As we celebrate Thanksgiving, the lovely holiday when families are gathered along with close friends and guests, when the spirit of this special holiday is filling us with relaxation and with sentiments of joy and love, we’ll introduce in this coming month words and phrases that concur with these fine sentiments of kindness, joy and love as we received requests to present such words for some time.
In the last few days we’re presenting expressions of love and endearment that we use today alongside biblical expressions. Most of these words have not changed in thousands of years and are are used today just as they were during the biblical era.
Today, we introduce one of the most beautiful expressions of love and endearment that exist in Hebrew: ‘ani le•do•di ve•do•di li’, ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine’. Perhaps you have seen this saying engraved on engagement and wedding rings. It has been the most popular ring in Israel for decades.
The word ‘dod’ has two meanings in biblical Hebrew:
1. Uncle.
2. Loved one, beloved.
In today’s Hebrew ‘dod’ is only an uncle.
Example of ‘dod’ as an uncle:
‘Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is near of kin to him of his family may redeem him; or if he is able, he may redeem himself.’
Example of ‘dod’ as a beloved:
The biblical source of the expression:
‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine; he pastures his flock among the lilies’.
It seems that this phrase needs no further explanations.
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