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WHAT’S IN A WORD

David Curwin

KINA ה ָני ִק

HAFUGA ה ָג ֻפ ֲה

hat is the origin of the Both words derive from the root גֹו ּ פ, hearts are suddenly expanded and
word kinot, תֹוני ִ ק (plural of and there is much debate as to its opened and the body’s natural heat is
Wkina, הָני ִ ק) – lamentations, meaning. Much of the discussion transferred to the extremities, leaving
dirges, which we read on Tisha B’Av? surrounds the description of Ya’akov’s the heart with insufficient warmth.
reaction to being told that Yosef was The old man (Ya’akov) fell down as if
Ernest Klein states that the root of dead.
kina is ןִי ַ ק, and writes as follows: still alive – ֹו ּ בִ ל ג ָ פָי ְ ו (Bereishit 45:26).
What exactly happened to Ya’akov’s
to fit together, fabricate [Whence heart? Although Ramban does not mention
it directly, his mention that the heart
Arab. qana ( = he fabricated, is left without sufficient warmth
forged), qayn (= craftsman, a worker Rashi writes: His heart was changed connects with the Arabic meaning of
in steel or another metalsmith), so that he could not believe. That is to the root, as quoted by Klein:
Aramaic ה ָ אְנ ִ ק, Syr. אָיְנ ִ ק, Akkadian say that his heart could not take notice
qinay ( = metal worker), Hebrew of the things (that Yosef’s brothers had Aram. גֹו ּ פ (=to cease, be helpless),
ןִי ַ ק {kayin} (= spear), הָני ִ ק (= spoken). The usage is similar to that Syr. ג ָּ פ (= was cold), Arab. faja (=
elegy, dirge), Syr. א ָּ תְני ִ ק (of same which is stated in the Talmud (Beitza grew cool.)
meaning), הָני ִ ק (slave girl who is a 14a) … that spices lose their flavor
singer), Ethiopian qene (= song), (“mefigin ta’aman”) if ground ahead Shadal rejects the definition of “cold.”
Syr. ן ַ קְנ ַ ק ( = he sang), Jaram א ָ תיִנ ְ קַנ ְ ק of time. It is also similar to the verse Would Ya’akov remain “cold” to the
(=musical instrument). For sense in Eicha 3:49 that “my eye(s) shall flow news about Yosef? He claims it means
development cp. Greek poietes (tears) and not cease, without respite “to become weak.” He connects the
(=poet; lit. ‘a maker’) from poiein ( = (“hafugot”). Also, note the Aramaic root גֹו ּ פ to the root ק ֹו ּ פ , also meaning
to make, produce).] translation of the verse in Yirmiyahu “weak” (Yirmiyahu 10:4, Yishayahu
48:11: “Moav is complacent from its 28:7). Shadal derives the words safek
Cassuto explains that the name Kayin youth and settled upon its lees; it has ק ֵ פ ָ ס – doubt, and pikpuk קּו ּ פ ְ ק ִּ פ –
(Bereishit 4:1) also derives from the not been poured from one vessel to doubting, from the same root.
sense of ןִי ַ ק as “to make, to form, to another nor gone into exile. Therefore,
give shape,” and so his name meant its fine flavor abides and its bouquet Kaddari writes that גֹו ּ פ means “to
“creation.” has not dissipated.” Concerning this become numb, without feeling.” This
undissipated bouquet, the Aramaic connects well with the meaning of
Kaddari points out that while in “become cold” (Ramban), as well as
Hebrew kina has a sense of mourning, translation renders “lo fug.” “become weak” (Shadal, Radak), or
in most Semitic languages it refers to However, Ramban disagrees: … “to cease” (Rashi, Ibn Ezra). In fact,
singing in general. Rashi’s derivation is incorrect, for all three explanations are brought by

• • • the matter of “fuga” is cessation Amos Chacham in the Da’at Mikra to
Eicha contains two related words, and cancellation… Here too, the Tehillim 38:9.
expression means that his heart
which are unique in the Tanach: ק ַ ע ָ צ stopped beating and his breathing The sense of weak, ceased, is likely
ה ָ ע ְ מ ּ ִ ד ל ַ חַּנ ַ כ י ִ די ִ רֹוה ןֹוּי ִ צ ת ַּ ב ת ַ מֹוח 'ה ל ֶ א ם ָּ בִ ל ceased. The action of his heart the origin of the word pag ג ָּ פ, meaning
ְ
ְ
ךֵני ֵ ע ת ַּ ב ם ּ ֹד ִּ ת ל ַ א ך ָ ל ת ַ גּופ יִנ ְּ ת ִּ ת ל ַ א ה ָ לְי ַ ל ָ ו ם ָ מֹוי, “unripe fig.” Klein claims that the
“Their heart cried out to the L-rd. stopped and it was as if he was dead. Latin words for fig – ficus, fica (and
O wall of Fair Zion shed tears like a This phenomenon is well documented from them the English word “fig”) –
torrent day and night! Give yourself no in situations where sudden and derive from pag. Today the word ג ָּ פ
respite, your eyes no rest” (2:18). unexpected joy occurs. The medical
literature relates that the old and the refers to a premature infant.
תֹוג ֻ פ ֲ ה ןי ֵ א ֵ מ ה ֶ מ ְ ד ִ ת אלֹ ְ ו ה ָ רְּ גִנ יִני ֵ ע, “My eyes weak cannot bear unexpected joyous David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat,
shall flow without cease; without news, for many of them faint away and the author of the Balashon blog
respite” (3:49). under such circumstances. Their balashon.com • balashon1@gmail.com

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