GR 1172          ERKHOMAI

H 0062           א ר ח

Concept of root: to be underway

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

א ר ח

aragh;

oragh

to go, be underway;

topath, way

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

א ר ח

aragh ;

-

-

oragh

to go, to walk, be underway;

path, way

a r . gh

Greek

ερχομαι

erkhomai

to go,walk, come, be underway, depart

e r kh

 

 

Proto-Semitic *ARAGH --- *ERKH- Greek

 

 

The roots are well-nigh identical in sound and meaning. As is normal, the Greek word uses one in between vowel, the Hebrew word has two vowels. Both have an opening vowel, that the Greeks write down specifically, while the Jews just use an Aleph, leaving it to the reader to know which vowel must be pronounced in that spot.

 

 

Note:
  • Greek. The second part "-omai " is a suffix, precisely of the first person singular in medio-passive . The expressed meaning seems to have been considered near to a reflexive one, seen the choice of this verbal form. In modern language the use has shifted more towards the meaning of "to come", with of course figurative elaborations.

     

    No conclusive answers have been found regarding the etymology of "erkhomai" . The similarity with Hebrew is a further indication that the KH in "erkhomai" is part of the root.

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. Caravans were a fundamental way of travel and transport in the Middle East, before somebody showed the people that there was oil under their soil and that this could be used to make transportation easier. Seen that being under way often meant travelling in a caravan, this was called a " א ר ח ה , orégha " "that what is underway".

     

    One notes that in the position of the Aleph, א , here an O is pronounced , while in the verb an A is seen . But in other forms, one will once more find an O.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. The Hebrew root of this entry is also found in related words in other Semitic languages. Aramaic א ו ר ח א,'oreghà = path, way" like Akkadian "urghu" and OSArabic 'aragh. In Arabic we see an older root without the initial vowel in "raghà , like the causative form in Tigre "margha = he led, showed the way".

     

    Proto-Semitic consequently had the root " *ר ח ה, R GH accentuated vowel ", in which we indicate this accentuated final vowel with the letter "Hè". And also already the form extended with initial vowel "A", " *א ר ח, Aleph, R GH ".

 

 

 

 
"...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: 21/12/2012 at 14.24.24