The Gezer Inscription 'SD pšt 'Bundling Flax': Revising the Arabic Cognate Etymology

This article is dedicated to one of the main lexical cruxes of the Gezer tablet, the expression 'SD pšt in the third line of the inscription. I follow the longstanding understanding of the Gezer inscription, according to which pšt refers to flax. The primary innovation of the article lies in the re-evaluation of the cognate Arabic etymology. I argue that the cognate Arabic 'DD in both Classical and Modern Arabic does not signify 'cutting', as has been suggested in research thus far. Rather, it means 'upper arm'. I then examine the Mishnaic Hebrew phrase (greek language) hosne pištan 'flax bundles' (m. Pe'ah 6:5) which exhibits a semantic shift: hosne 'bosom' > 'amount carried under bosom' > 'bundle'. Based on the revised Arabic 'DD 'upper arm' meaning, I propose a semantic parallel: the Gezer inscription's verbal noun 'SD (< Proto- Semitic 'upper arm') has possibly experienced a semantic shift similar to that of (greek language) hosne pištan 'flax bundles' in m. Pe'ah 6:5: 'upper arm' > 'armful of produce' > 'bundle'. Accordingly, I suggest 'SD pšt means 'bundling flax'. This suggestion offers a straightforward solution which clarifies etymological data from various Semitic languages, fits within the context of the Gezer inscription and finally resolves the agricultural 'cutting' flax difficulty.