Updated: 2013.09.29
ân•âhꞋ.
There are, according to Ernest Klein (A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language For Readers of English, p. 476-7), four distinct themes in Hebrew whereas, according to Marcus Jastrow (Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature, p. 1093), there are two principle themes in Aramaic. In order of their primary meanings, these are:
| Hebrew (Klein) | Aramaic (Jastrow) |
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Each of these are further modified by the bin•yânꞋ instantiated. Scholars are often divided concerning a number of passages in which the bin•yânꞋ is ambiguous. This is particularly true of the verb describing how one is to "answer-afflict" oneself on Yom Ki•purꞋ—and, therefore, the same verb (rendered "afflicted") in Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 53.4 & 7.
While the fourth Hebrew connotation is the TC ([modern] traditionally correct) meaning of the pi•eilꞋ, these all complement one shared and overriding theme: the focus on—and "how to" of—responding or answering to someone or for something.
Most instances mean, straightforwardly, "reply." However, in the following instances, the traditional method of responding or making oneself answerable—tradition (e.g., by fasting)—has evolved to eclipse the earliest straightforward meaning:
wa-Yi•qᵊr•âꞋ 16.31, 23.27, 32; bᵊ-Mi•dᵊbarꞋ 29.7 – bin•yânꞋ pi•eilꞋ prêt. 2nd pers. masc. pl., prefixed by å that can be either connective or conversive (past⇒fu. perf.), concerning Yom ha-Ki•purꞋ: åÀòÄðÌÄéúÆí àÆú-ðÇôÀùÑÉúÅéëÆí (wᵊ-i•ni•tëmꞋ ët-na•phᵊsh•ot•eiꞋkhëm; and you m.pl. {made, shall make} your m.pl. nᵊphâsh•otꞋ answer for, you m.pl. {afflicted, shall afflict} your m.pl. nᵊphâsh•otꞋ).
Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 53.4, – bin•yânꞋ pu•alꞋ pres. part. m.s.: åÌîÀòËðÌÆä (u-mᵊun•ëhꞋ; and {I m.s. am, you m.s. are, he m.s. is, it m.s. is} being made answerable [to someone or for something], is being caused to respond), by extension of tradition, {I m.s. am, you m.s. are, he m.s. is, it m.s. is} fasting or being afflicted.
Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 53.7– bin•yânꞋ pa•alꞋ part. 1st pers. pl.: ðÇòÂðÆä (na•an•ëhꞋ; we will answer, reply or respond—according to Abraham S. Halkin, 201 Hebrew Verbs, p. 260). However, the preceding pronoun, äåÌà (hu; he), makes it clear that it is to be understood as the niph•alꞋ past 3rd pers. m.s. ðÇòÂðÈä (na•an•âhꞋ; {he, it m.s.} answered or {he, it m.s.} was answered—Halkin, loc. cit.), by extension, {he, it m.s.} fasted or was afflicted.
Thus, peering through the subsequent tradition, the principle shared theme underlying all of the verb's cognates is to answer for something or to someone, to respond or to reply—particularly by demonstrating sincerity and commitment through asceticism, especially fasting.
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