version: Mishnaic Hebrew (for Paul and AGR)
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Paul and Andrew,

There is An Aramaic prayer, the berikh shemei d???marei alma, that became common only in the 16th century that states, "I do not place my trust in a human being, nor do I rely on a bar elahin (= a son of God), but rather on the God of heaven."

What is this prayer? Specifically, what does the Aramic word "alma" mean? I know in Hebrew it means "virgin" (or has that connotation). What does it mean in Aramaic? Does it mean "mute"?

Can it ever mean translated as a masculine proper name like "Dennis", "Paul", "Andrew", etc? It seems that in the Bar Kochba Letters (found in the "Cave of Letters"), 132- 135 AD, there is a line in a deed that says "Alma, son of Judah" (fourth line from the top). I think the Aramaic is "A-L-M-A ben Yehudah". This just doesn't sound right to me. Can either of you guys shed any light on this? Why would a word that is clearly meant as a feminine noun in Biblical Hebrew be a masculine noun in Mishnaic Hebrew?

Is Mishnaic Hebrew really just a cross between "Biblical Hebrew" and "Aramaic"? If this is the case would that mean that "alma" was kind of perverted from its original meaning?

Thanks Guys,

Keith
Shlama Akhi Khabiba Keith...

It has been too long since we have been blessed by your presence.

Basically, to answer your question, Alma is in fact a very rare but valid MALE Hebrew name. You have cited the main resource for this already, the finds of Yigal Yadin of the Bar Kochba letters. And of course, the name does not mean "maiden", "virgin" or any such female thing.

In Aramaic though ALMA-- ayin-lamed-meem-alap (Heb. OLAM) --can mean both "eternity" and "universe". I would suggest then that, while the source material for a definitive conclusion is probably limited, it is surely more likely that one of these meanings is being tapped, rather than "maiden". Furthermore, these other meanings are MASCULINE words.

As for Mishnaic Hebrew, I am far from an expert, but it does appear from my limited exposure to it to mix Aramaic and Hebrew elements in an overall Hebrew structure. For example, I have noted with interest the use of the Mishanaic terms "mitzvot d'rabbanan" (commandments of the rabbis) and "mitzvot d'aurayta" (commandments of the Torah). This of course is intriguing for two reasons. First, regular Hebrew does not use a dalet proclitic but would have a lamed proclitic do double duty here. Second, "aurayta" is a purely Aramaic word for "Torah" that nonetheless retains the proper root of the word, AUR (light).

Hope this helps a little bit and my best to you and your family.
Keith Wrote:Specifically, what does the Aramic word "alma" mean? I know in Hebrew it means "virgin" (or has that connotation). What does it mean in Aramaic? Does it mean "mute"?

Shlama Akhi Keith,

"Barekh Shmei d'Marei Alma" in Aramaic means "Bless the Name of the Lord of the Universe." In Syriac dialect this would be "Barekh Shimeh d'Mara d'Alma" (notice how different that is, Dave, almost like another language - huh? Greek is probably closer to Mishnaic Aramaic, don't you think? <!-- s:biggrin: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/biggrin.gif" alt=":biggrin:" title="Big Grin" /><!-- s:biggrin: -->)

"Alma" means "Universe" or "Eternity" as Akhan Andrew stated.

Mishnaic Hebrew is a very Aramaicized Hebrew.

Take care!
Quote:"Barekh Shmei d'Marei Alma" in Aramaic means "Bless the Name of the Lord of the Universe." In Syriac dialect this would be "Barekh Shimeh d'Mara d'Alma"
the root ayin-lamed-mem can also mean 'ages' or 'times' as well can't it, as well as 'world' or uinverse as you have said.

Also I though syriac was the same as aramaic, just the 'western' name for it? what do u mean by the 'syriac' dialect ?
Hi Lector,

Yes, it does mean all those things. In that particular prayer, it's usually translated "universe."

By "Syriac Dialect" I mean to distringuish the 1st-century Aramaic dialect of the Peshitta from that of the 16th-century Aramaic dialect of the prayer above.

"Syriac" is indeed Aramaic and the Greek name for Aramaic, but it's not the same Aramaic as the Jews used in 16th-century European prayers.
Hi Andrew,

It's always good to talk to old friends. Thanks for your answer. I do know that in Biblical Hebrew "almah" is feminine and means "virgin", "damsel", "young girl". Why, do you think, that in Mishnaic Hebrew its meanig changed to "ages", "eternity", or even "mute"? Furthermore, is it unusual for the noun to change for feminine to masculine?

It dawned on me that I may have been talking about two completely different words entirely. Do you think "almah" (virgin) is the same word "alma" (eternity)?

Hi Paul,

I sent you a private message. Please check your inbox.

Your friend,
Keith