Parashat Va'era: A Moment of Hebrew
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ShareWhat is the meaning of the Hebrew word אבק and what other Hebrew words share that shoresh?
Illustration Credit: Rivka Tsinman
רֶגַע שֶׁל עִבְרִית A Moment of Hebrew
(ט) וְהָיָ֣ה לְאָבָ֔ק עַ֖ל כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָיָ֨ה עַל־הָאָדָ֜ם וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לִשְׁחִ֥ין פֹּרֵ֛חַ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹ֖ת בְּכׇל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
It shall become a fine dust all over the land of Egypt, and cause an inflammation breaking out in boils on humans and animals throughout the land of Egypt.
אָבָק avak (שֹׁרֶשׁ א.ב.ק) = Dust
מַאֲבָק (ma'avak) = Struggle, battle (which kicks up dust)
אַבְקָנִים (avkanim) = Stamen of a flower
שׁוֹאֵב אָבָק (sho'ev avak) = Vacuum cleaner
Find the Word!
Who in Sefer Bereishit wrestles with an angel? This שֹׁרֶשׁ (shoresh, root) appears in two words in the section that describes that battle. Try to see if you can find both words! (Hint: Check out Bereishit 32.)
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