GRA SŁÓW W BIBLII HEBRAJSKIEJ
Plays on words in the Hebrew Bible

Summary/Abstract: The Hebrew Bible, in its both prose and poetic layer, is abundant with diverse direct and indirect plays on words, which are applied to a varying degree in individual books. This paper presents selected examples of plays on words from the Hebrew Bible. They are discussed by three categories. The first group identifies homonymic puns and repetitions (e.g. cāpār wāʼēper – ‘dust and ashes’ [Gen 18:27]) and the second – polysemantic puns (e.g. different understanding of the word bêt, the basic meaning of which is ‘a house’). The relationship between proper names and a play on words is discussed separately. The conclusion presents the main functions of plays on words. Unfortunately, this significant element of the works by the authors of the Bible is in most cases impossible to render in translations of the Bible as a play on words is usually lost in translation, as is the thought it expresses. In spite of that, its adaptation was attempted also in Polish translations, e.g. the famous play on words from the Hebrew text Gen 2:23, which occurs between iššāh – ‘a woman’ and ̓iš – ‘a man’ [Gen 2:23].

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