Orpa

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orpa is a woman mentioned in the book of Ruth .

etymology

There are various possible explanations for the Hebrew name עָרְפָּה 'årpāh .

Traditionally, the name comes from the root ערף 'rp , which means "to break the neck (of an animal)". From this derives the noun עֹרֶף 'oræf "neck, neck", which is also used in the phrase "turn your back". The name Orpa can be translated as "the one who turns her back". This interpretation corresponds to the biblical narrative in which Ruth 1.14  EU reports that Orpah is repenting. The use of “speaking names” is characteristic of the book of Ruth and indicates that the characters involved should be understood as literary figures and not as historical personalities.

The name can also be derived from the Arabic word 'urf , which means "mane". The name would therefore mean "the one adorned with rich hair".

Another possibility is the derivation from the Arabic word 'arf (ah) with the meaning "fragrance". Then the name could be translated as "The Scented One".

Finally, it is possible that two consonants have been swapped and that instead of 'årpāh better ' åfrāh “Gazelle” is to be read. This name is documented within the Bible ( 1 Chr 4,14  EU ).

The Septuagint gives the name with Ορφα Orpha , the Vulgate with Orpha .

Biblical narration

The Moabite Orpah was with about ten years the Israelites called Chilion married ( Rut 1,4  EU ). Kiljon was the son of Elimelech and Naomi, his family had moved from Bethlehem in Judah because of a famine . When Kiljon, his father Elimelech, and his brother Machlon died, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Orpa and Naomi's second daughter-in-law, Rut, wanted to accompany them. After a while, Naomi asked the two of them to return home and let them go to their homeland alone. Orpah obeyed and went back to her family, while Ruth insisted on going on with Naomi.

Jewish literature

In the Jewish literature of the Second Temple, Orpa becomes the ancestral mother of Goliath , who - in contrast to her sister Rut - opts for the pagan gods (e.g. Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum LXI).

In the Midrash Ruth Rabba , Ruth and Orpa are daughters of Eglon , king of Moab. The Babylonian Talmud sees her as the ancestor of the Rafaïter and counts among her descendants the Philistine heroes Sippai ( 2 Sam 21.8  EU ), Madon (cf. 2 Sam 21.20  EU , but there is no name), Goliat ( 2 Sam 21 19  EU ) and Jischbi from Nob (cf. 2 Sam 21,16  EU ). Thus, with David and Goliath, descendants of Orpah and Rut are finally facing each other (cf. 1 Sam 17  EU ).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gesenius , 16th ed. 1915, p. 621.
  2. ↑ Irmtraud Fischer:  Rut / Rutbuch. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.
  3. ↑ Johann Jakob Stamm: Hebräische Frauennamen , in: Contributions to Hebrew and ancient oriental names , Freiburg / Göttingen 1980, OBO 30, pp. 97–135, 130f.
  4. ↑ Babylonian Talmud, Tract Suta, p. 42b.