E 0796         (TO)  SET

The verb " to set " is of Germanic origin .

H 0952               ם ט ש ; ה ט ש ; ט ו ש                   

Concept of root : to be on the move

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ט ו ש ;

ה ט ש ;

ם ט ש

shuth ;

sathà ;

satham

to roam ;

to deviate ;

to pursue

Related English words

to set

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ט ו ש ;

ה ט ש ;

ם ט ש

shuth ;

sathà;
satham

to roam ;

to deviate;
to pursue

sh . th

Swedish

sætta

setta

to move, run

s . t

English

to set

to move

s . t

Dutch

nazetten

nazetten

to pursue

z . t

Middle Dutch

setten ;

nasetten

setten ;

nasetten

to make to move; to get to move;

to pursue

s . t

 

 

Proto-Semitic *SATHÀ, *SHUTH --- *SÈT- Proto-Germanic

 

 

We will try to explain in the following note our reasons to suppose a common origin between the words of this entry. In particular we will see that English (and also Germanic) has two similar roots with different origin in verbs " to set". The most direct proof of this is already seen in the Swedish verb "sætta", that clearly has two separate meanings. One is that of "to place", the other that of "to move oneself". In Swedish "komma sættande" means "to come running" . And "sætta över" is "to jump over". Obviously "sætta efter" stands for "to pursue".

 

In entry E 0794 (Hebrew 0941 , "shat, shatat" ) we have mentioned the similarity with the English verb "to set" in the sense of " to place ".

 

 

Note:
  • Dutch and Hebrew. The Dutch verbs "nazitten" and "nazetten" both mean "to pursue". They are composed of the prefix "na-" with the meaning "after, behind" and the verbs "zitten" and "zetten". These normally are very common daily used verbs, that are well-nigh identical to English verbs with the same meanings of "to sit" and "to set".

     

    There is no logical explanation why "to sit after" and "to set after" would come to say "to pursue". Yet it is commonly said that "zetten" in "nazetten" is the same as "to set". Upon seeing the Hebrew root of this entry we understand that a different explanation is more probable . We see "nazetten" as meaning "to go after". "Nazitten" is just an alteration under influence of the word "zitten".

     

    Infact the Hebrew verbs we see, both deal with forms of actions that refer to "going, moving". The specific meanings are :

     

                                                                  shuth                    to roam

                                                                  sathà , suth          to deviate

                                                                  satham                  to pursue ( ! )

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic . Of the mentioned roots, "SH W TH = to go about" in Syriac is seen with meanings like " to drag, stretch out" , that in Hebrew and other languages is expressed by "SH . TH . " So we have no immediate evidence from other Semitic languages for a hypothesis for Proto-Semitic. Yet the possible original root for all three roots of this entry according to normal developments might be exactly a Proto-Semitic "*ש ו ט , SH W TH".

     

    "S . TH . = to deviate" is present in Aramaic and Syriac "ס ט א , sethà = to turn aside, go astray". Ethiopian "sataya" with "T" instead of "TH" has the same meanings. So probably there was in Proto-Semitic a root ש ט ה, S TH H (accentuated vowel)".

     

    "S TH M = to pursue" ( also " to hate") we find just in Hebrew and Aramaic and the basis for a hypothesis is rather narrow.

 

Note:
  • English. "To move or make move" is quite a different concept from that of "to place" . We find in English a number of applications of the verb "to set" that refer to "to ( make ) move " . Such are "to set out" on a journey"; the sun "sets" ; "to set off", "to set forth", "to set in" (of wind and water).

 

Note:
  • Dutch practices more composed verbs. A number of those with "zetten" deals with movement as well. "Aanzetten " = to urge (a horse), to arrive, accelerate" ; "afzetten" = to push off "; "doorzetten" = "to carry on, move on" ; "inzetten" = to begin, start going ( in)…; "opzetten" = to come on, arrive, appear, rise" .

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic . Usually scholars consider only one verb "to set" or in Dutch "zetten". This verb is the causative form of "to sit" in Dutch "zitten" and it means " to make sit (down), to place". The meanings around the concept of movement, like "to (make) move" as found in English but especially in Dutch, are to be considered a different root. In Proto-Germanic this may be anyhow similar, as "*S È T-".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European . As often, also this time we have a similarity between Semitic and Germanic, but no sufficient indication from other Indo-European branches for a hypothesis.

 

 

 

 
"...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: 06/12/2012 at 17.43.26