Example of how to study Hebrew Word Roots
1) Vayikra 21:5 לא ישרטו שרטת / lo Yisretu Saratet/ shall not cut a gash
ש–ר–ט
BDB: Incise; scratch; scratch as in ‘write’
assyrian= saratu, slit up; rend
Alcalay:
Sarat, scratch; to make an incision
Seret, scratch; laceration; gash; incision
related= sirtut/ שרטוט drawing; sketch
sirton/ שרטון sandbank; shoal
sirtet/ שרטט draw; sketch; delineate; portray
sartat/ שרטט draftsman
2) Vayikra 21:17 לא יקרב להקריב / lo Yiqrav l’Haqriv/ shall not come near to offer
ק–ר–ב
BDB:
come near; approach; be offered
approach sexually
Assyrian= kurbanu
kerev/ קרב approaching
k’rav/ קרב battle; war (hostile approach)
karov/ קרב near
korban/ קרבן offering– a general term for all sacred offerings
assyrian= kirbu, midst; also entrails, heart
kerev/ קרב inward part; midst; inward part of human body; within one’s body; into one’s body; from within the midst; among; from among
related root=
ק–ב–ר
BDB:
Kavar/ קבר bury
assyrian= kibiru
kever/קבר grave; burial place
Kevirot HaTaavah– A station in the Wilderness, “the graves of desire” B’midbar 11:34
Alcalay:
Karav/ קרב to come; draw near; approach; near; to be sacrificed; to approach sexually
kerav/ קרב to draw near, bring near, to come quickly, advance
hikriv/ הקריב to sacrifice; to bring near; advance
hookrav/ הקרב to be sacrificed; to be brought near
k’rav/ קרב battle, combat, fight, encounter, war, match, game
kerev/ קרב inward part; interior; inside; midst; entrails; bowels; intestines; guts;
AND, the center; among; amidst; in the midst of; amid
Todot Mikerev Lev/ תודות מקרב לב Heartfelt thanks; thanks from the depths of one’s heart
kirbah/ קרבה proximity; neighborhood; vicinity; nearness; closeness; affinity; relation; family realtionship; kinship
k’reibut/ קרבות closeness’ proximity; affinity
k’ravi/ קרבי battle; combat; fighting
AND viscera; entrails
Note to self: same root implies closeness in friendship as in war
karban/ קרבן sacrifice; offering; gift; vow; victim
kirbeyn/ קרבן to victimize
3) Vayikra 21: 23 לאל המזבח / l’El HaMizbeach/ The Altar
ז–ב–ח
BDB:
Zavach/ זבח slaughter for sacrifice
assyrian= zibu
zevach/ זבח sacrifice
BDB Notes: “The common and most ancient sacrifice, whose essential rite was eating the flesh of the victim at a feast in which the god of the clan shared by receiving the blood and fat pieces.”
mizbeach/ מזבח Altar
Alcalay:
zavach/ זבח to slaughter; sacrifice; immolate
All Alacaly references to this root connote sacrifice
4) Vayikra 22:2 וינזרו / V’Yinazru/ withdraw
נ–ז–ר
BDB:
dedicate; consecrate; crown; devoted
Separate (in a religious or ceremonial sense)
Alcalay:
Nezer/ נזר diadem; tiara; crown
nazar/ נזר to take the nazerite vows; abstain from; devote oneself to
nizir/ נזר to abstain from, give up, separate
hizir/ הזיר to separate; withdraw
5) Vayikra 22:3 ונכרתה / V’Nichr’tah/ cut-off
כ–ר–ת
BDB:
Karat/ קרת cut off; cut down
assyrian= karatu, hew off
קרת cut down (persons, trees, timbers, armies, etc…); be cut-off from; be cut down; be chewed between the teeth
k’ritut/ כריתות Divorcement
כירית the brook where Elijah was hidden, I Melachim 17:3-5
Alcalay:
Karat/ קרת to cut; cut off; fell; destroy; root out; lop; excise
kareyt/ קרת extermination; excommunication; divine punishment by pre-mature death
This is just five of what would be ten Hebrew word/root explorations from the parasha. One could also stop at just five, cause it does admittedly take a lot of time to be this meticulous. But again, if you can do all ten, and do it regularly, it will pay off. These words were selected by a student, and so are a good example of what someone might choose to look at more deeply. As it happens, there’s not a whole heck of a lot of difference between the BDB and Alcalay for these particular roots, but persevere with using both references, as often you will find interesting deviations and compliments to one another. Most importantly, have fun!!
