GS 55

Text Information

Siglum
GS 55
Transliteration
---- rbʿ bn ḥy{t} w bh{l}
OCIANA
Translation
---- Rbʿ son of {Ḥyt} and {was frightened?}
OCIANA
Language and Script
Safaitic

Interpretation

Commentary
The root bhl occurs in OSA and Ethiopic meaning "to speak", which hardly fits the context of this inscription. Arabic bahala means "to pronounce a curse" and the Gt stem ibtahala "to beseech, implore"; Akkadian baʾālu also means "to beseech or pray". In NWS, the root means "to frighten," Hebrew nibhāl "be frightened"; Aramaic bihel "frighten". The NWS "be frightened" and Akkadian "pray" fit the context of this inscription best but we are unable to determine which one is to be preferred.

Editio Princeps
OCIANA

Technique
Scratched
Direction of Script
Curving

Associated Inscriptions
GS 53-54, GS 56-58

  • [GS] Inscriptions from Ǧabal Says recorded by Robert Hoyland and Michael Macdonald and published here
Site
Ǧabal Says, Jordan
Current Location
In situ
Subject
Genealogy
Old OCIANA ID
#0030265
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Updated 16 Sep, 2024 by OCIANA