Freethought & Rationalism Archive

FatherMithras · 10-25-2005, 09:20 PM

Does anyone know the Hebrew word used in Genesis that implies a literal history? I used to know it, but lost it.

FatherMithras · 10-26-2005, 09:34 AM

BUMP. I need this for a debate.

Ben C Smith · 10-26-2005, 10:19 AM

I have no idea if this is what you are after, but could you be referring to the Hebrew word תולדות (generations) in Genesis 2.4?

Ben.

Chris Weimer · 10-27-2005, 03:58 PM

You mean the difference between midrash, peshar, etc...? I can't remember the word for the literal history, though, either. Perhaps someone else will.

Anat · 10-27-2005, 06:12 PM

Chris, peshat means 'simple interpretation', which is the closest to reading with assumption that the events happened, but that is a method of interpretation. Anything in Genesis can in principle be read as 'peshat' or by any of the other methods (allegorical, mystical) but it is up to the reader to choose which reading to use. I don't know of anything in the Genesis text itself that tells you: from this point on, read as 'peshat'.

Chris Weimer · 10-27-2005, 06:19 PM

No, not in Genesis, but I thought that in Rabbinical commentaries they divided up the interpretations by what kind of interpretation, the pesharim being one, another being literal, etc...

Anat · 10-27-2005, 06:32 PM

It has more to do with the attitude of the various commentators. Rashi tended to use peshat (that's why Torah with Rashi has been considered the most elementary religious education among haredi circles), Ibn-Ezra was a mystic, etc.

Chris Weimer · 10-27-2005, 06:37 PM

Sorry, but I could have sworn there was a word to denote that kind of literal interpretation. Perhaps I'm wrong, though.

10-25-2005, 09:20 PM	#1
FatherMithras Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 3,890	context of literal Genesis Does anyone know the Hebrew word used in Genesis that implies a literal history? I used to know it, but lost it.

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10-26-2005, 09:34 AM	#2
FatherMithras Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 3,890	BUMP. I need this for a debate.

10-26-2005, 10:19 AM	#3
Ben C Smith Veteran Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 4,787	I have no idea if this is what you are after, but could you be referring to the Hebrew word תולדות (generations) in Genesis 2.4? Ben.

10-27-2005, 03:58 PM	#4
Chris Weimer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: none Posts: 9,879	You mean the difference between midrash, peshar, etc...? I can't remember the word for the literal history, though, either. Perhaps someone else will.

10-27-2005, 06:12 PM	#5
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	Chris, peshat means 'simple interpretation', which is the closest to reading with assumption that the events happened, but that is a method of interpretation. Anything in Genesis can in principle be read as 'peshat' or by any of the other methods (allegorical, mystical) but it is up to the reader to choose which reading to use. I don't know of anything in the Genesis text itself that tells you: from this point on, read as 'peshat'.

10-27-2005, 06:19 PM	#6
Chris Weimer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: none Posts: 9,879	No, not in Genesis, but I thought that in Rabbinical commentaries they divided up the interpretations by what kind of interpretation, the pesharim being one, another being literal, etc...

10-27-2005, 06:32 PM	#7
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	It has more to do with the attitude of the various commentators. Rashi tended to use peshat (that's why Torah with Rashi has been considered the most elementary religious education among haredi circles), Ibn-Ezra was a mystic, etc.

10-27-2005, 06:37 PM	#8
Chris Weimer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: none Posts: 9,879	Sorry, but I could have sworn there was a word to denote that kind of literal interpretation. Perhaps I'm wrong, though.

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