“Yemin – Right
Question
I had a question concerning the ancient Hebrew language and was hoping you could provide some sort of answer if you are able.
My question was regarding the Hebrew language in the ancient historical scriptures.
Can you please explain what defines the differences between saying the words meaning
” RIGHT SIDE or THE RIGHT ”
between saying
” THE RIGHT HAND ”
Because I was doing some studying in the ancient biblical bible and I notice that in the Bible the words do not seem to clearly identify what determines which words clearly mean the difference between saying
” THE RIGHT HAND ”
and saying
” RIGHT SIDE or THE RIGHT ”
This is how the Translators have translated some of the verses – could the Translanslators be adding the word ” HAND ” into the translation when It is not necessary originally written as the meaning to say
” THE RIGHT HAND ”
Do you conveniently know how to explain what defines the difference between what makes the word mean ” right ”
and what makes the word say ” right hand ” ?
Is it just according to the meaning in the subject content of the passage storyline or are the actual Hebrew words clearly defining the difference in what is being expressed ?
I just wonder if the Translators are throwing the word ” hand ” into every single last sentence that has any variation of the word ” RIGHT ”
הימין – Right Hand Gen 13:9
ימין – Hand Right Gen_24:49
מימין – Hand Right Gen_48:13
בימינו – Right Hand Gen 48:14
ימינו – Right Hand Gen 48:17
ימינו – Right Hand Gen 48:18
מימינם – Right Hand Exo 14:22 –
ימינך – Right Hand Exo 15:12 – Exo 15:12 – 2Sa 2:21
ימין – Right Hand Num 20:17 – Num 22:26 – Deu 2:27 – Deu 5:32 – Deu 28:14 – Jos 23:6
לך ימין – Right Hand – Deu 17:11
מימינו – Right Hand – Deu 33:2 – 2Sa 16:6
הימין – Right Hand – Jos17:7
הימין – Right Shoulder – Lev_7:32 – Lev_7:33 – Lev 8:25 – Lev 8:26 – Lev 9:21 – Num 18:18
בימינו – Right Hand – Jdg 16:29
ימין – Right Hand – Sa 6:12 – 1Sa 11:2 – 2Sa 20:9 – 2Sa 24:5
מימין – South Direction – 1Sa 23:19 –
ימין – South Direction – 1Sa 23:24
מימין – Right Hand – 2Sa 2:19
ימינך – Right Hand –
לימינו׃ – Right Hand – 1Ki 2:19
מימין – Right Hand – 1Ki 7:39
מימין – Right Side – 1Ki 7:49
Can this easily be explained- what do you think ?
Thank you for your help.
Answers
The understanding of the word Yemin is very much dependent on the context of the sentence that it appears in. Therefore, the first example that you cite means simply the right, as in the right side. The second example that you cite has no connection to the right hand – it is also referring to the right side. The third example also is the right side (not necessarily the right hand). The fourth example is the right hand.
I cannot go through each of your citations, but if you use a Torah publication that has an authoritative translation from the Hebrew source (and not a generic translation) you should be able to identify exactly what it is referring to each time the word “right” is used.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team