 previous article in this issue | next article in this issue  |
Preview first page |
Document Details : Title: Die unverheiratete Frau in Jes 7,14 Subtitle: Eine Anfrage an die hebräische Lexikographie Author(s): ZIEGERT, Carsten Journal: Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses Volume: 93 Issue: 2 Date: 2017 Pages: 269-287 DOI: 10.2143/ETL.93.2.3223605 Abstract : Dictionaries of Biblical Hebrew fail to describe the exact meaning of the lexeme עַלְמָה (Isa 7,14) as opposed to בְּתוּלָה. This article introduces componential analysis as a heuristic method to investigate the denotation of Hebrew lexemes. The method is then applied to the lexemes עַלְמָה and בְּתוּלָה taking into account all their occurrences in the Hebrew canon. It is argued that both lexemes denote an adult girl that is not yet married. For neither of the two lexemes is virginity a sense-component that contributes to its denotational meaning; thus, they are synonyms. The semantic difference between עַלְמָה and בְּתוּלָה is to be found rather on the level of connotation and (sociolinguistic) register. While עַלְמָה is the unmarked form with respect to register, בְּתוּלָה is only used in contexts which describe an upcoming marriage that could be jeopardized. |
|
