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rosh pina

English translation: chief cornerstone, capstone

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Hebrew term or phrase:rosh pina
English translation:chief cornerstone, capstone
Entered by: SeiTT

09:02 Mar 20, 2010
Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Prophecy
Hebrew term or phrase: rosh pina
Hi,

It's from Tehilim 118 (Verse 22)

http://biblos.com/psalms/118-22.htm

It's obviously some kind of cornerstone (or at least a stone used at the corner of a building, where two walls meet) - but is it the kind used at the top of the corner of a building, where the roof begins, or at the bottom, as part of the foundation?

Best,

Simon

PS The Modern Hebrew translation I use expands the meaning of "even (stone)", into "even pina", still distinguishing it from "rosh pina". So it's fine if you wish to orientate your reply towards Modern Hebrew basing it on these terms. I imagine that the rosh pina, whether right at the top or right at the bottom, is much more important than the avney pina, which are presumably all the other cornerstones one on top of each other in between the top and the bottom, to give a minimal definition.
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:45
chief cornerstone, capstone
Explanation:
Chief corner-stone is the translation given by the Jewish Publication Society translation of Tanach and numerous others. Capstone also figures prominently in various translations. Whether it is the bottom corner stone, or the top corner stone or the corner stone at eye level which bears an inscription, it is clearly meant to mean the most important stone of the building. Usually in modern buildings, the cornerstone is one which says by whom the building has been dedicated and in what year. I don't know how far back such a custom in building extends and whether this type of inscription on buildings already existed in David's time. For Christian versions you can find a range of translations by putting Psalms 118:22 into the search box at:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
This will give you a range of choices from which to choose.
Selected response from:

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:45
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4chief cornerstone, capstone
Textpertise
4 -1keystone
Juliana Brown


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
keystone


Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_(architecture)

As you can see, the keystone is also a figurative term, being the head of the arch, which locked everything in.

Juliana Brown
Israel
Local time: 15:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in HebrewHebrew

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Textpertise: The head of an arch is not a corner - therefore I do not think that keystone is a correct translation for this.
11 hrs
  -> I had the same thought, but keystone is the term used symbolically as well, and not only for arches...
disagree  Ron Armon: Note the asker tries to pinpoint the exact term physically (in building) - Not figuratively. A keystone is אבן ראשה. This term IS USED in biblical sources (זכריה ד' ז': "...וְהוֹצִיא, אֶת-הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה...") so I think it's not the one.
1 day 5 hrs
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
chief cornerstone, capstone


Explanation:
Chief corner-stone is the translation given by the Jewish Publication Society translation of Tanach and numerous others. Capstone also figures prominently in various translations. Whether it is the bottom corner stone, or the top corner stone or the corner stone at eye level which bears an inscription, it is clearly meant to mean the most important stone of the building. Usually in modern buildings, the cornerstone is one which says by whom the building has been dedicated and in what year. I don't know how far back such a custom in building extends and whether this type of inscription on buildings already existed in David's time. For Christian versions you can find a range of translations by putting Psalms 118:22 into the search box at:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
This will give you a range of choices from which to choose.

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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