GR 1233          PRÜTANIS

H 0722            ם י מ ת ר פ

Concept of root : ruling class

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

  ם י מ ת ר פ

parětěmim

noblemen

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ם י מ ת ר פ

parětěmim

noblemen

p . r . t

Greek

πρυτανις

prütanis

governing person

p . r . t

 

 

Hebrew PARETEM --- *PRÜTAN-IS Greek

 

 

We have only these two words, the Hebrew one in plural. But the root is clear and so is its meaning. Noblemen are those who govern and this is the common concept, that of the ruling class in a society.

 

This word is found only in plural, and specifically in Esther and Daniel, both linked to the Persian period . The hypothetical singular is "*paretem", that is seen as a loanword from Old Persian "fratama = foremost, first". This is quite possible but not certain. True, between Old Persian and Hebrew also names change considerably. The King of Esther, Aghashwerosh in the Bible, in Greek was Xerxes or Artaxerxes ? Xerxes in Persian must have been "Khshayarsha" and this is very far from "Aghashwerosh". Anyhow , if the Jews , who certainly spoke Persian very well, wanted to use the word "fratama", a problemless sound, why would they have changed it into "paretem"? Uncertainty reigns.

 

Note:
  • Greek. The etymology is unknown, say Greek scholars. We just wonder if it might have some relation with the word "πρωτος , protos" that stands for "first" in many senses. Generally this is seen as a superlative of the wel-known "pro". We dare to be uncertain about that explanation. But we are just guessing as well in this case.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 20/11/2012 at 11.22.07