[Lexicog] names as characteristic of a category

[Hayim Sheynin]

John, my suggestions are coming not from the view of English conventions.
The conventions of Jewish people in relation to the same biblical names are such as I mentioned. After all they created the Bible. Shouldn't we listen to them?
Even New Testament seems to be underlain by an Aramaic text.

Hayim Y. Sheynin

Fritz Goerling <Fritz_Goerling at sil.org> wrote:                                          
  John,
   
  See for my comments in your message.
   
  Best wishes, Fritz
        Fritz,
 
 It seems to me that Biblical names are more likely to be used 
 idomatically to express a particular characteristic if it is used in a 
 negative sense (in English at least). 
      Good observation.
  E.g.
 
 Jeremiah - a person who continually prophesies doom
 Jericho - a remote place to which one is humorously consigned
 Jezebel - a shameless painted woman
      For me she is more the type of a power-mad woman, like
      Lady Macbeth. And this is how I hear her name used: “she
      is such a Jezebel.”
  Jonah - someone who brings bad luck onboard a ship or elsewhere
  Judas - a traitor
      Also used like that in German.
  Some are positive, e.g.
 Joseph - one whose chastity is above temptation
 Job - a person of great patience
 
 Then you have expressions like "I don't know him from Adam" or "He is as 
 old as Methusaleh" in which the Biblical character functions more as a 
 reference without positive or negative connotations. Adam = someone you 
 cannot know and Methusaleh = the oldest person who ever lived.
      How about “she is a real Eve”? 
  By the way, the first example below is an English idiom, but the others 
 are not - as far as I know.
 
 Solomon - wise man
 
 *David - wise king
 *Jonathan - good friend
 *Ruth - true proselite
 *Esther - beautiful patriot
 *Elija - maker miracles
      Apart from the biblical names, how about living people or from the more recent past:
      he is no Maradona, he is a wannabe Elvis, you are not a Jack Kennedy
  
  
  
  
 
 Best wishes,
 
 John Roberts
 
 
 
  
      
     
                       

 
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