[Mesorah] Fw: Paane'ach

[Mandel, Seth via Mesorah]

One cannot discuss why a person was given a certain name without sources.

However, one can always discuss what language names come from.  In many cases, the origin of a name is clear,  both because the name has a meaning in that language and because onomastica and other sources record the name as having been used. Names such as 'Elisha‘ or Y'sha‘ya have both clear Semitic roots and are clearly were used.  Names such as Mupim and Guni do not have clear roots, but were used.

The name Pi-neches(-) both means something in Egyptian, and its usage as a name is attested.

I have no idea, nor do I know of any source that discusses why he was given that name.

It may even be that it was similar to the name Alexander: there may have been a tzaddik among the Egyptians that did some good things for the family, and so the name was adopted into Hebrew, like Alexander.  So the fact that the name is Egyptian in origin does not necessarily mean that it was given as an Egyptian name, but rather as hakkoras hatov.


Rabbi Dr. Seth Mandel
Rabbinic Coordinator
The Orthodox Union

Voice (212) 613-8330     Fax (212) 613-0718     e-mail mandels at ou.org


________________________________
From: Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2017 2:30 PM
To: Mandel, Seth
Subject: Re: [Mesorah] Fw: Paane'ach


On 2017-03-19 1:02 pm, Mandel, Seth via Mesorah wrote:

The question is greater regarding the name Pinchas.  It is not labeled as an Egyptian name, and yet it is clearly not Semitic, and there was an Egyptian name Pin'ches.

Is the naming discussed at all? How can one ask about why the language of the name isn't mentioned in the non-existent discussion of the name?

Ben Elezar's name was indeed פינחס -- Pin'chas. The only hint at anything else is the small yud utilized in the beginning of the eponymous parashah. Ben Eli, OTOH, was either פנחס -- Pinchas (Shemuel I 1:2) or Pinechas (2:34).

(I was quite gratified to learn that in preparing my aunt a"h's kesuvah, R/Dr Mirsky zt"l determined that my grandfather a"h's name was indeed Pinechas. It allowed me to name Rapha'el Pinechas using Pinechas ben Elazar's name, rather than invoking Pin[e]chas ben Eli's murkier legacy.)

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

--
Micha Berger       The trick is learning to be passionate in one's
micha at aishdas.org          ideals, but compassionate to one's peers.
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