סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

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Isaac Fried
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Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

We read there
וְסֶרַח הָעֹדֵף בִּירִיעֹת הָאֹהֶל חֲצִי הַיְרִיעָה הָעֹדֶפֶת תִּסְרַח עַל אֲחֹרֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וְהָאַמָּה מִזֶּה וְהָאַמָּה מִזֶּה בָּעֹדֵף בְּאֹרֶךְ יְרִיעֹת הָאֹהֶל יִהְיֶה סָרוּחַ עַל צִדֵּי הַמִּשְׁכָּן מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה לְכַסֹּתוֹ
KJV: And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
NIV: As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it.
סֶרַח, 'surplus, excess, train', is from the root SRX, a member of the family of roots
דרג, דרך
זרח, זרק
טרח, טרק
ירך, ירק
סרג, סרח, סרך, סרק
צרח, צרך
שרג, שרך, שרק

'emit, send forth, cast forth, spread, extend'.

In spoken Hebrew סֵרָחוֹן is 'stench, foul odor', a kind of זֵרָחוֹן or צֵרָחוֹן, emanating from a reeking body.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

In Gen. 40:10 we first encounter שָרִיג SARIYG, 'branch, twig, shoot'
וּבַגֶּפֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִם וְהִוא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ
KJV: "And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth"
where שָרִיג is but a זָרִיק (or a יָרִיק) being thrown forth נזרק by the plant, like any other יֶרֶק, 'greenery', the green foliage of growing plants.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

In Nu. 12:14 We find ירק YARAQ in the sense of 'eject (זרק ZARAQ) saliva forcibly out of the mouth between tight lips'
וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ הֲלֹא תִכָּלֵם
KJV: If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed?

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

In spoken Hebrew מַסְרֵק = מה-סרק MASREQ is 'comb', a handy little thing to throw מזרק with tangled hair into place.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

Spoken Hebrew still uses the biblical שְׂרוֹךְ for 'shoelace'. It uses
שָׁרָךְ for 'fern'; סרח being of an unpleasant connotation.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: סֶרַח SERAX, Ex. 26:12-13

Post by Isaac Fried »

Ah, and not to forget the root ירח YRX of which we have the יָרֵחַ, the lesser light, the זוֹרח of the night.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
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