GR 1169          ERANOS

H 0172            ב ר ע

Concept : Help by loan

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ב ר ע

‛arav

guarantee, pledge

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ב ר ע

‛arav

guarantee;

pledge

‛a r b

Greek

ερανος

eranos

loan ;

collection

e r  n

 

 

Proto-Semitic *‛ARAV --- *ERA-N-OS Indo-European

 

 

The similarity is rather incomplete but present both in meaning and in root. The Greek word "eranos" describes how somebody is helped by a loan or gift that is raised by contributions or a collection. The Hebrew word "‛arav" indicates the same kind of help, by pledge or guarantee. There remains a difference between the third consonants, respectively N and B/V . But the " N " in Greek "eranos" not necessarily is part of the original root.

 

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. The actual guarantee , with this same root, is an "‛arubbà, ע ר ב ה " and a pledge is called an "‛eravon, ע ר ב ו ן". We remark that this three-consonant combination is also found in a number of roots with rather different concepts.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This root is found in various Semitic languages. Aramaic " ע ר ב, Ayin R B ,‛arav" stands for "he vouched for, was surety for" and Syriac shows " ע ר ב, Ayin R B , ‛erav" with the same messages . " Phoenician uses the same root for "guarantor, surety" and so does Coptic in "arēb = pledge, security". Arabic "‛arraba = he gave money seriously" is related . Probably this root with relative meaning was present already in Proto-Semitic. " *ע ר ב, Ayin R B . "

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. We do not have evidence from outside Greek to make a hypothesis for a root.

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 03/10/2012 at 14.54.54