the Berasit Hebrew Dictionary

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=====time=====

The ancient [[Hyberi]] culture was keenly aware of the passage of time. Their knowledge went beyond the necessary cyclical natural cycles required for successful agriculture, and appears at times to venture into more philosophical explorations.


====Cycles====
Although the traditioanal biblical translations use "day" and "year" quite often, the Hebrew is not always so cut and dry when it comes to the passage of time. Rather, it may be advantageous to think of the concept of "cycles" or "periods", closer to the lines of "some time later" or "after a while".

People living on the land in a pastoral lifestyle are accutely aware of day and night cycles, and particularly if they are agriculturalists, the annual cycles of planting and harvest. Therefore, days and years are certainly the most obvious interpretation, and in many cases, probably correct.

However, the words for days and years are used somewhat interchangeably. This suggests a possible misunderstanding in the traditional interpretation.

Months, or moon cycles are also prevalent in the texts. It should not be surprising that a seminomadic shepherding culture would be very aware of patterns in the night sky, including the moon and stars, given the amount of time spent on night watch.

FIXME discuss [[iom]], [[seneh]], [[sekem]], the [[iomim]], the [[sekemim]] and [[rehep]]

compare sekem and "morning"

link to [[zodiac]] taurus

====Forever====
The ancient [[Hyberi]] culture appears to have been intrigued by the concept of "forever". At least, this is one possible interpretation. However, this interpretation may not be entirely accurate.

There are three distinct words that have traditionally been interpreted as meaning "forever":
  * [[yolem]]
  * [[yed]]
  * [[nexeh]]
But all three of these are somewhat dubious fits to this interpretation. FIXME - discuss