GR 1167          ENÈEIÈ

H 0161            ה ו נ ע

Concept : gentleness

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ה ו נ ע

‛anawà , ‛anәwà

compliance, meekness, humility

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ה ו נ ע

‛anawà, ‛anĕwà

compliance,

meekness,

humility

‛a n . w .

Greek

ενηης;

ενηειη

enèès ,

enèeiè

affable, docile;

gentleness

e n . <

*e n . w .

 

 

Hebrew *‛ANAW-A --- *ENAWES Greek

 

 

It can be surprising to see so many small but interesting examples of more or less close similarity between Greek and Hebrew words and roots. It is not known with any precision where the Greeks came from before settling in today’s Hellas. And certainly they were divided in various groups that settled in different periods in South-Eastern Europe. Some time far back in the past their geographical distancing from people who were to become Semitic speakers must have taken place.

 

 

Note:
  • Greek and Hebrew in this entry show a good similarity in sound and meaning of these relatively little used words. A common origin seems plausible.
    At the origin of this Hebrew word may lie the same versatile root found in entry GR 1218 (Hebrew 0158) , GR 1218 (Hebrew 0159) , but in this case there is no indication of affliction or oppression.

 

Note:
  • Greek. This Greek word is considered a development out of an earlier "*enawès", which brings it very near to Hebrew.

 

Note:
  • Hebrew The root of the word of this entry is seen in the verb " 'anav = to behave modestly" and in the adjective " 'anaf = meek, modest". So it has not been derived from the root of the verb " 'anà = to be afflicted, bow down", as some believe.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic The words of this entry have been shaped with the basic root "ע נ ה, ‛anà" . There are identical roots with quite different meanings and presumably independent origin. With the messages of "meekness, humbleness" it is found in Aramaic, Syriac and Arabic. Presumably it was as such used in Proto-Semitic "*ע נ ה, Ayin N H + accentuated vowel, ‛anà .

 

 

 

 
"...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: 22/12/2012 at 15.52.22