Saturday, June 13, 2009
What Does 'Resurrection' Mean?
The Rabbinic term for the universal resurrection is תחית המתים teh.iyat ha-metim. The root of the first word is חיה There is another term, which is the one used when speaking of the resurrection of Jesus or any single resurrection, תקומה from the root קום You will find corresponding words in Syriac.
Part of what I meant was that the word teh.iyah in Rabbinic texts is always part of the phrase teh.iyat ha-metim “the resurrection of the dead”.
You should know as well that the verb “to resurrect” is not the basic form (the Qal) of the root QWM, but the causative (the Hif’il), so it is literally “to make stand”. This is the verb behind the English verb “to raise” in translations. ‘To be resurrected” is exprssed by the passive of the causative (the Hif’il). The basic form of the root QWM means “to stand up”. It does not mean “to be standing”. That is expressed by the verb ‘AYIN-MEM-DALET
Part of what I meant was that the word teh.iyah in Rabbinic texts is always part of the phrase teh.iyat ha-metim “the resurrection of the dead”.
You should know as well that the verb “to resurrect” is not the basic form (the Qal) of the root QWM, but the causative (the Hif’il), so it is literally “to make stand”. This is the verb behind the English verb “to raise” in translations. ‘To be resurrected” is exprssed by the passive of the causative (the Hif’il). The basic form of the root QWM means “to stand up”. It does not mean “to be standing”. That is expressed by the verb ‘AYIN-MEM-DALET
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