RAMEUMPTOM: Difference between revisions

From Book of Mormon Onomasticon
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
|}
|}


The first element of the name is perhaps related to Hebrew râm, “to be high, exalted,” the same root that appears in the biblical GN Ramah, “hill” (cf. Book of Mormon  
The name '''RAMEUMPTOM''' is defined in the Book of Mormon as “the holy stand” ([http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/31.21,%2023?lang=eng#20 Alma 31:21&23]) and is described as “a place of standing, which was high above the head” ([http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/31.13?lang=eng#12 Alma 31:13]).
Ramah). The form could be a plural nomens regens with the second element of the name in construct and thus mean “the elevations of.” It is tempting to see Hebrew
ʿomed, “stand,” and in the derived sense “place,” <Ref>See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/neh/13/11#11 Nehemiah 13:11] ʿomdām, “their standingplace.”</ref> with the 3c.p. possessive pronoun, ʿomdām as the second element in Rameumptom, even though the vowels and
The first element of the name is most likely related to Hebrew ''rām'', “to be high, to be exalted,” and ''rāmâ'', “eminence, high place,” the same root that appears in the biblical geographic name Ramah, “hill” (cf. Book of Mormon '''[[RAMAH]]'''). '''RAMEUMPTOM''' could be a noun chain with ''râme'' as a masculine construct plural, meaning “the elevations of.” The ''-umptom'' would then be a nomen rectum, possibly from Hebrew ''ʿōmed'' , “place, position, location,” with either a pronominal suffix, analogous to the 3rd person plural possessive pronoun ''-ām'',<ref>[http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/neh/8.7?lang=eng#6 Nehemiah 8:7] “the people stood in their place,” where “their place” is pointedʿōmdām; see also [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/neh/9.3?lang=eng#2 Nehemiah 9:3]; [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/neh/13.11?lang=eng#10 13:11]; [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-chr/30.16?lang=eng#15 2 Chronicles 30:16]; and [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/2-chr/35.10?lang=eng#9 35:10].</ref> or with the nominalizing ending ''–ōm''.<ref>''-ōm'' as in Gershom ([http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/ex/2.22?lang=eng#21 Exodus 2:22]; [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/ex/18.3?lang=eng#2 18:3]); Milcom, the Ammonite deity ([http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/1-kgs/11.7,%2033?lang=eng#6 1 Kings 11:7&33]); and ''ʿēyrōm'', “the state of being naked, naked” ([http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/deut/28.48?lang=eng#47 Deuteronomy 28:48], [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/ezek/18.7?lang=eng#6 Ezekiel 18:7] and [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/3.7?lang=eng#6 Genesis 3:7]), possibly similar to the common Semitic nominalizing ending ''–ān/ōn''.</ref>  The latter ending is probably to be preferred because of the analog form in Arabic, ''ʿumdān'' “standing.” Given these two Hebrew lexemes, ''rām'' and ''ʿōmed'', the meaning of '''RAMEUMPTOM''' would then be “the heights/ elevations of (their) stand” (RFS), a definition that accords well with the interpretation that the Book of Mormon writers provided.
consonants only plausibly correspond, thus giving the meaning, “the heights/loftiness/elevations of their stand” (RFS). The insertion of a bilabial voiceless plosive
between a preceding bilabial and a following consonant is not without precedent. <ref>The Hebrew šimšōn, KJV “Samson,” cannot be pronounced without adding a bilabial plosive between the m and the š, i.e., šimpšōn, which is why the Greek transliteration
of the name is written with the plosive character *ψ, and why some English renderings of the name also contain the p.</ref> The vowels of ʿomed, if ʿomed belongs to the qutl class of segholates, can be
traced to an original [u] and Ø, thus matching the Book of Mormon vowels. The change of a voiced to an unvoiced dental is also plausible. Harder to explain is the
change of a to o, if the last two characters represent the possessive pronoun. The corresponding Aramaic 3c.p. possessive pronoun does have the *o vowel. The name
and the stand are suggestive of the Jewish usage of ʿamīdāh, “stand” (see E. Werner, The Sacred Bridge, pp. 11–13, 15–16, which relates directly to the form, function
and meaning of Rameumptom, “holy stand.”) Interestingly, the term ʿomed, translated “standingplace” *is always preceded in the Bible by the preposition ʿal, hence
“upon their standingplace,” which may imply a special spot, perhaps a platform for notables such as the one used at the festival of Sukkot (JAT).


See also the Hebrew ʿamida prayer. (RFS).
The Masoretic pronunciation ''ʿōmed'' for “stand” denotes a “qutl” form that would have originally been pronounced with an initial /u/, as in Arabic ''ʿumdān''.<ref>In his “Vestiges,” JAT has suggested the connection of Hebrew ''ʿōmed'' with Arabic ''ʿumdān'' “standing,” which is descriptive of Muslim pilgrims on Hajj who stand on the Plain of Arafat with arms raised praying for repentance. RFS notes the ancient Jewish tradition of speaking the ''ʿAmida'' (from the same root as ''ʿōmed'') prayer while standing. See E. Werner, ''The Sacred Bridge'', pp. 11-13, 15-16, which relates directly to the form, function and meaning of '''RAMEUMPTOM''', “holy stand.”
Interestingly, the term ''ʿōmed'', translated “standing-place” is always preceded in the Hebrew Bible by the preposition ''ʿal'', hence “upon their standing-place,” which may imply a special spot, perhaps a platform for notables such as the one used at the festival of Sukkot (JAT), or a type of “high place” (“shrine” in the JPS translation), from the Hebrew ''bāmā'' (see [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/1-kgs/11.7?lang=eng#6 1 Kings 11:7]; [http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/jer/48.35?lang=eng#34 Jeremiah 48:35], etc.). Some early Christian church buildings also contained a ''bema'', a raised platform, for example at Qirk Bize, Syria. Many synagogues also still feature a ''bima''.</ref>  This could explain the /u/ vowel rather than the /o/ of ''ʿōmed''. The “qutl” form with affix would also explain why there is no vowel between the ''m'' and the ''t''.<ref>''Qutl'' forms in Hebrew take a helping vowel between the second and third radicals when there is no affix. But when an affix is added, such as the pronominal suffix, the helping vowel is no longer needed and elides.</ref>


It is also possible that the second element could be derived from Hebrew ʿam(mah), “people,” or Arabic ʾumt-, “people.” The former does not have a *feminine form that
The fact that the /p/ is the locus of several scribal corrections in the original and the printer’s manuscripts may indicate an initial question in the dictation process about its presence in this proper name.<ref>The original manuscript reads “[ram]eum{p}tom” while the printers manuscript reads “Rameu{p(-)׀m}ptom”.</ref> (Semitic languages in general do not tolerate consonant clusters, such as ''-mpt-''.) However, what might seem like an extraneous /p/ and the unvoicing of voiced /d/ can be explained phonetically. The insertion of a bilabial voiceless plosive between the preceding bilabial /m/ and a following dental is not without precedent. In English, for example, the ''p'' in ''redemption'' represents a phonetic spelling of ''redeem'' plus the nominalizing ending ''–tion''. The phenomenon also occurs in the Semitic languages. The common Semitic word for “sun” is ''šmš'', the vowels varying between ''šamaš'' and ''šamšu''. The latter form cannot be pronounced without the insertion of a voiceless bilabial plosive, a /p/. Thus, the Hebrew personal name ''Šimšōn'', which is based on ''šmš'', is sometimes spelled with a /p/ when the name passes into another language, such as Greek, ''Sampson''.<ref>The Greek spelling of the Hebrew name  ''Šimšōn'' (a name based on ''šmš'') is Sampson σαμψων. Also, the Ugaritic spelling of ''šmš'' is ''špš'', clearly with a voiceless bilabial plosive replacing the voiced bilabial /m/ in the writing.</ref> 
I am aware of, and therefore the t would have to be added to form an otherwise unattested form. The latter comes from the common Semitic root ʾmm, “mother,” with  
derived meanings in different forms. Thus Rameumptom may mean “the elevation of the people.”


If the word is from the Hebrew singular rāmāh, “hill, high place, height,” then, as Tvedtnes points out, its construct form would be remat. This is not to invalidate the
The voiceless /t/ instead of the voiced /d/ can be explained by assimilation. I.e., the bilabial /m/ produces the voiceless /p/ before a dental, and the voiceless /p/ influences the voiced dental /d/ become the unvoiced /t/.
etymology. Often there are two plurals to a noun, each with different meanings, e.g., *
 
SEE THE NT CITY Betharamphtha in F.F. Bruce, New Testament History (New York, etc.: Doubleday, 1971), 341.
 
Richard Anderson in a personal communication suggested that Rameumptom may derive from Hebrew rmh, “high, raised up” and Hebrew mptn, “door, doorway.” See also
Reynolds, Story of the Book of Mormon, p. 293, or 318, for ramoth, “high, elevated” and *-mptom, “threshhold.”
 
Unlikely is Egyptian rʿ-m-pt, “the sun is in the sky” (HWN via Urrutia).


See also [[Rameumptom Variants]]
See also [[Rameumptom Variants]]
Line 38: Line 21:
==Notes==
==Notes==
<references/>
<references/>
<div style="text-align: right;"> RFS </div>
==Bibliography==
*[[Daniel H. Ludlow]] A Companion to your Study of the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1969.
[[Category:Names]][[Category:Lehite noun]]
[[Category:Names]][[Category:Lehite noun]]

Revision as of 09:54, 16 December 2011

Lehite noun 1. Prayerstand, ca. 74 BC (Alma 31:21)

The name RAMEUMPTOM is defined in the Book of Mormon as “the holy stand” (Alma 31:21&23) and is described as “a place of standing, which was high above the head” (Alma 31:13).

The first element of the name is most likely related to Hebrew rām, “to be high, to be exalted,” and rāmâ, “eminence, high place,” the same root that appears in the biblical geographic name Ramah, “hill” (cf. Book of Mormon RAMAH). RAMEUMPTOM could be a noun chain with râme as a masculine construct plural, meaning “the elevations of.” The -umptom would then be a nomen rectum, possibly from Hebrew ʿōmed , “place, position, location,” with either a pronominal suffix, analogous to the 3rd person plural possessive pronoun -ām,[1] or with the nominalizing ending –ōm.[2] The latter ending is probably to be preferred because of the analog form in Arabic, ʿumdān “standing.” Given these two Hebrew lexemes, rām and ʿōmed, the meaning of RAMEUMPTOM would then be “the heights/ elevations of (their) stand” (RFS), a definition that accords well with the interpretation that the Book of Mormon writers provided.

The Masoretic pronunciation ʿōmed for “stand” denotes a “qutl” form that would have originally been pronounced with an initial /u/, as in Arabic ʿumdān.[3] This could explain the /u/ vowel rather than the /o/ of ʿōmed. The “qutl” form with affix would also explain why there is no vowel between the m and the t.[4]

The fact that the /p/ is the locus of several scribal corrections in the original and the printer’s manuscripts may indicate an initial question in the dictation process about its presence in this proper name.[5] (Semitic languages in general do not tolerate consonant clusters, such as -mpt-.) However, what might seem like an extraneous /p/ and the unvoicing of voiced /d/ can be explained phonetically. The insertion of a bilabial voiceless plosive between the preceding bilabial /m/ and a following dental is not without precedent. In English, for example, the p in redemption represents a phonetic spelling of redeem plus the nominalizing ending –tion. The phenomenon also occurs in the Semitic languages. The common Semitic word for “sun” is šmš, the vowels varying between šamaš and šamšu. The latter form cannot be pronounced without the insertion of a voiceless bilabial plosive, a /p/. Thus, the Hebrew personal name Šimšōn, which is based on šmš, is sometimes spelled with a /p/ when the name passes into another language, such as Greek, Sampson.[6]

The voiceless /t/ instead of the voiced /d/ can be explained by assimilation. I.e., the bilabial /m/ produces the voiceless /p/ before a dental, and the voiceless /p/ influences the voiced dental /d/ become the unvoiced /t/.

See also Rameumptom Variants

Notes

  1. ↑ Nehemiah 8:7 “the people stood in their place,” where “their place” is pointedʿōmdām; see also Nehemiah 9:3; 13:11; 2 Chronicles 30:16; and 35:10.
  2. ↑ -ōm as in Gershom (Exodus 2:22; 18:3); Milcom, the Ammonite deity (1 Kings 11:7&33); and ʿēyrōm, “the state of being naked, naked” (Deuteronomy 28:48, Ezekiel 18:7 and Genesis 3:7), possibly similar to the common Semitic nominalizing ending –ān/ōn.
  3. ↑ In his “Vestiges,” JAT has suggested the connection of Hebrew ʿōmed with Arabic ʿumdān “standing,” which is descriptive of Muslim pilgrims on Hajj who stand on the Plain of Arafat with arms raised praying for repentance. RFS notes the ancient Jewish tradition of speaking the ʿAmida (from the same root as ʿōmed) prayer while standing. See E. Werner, The Sacred Bridge, pp. 11-13, 15-16, which relates directly to the form, function and meaning of RAMEUMPTOM, “holy stand.” Interestingly, the term ʿōmed, translated “standing-place” is always preceded in the Hebrew Bible by the preposition ʿal, hence “upon their standing-place,” which may imply a special spot, perhaps a platform for notables such as the one used at the festival of Sukkot (JAT), or a type of “high place” (“shrine” in the JPS translation), from the Hebrew bāmā (see 1 Kings 11:7; Jeremiah 48:35, etc.). Some early Christian church buildings also contained a bema, a raised platform, for example at Qirk Bize, Syria. Many synagogues also still feature a bima.
  4. ↑ Qutl forms in Hebrew take a helping vowel between the second and third radicals when there is no affix. But when an affix is added, such as the pronominal suffix, the helping vowel is no longer needed and elides.
  5. ↑ The original manuscript reads “[ram]eum{p}tom” while the printers manuscript reads “Rameu{p(-)׀m}ptom”.
  6. ↑ The Greek spelling of the Hebrew name Šimšōn (a name based on šmš) is Sampson σαμψων. Also, the Ugaritic spelling of šmš is špš, clearly with a voiceless bilabial plosive replacing the voiced bilabial /m/ in the writing.
Retrieved from "https://onoma.lib.byu.edu/index.php?title=RAMEUMPTOM&oldid=3943"