רל

'rel' and several derivative spellings are typically understood to mean “foreskin” and to refer to the act of circumcision, or the state of either being circumcised or uncircumcised.

The key to understanding the meaning of this word may lie in Genesis 17, a chapter whose main subject appears to be foreskins.

analyze Genesis 17

Leviticus 19:23 is another good source for this examination, since this short verse uses the word no less than three times. A literal translation yields: caused arrived to territory planted whole trees food foreskin foreskin with fruit three The Annual Ones are foreskin not eat

Yet, the verse is typically understood to mean that when the Israelites entered new land they were supposed to allow crops three years to bear fruit and go to seed naturally before they were allowed to be harvested. Why in the world are foreskins mentioned in this context? Perhaps this word does not mean what we think it means.

analyze 6188 (2 instances), 6189 (35 instances), 6190 (16 instances)

then examine the link with melak

---

LexID 6189, 96189