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Re: HELP: Translating the Babel Text

From:Isaac A. Penzev <isaacp@...>
Date:Sunday, October 31, 2004, 20:15
Rodlox wraat:

> setting the theological parts aside, God couldn't destroy a house made
of
> stones or wood?
Sorry, Rodlox, the answer to your question lies in the field of theology, not in semantics or broader linguistics. If you want a plain "yes or no" answer, then Yes, He could. But their desire to use bricks illustrated their proud.
> > For that purpose we need to know the essence of the story, what is > relevant > > and what is irrelevant. In this particular case bricks, being man-made, > are > > essential for the meaning, as opposed to stones, given by G-d as they
are.
> > um, that might be true, but stones can be shaped just as well as bricks
can
> be (since mud was given by God, too).
Bingo! That is why stones for this purpose should NOT be shaped. I could have given references, but again, it's theology, and here we try to follow the principle "No cross no crown", that is "Avoid discussion religion and politics".
> > Otherwise you can have smth like "In older days there were news, and the > > news were together with Humpbacked Spirit..." > > Quasimodo!
Hehe! LOL! I could have given even more examples, but I should not... -- Isaac