The Days of Our Years: A Lexical Semantic Study of the Life Cycle in Biblical Israel

by Milton Eng, Laura Quick (Editor), Jacqueline Vayntrub (Editor)

Overview

This study is an investigation into the lexical meanings of Hebrew terms for the human life cycle in the Old Testament. The investigation differs from previous studies in that the terms are studied from the perspective of a specific semantic domain (age) and not in isolation from each other. In addition, other modern linguistic approaches are applies, including syntagmatic and paradigmatic analysis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567025036
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/14/2011
Series:	The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies , #464
Edition description:	Bilingual
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Milton Eng is Adjunct Professor at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations
Illustrations
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 - THE QUEST FOR THE MEANING OF WORDS
The Greek Debate on the Nature of Meaning
Early Lexicography
The Medieval Jewish Grammarians and Lexicographers
The Development of the Comparative Method
The Comparative-Historical Method
The Modern Linguistic Period
The State of Biblical Lexicography Today
Hebrew Lexicography Goes Digital
The Contributions of Modern Linguistics
The Shift Away From Etymology
The Problem of Grundbedeutung
The Distinction Between Sign, Sense and Reference
The Shift Away from the Focus on Words Only
The Shift Away From Glosses
Better Classifications of Meanings
Semantic Domain Study
The Limitations of Modern Linguistics
The Limited Corpus of the Hebrew Bible
Biblical Hebrew as a Dead Language
The Problem of Hapax Legomena
The Problem of the Hebrew Bible and Its Composition
The Practical Limitations of Semantic Study
Etymology and Comparative-Historical Study Still Needed
The Approach of This Study
Bibliography for Chapter 1
CHAPTER 2 - THE LIFE CYCLE IN ANCIENT ISRAEL
Realia
Life Expectancy in the Ancient Near East
The Life Cycle in the Ancient Near East
The Life Cycle in Ancient Greece
The Life Cycle in Ancient Israel
Bibliography for Chapter 2
CHAPTER 3 - SEMANTIC STUDY OF HEBREW TERMS FOR THE YOUNG
The Terminology of the Young
Semantic Study of r(n
History of Research
Occurrences in the Hebrew Bible r(n as 'servant'
r(n as 'boy, lad, youth'
Semotactic Observations on r(n
Conclusion
Semantic Study of dly
Semantic Study of P+
Bibliography for Chapter 3
CHAPTER 4 - SEMANTIC STUDY OF HEBREW TERMS FOR THE MATURE
The Terminology of the Mature
Semantic Study of #$y)
Semantic Study of Md)
Semantic Study of rbg
Bibliography for Chapter 4
CHAPTER 5 - SEMANTIC STUDY OF HEBREW TERMS FOR THE AGED
The Terminology of the Aged
Semantic Study of Nqz
Semantic Study of Expressions Using Mymy
Semantic Study of hby#&
The Life Cycle of the Aged
Bibliography for Chapter 5
CONCLUSION
Lessons in Lexical Semantics
Lessons in Lexicography
Lessons on the Life Cycle
Table of the Life Cycle in Biblical Israel
APPENDIX
GLOSSARY
SUBJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
General
Dictionaries, Lexicons, Theological Wordbooks and Lexical Tools
Linguistics, Lexical Semantics and Lexicography
Works Related to the Life Cycle and Studies of Individual Terms
Semantic Domain Studies