Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
God
English answer:
Etymology of the word "God":
Added to glossary by
Evert DELOOF-SYS
Jan 12, 2003 10:06
21 yrs ago
English term
Annie
ARAMAIC: God
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ARAMAIC:
I was just wondering is anyone knows where the word the "God(s)" originates. And what would it be in english when translated hand-over? I'm not sure if it came from a Greek, (Aramaic,) Hebrew, or Latin word, so I am posting it is all sections. If you know the answer to this question, please let me know. I would be most greatful. Thank you.
I was just wondering is anyone knows where the word the "God(s)" originates. And what would it be in english when translated hand-over? I'm not sure if it came from a Greek, (Aramaic,) Hebrew, or Latin word, so I am posting it is all sections. If you know the answer to this question, please let me know. I would be most greatful. Thank you.
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Apr 16, 2006 22:31: Fabio Descalzi changed "Language pair" from "zzz Other zzz to English" to "English" , "Field" from "Other" to "Social Sciences" , "Field (specific)" from "(none)" to "Religion"
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Evert DELOOF-SYS
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Etymology of the word "God":
Etymology of the Word "God"
(Anglo-Saxon God; German Gott; akin to Persian khoda; Hindu khooda).
God can variously be defined as:
-the proper name of the one Supreme and Infinite Personal Being, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, to whom man owes obedience and worship;
-the common or generic name of the several supposed beings to whom, in polytheistic religions, Divine attributes are ascribed and Divine worship rendered;
-the name sometimes applied to an idol as the image or dwelling-place of a god.
The root-meaning of the name (from Gothic root gheu; Sanskrit hub or emu, "to invoke or to sacrifice to") is either "the one invoked" or "the one sacrificed to."
From different Indo-Germanic roots (div, "to shine" or "give light"; thes in thessasthai "to implore") come the Indo-Iranian deva, Sanskrit dyaus (gen. divas), Latin deus, Greek theos, Irish and Gaelic dia, all of which are generic names; also Greek Zeus (gen. Dios, Latin Jupiter (jovpater), Old Teutonic Tiu or Tiw (surviving in Tuesday), Latin Janus, Diana, and other proper names of pagan deities. The common name most widely used in Semitic occurs as 'el in Hebrew, 'ilu in Babylonian, 'ilah in Arabic, etc.; and though scholars are not agreed on the point, the root-meaning most probably is "the strong or mighty one."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06608x.htm
(Anglo-Saxon God; German Gott; akin to Persian khoda; Hindu khooda).
God can variously be defined as:
-the proper name of the one Supreme and Infinite Personal Being, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, to whom man owes obedience and worship;
-the common or generic name of the several supposed beings to whom, in polytheistic religions, Divine attributes are ascribed and Divine worship rendered;
-the name sometimes applied to an idol as the image or dwelling-place of a god.
The root-meaning of the name (from Gothic root gheu; Sanskrit hub or emu, "to invoke or to sacrifice to") is either "the one invoked" or "the one sacrificed to."
From different Indo-Germanic roots (div, "to shine" or "give light"; thes in thessasthai "to implore") come the Indo-Iranian deva, Sanskrit dyaus (gen. divas), Latin deus, Greek theos, Irish and Gaelic dia, all of which are generic names; also Greek Zeus (gen. Dios, Latin Jupiter (jovpater), Old Teutonic Tiu or Tiw (surviving in Tuesday), Latin Janus, Diana, and other proper names of pagan deities. The common name most widely used in Semitic occurs as 'el in Hebrew, 'ilu in Babylonian, 'ilah in Arabic, etc.; and though scholars are not agreed on the point, the root-meaning most probably is "the strong or mighty one."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06608x.htm
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66 days
Sorry but this is NOT correct!
First of all: "God" is a purely English hence Germanic word, it is not borrowed from Latin or Greek. European languages have nothing to do with Hebrew or Aramaic, these two are Semitic hence belonging to a completely different language-family. Though our religion, Christianity, is borrowed from the East. King James' Bible is a translation of the Latin "Vulgata" which is a translation of the Greek "Septuaginta". Nonetheless, our languages have NOTHING to do with our religion!
Concerning the answer: "gheu" is NOT a Gothic root, it is an Indo-European root meaning "to pour" hence also "to libate". Gothic "guth", German "Gott" etc. have nothing to do with this root. There is another Indo-European root, having an auslauting laryngeal "ghweH" meaning "to cry out" and also "to invoke", but any of its derivations would hardly have given the Germanic word.
I am sorry for writing the characters in a scientifically uncorrect way, but I hope it gets more intelligible that way.
There is NO Sanskrit root "hub" and NO root "emu", these two simply do not exist. There are the roots "hav" on the one hand and "huu" with a long "u" on the other hand. Their meanings are "to pour, to libate" and "to cry out, to invoke". However, as we have seen, none of those two has got anything to do with the Germanic words.
But the most important point is: Greek "theos", Latin "Janus" must in NO way be compared to "deva", "dyaus", "día", "deus", "tiwaz" (that would be the right reconstruction of the Germanic god's name, Old Norse "Tyr", Old High German "Ziu").
Furthermore, the root in "theos" is in NO way comparable to the one in "thessasthai" AND the root therein is NOT "thes". The root in "thessasthai" is the one to be found in "potheo (with o mega of course)" and to be reconstructed as Indo-European "gwhedh". I am sorry, but some of the etymologies presented by you, except of the "dyaus"-family, are simply incorrect.
As far as the Semitic words are concerned, you are right. However, I am not that a semitist to decide whether the presumed root-meaning is correct or not. But I have some experience in Indo-European linguistics, that is why I am quite sure about what I have stated above.
Please do understand that this is not a confrontation, I just wanted to set some things right. Of course, I do not want my answer to be rated since it is not possible anymore. For both of you this should just be something to think about! Science is not opinion and it is not religion either.
Best wishes, HTH
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Note added at 2003-03-19 14:57:08 (GMT) Post-grading
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Persian \"khodaa\" is not akin to \"God\" either, simply on sound-law grounds!
Concerning the answer: "gheu" is NOT a Gothic root, it is an Indo-European root meaning "to pour" hence also "to libate". Gothic "guth", German "Gott" etc. have nothing to do with this root. There is another Indo-European root, having an auslauting laryngeal "ghweH" meaning "to cry out" and also "to invoke", but any of its derivations would hardly have given the Germanic word.
I am sorry for writing the characters in a scientifically uncorrect way, but I hope it gets more intelligible that way.
There is NO Sanskrit root "hub" and NO root "emu", these two simply do not exist. There are the roots "hav" on the one hand and "huu" with a long "u" on the other hand. Their meanings are "to pour, to libate" and "to cry out, to invoke". However, as we have seen, none of those two has got anything to do with the Germanic words.
But the most important point is: Greek "theos", Latin "Janus" must in NO way be compared to "deva", "dyaus", "día", "deus", "tiwaz" (that would be the right reconstruction of the Germanic god's name, Old Norse "Tyr", Old High German "Ziu").
Furthermore, the root in "theos" is in NO way comparable to the one in "thessasthai" AND the root therein is NOT "thes". The root in "thessasthai" is the one to be found in "potheo (with o mega of course)" and to be reconstructed as Indo-European "gwhedh". I am sorry, but some of the etymologies presented by you, except of the "dyaus"-family, are simply incorrect.
As far as the Semitic words are concerned, you are right. However, I am not that a semitist to decide whether the presumed root-meaning is correct or not. But I have some experience in Indo-European linguistics, that is why I am quite sure about what I have stated above.
Please do understand that this is not a confrontation, I just wanted to set some things right. Of course, I do not want my answer to be rated since it is not possible anymore. For both of you this should just be something to think about! Science is not opinion and it is not religion either.
Best wishes, HTH
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-19 14:57:08 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Persian \"khodaa\" is not akin to \"God\" either, simply on sound-law grounds!
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