Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 19:28/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״ט:כ״ח
אושרט. גם הפאה בראש ובזקן ידועים מדברי קבלה:
1CUTTINGS. We know the meaning of the corners of the head and of the beard from the words of tradition.149 32b.
בומלת לנפש. הגוף המת וכן מתורגם והוא האמת ולא נדגש הנו״ן להקל על הלשון:
2The word le-nefesh means for a dead body. It is also so rendered in the Aramaic translation.150. This is its true meaning. The nun151. does not receive a dagesh152, or kamatz. If it is vocalized with a pattach, the letter which follows it receives a dagesh. I.E. explains that Scripture chose to vocalize la-nefesh with a kamatz to simplify enunciation (Weiser). However, it should be noted that if the lamed of la-nefesh was vocalized with a sheva, then the nun would also not receive a dagesh. Thus I.E.’s interpretation does not explain why the lamed of la-nefesh was not vocalized with a sheva. It is possible that in I.E.’s version of the Torah la-nefesh was vocalized with a pattach and that I.E. is explaining why, contrary to the laws of grammar, there is no dagesh in the nun of la-nefesh. in order to simplify enunciation.
גוכתבת קעקע. יש אומרים שהוא דבק עם ושרט לנפש כי יש מי שירשום גופו בצורה הידועה באש על המת ויש עוד היום רושמים בנערותם בפניהם להיות נכרים. ומלת קעקע. כפולה כמו רוקע הארץ וצאצאיה והוא מגזרת והוקע אותם ועל דעת המתרגם גם היא מלה זרה גם הוא הנכון:
3IMPRINT ANY MARKS. Some say that this is connected to Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for there are people who, employing fire, mark their bodies with a recognizable form for the dead.153 Even today there are those who, while young, mark their faces so that they [may] be recognized.154 The word ka’aka (marks) is doubled.155 and ayin root letters are doubled. Compare, He that spread forth the earth and that which cometh out of it (ve-tze’etza’ehah)156 and alef of the root yod, tzadi, alef are doubled in ve-tze’etza’ehah (Is. 42:5). Ka’aka is related to the word ve-hoka (and hang)157. in and hang them up (Num. 25:4).158 ] is a writing dug into the flesh. Ka’aka is related to ve-hoka in and hang them up (Num. 25:4)…” They were hanged upon poles which were driven into the ground. According to the Aramaic translator, it is also an irregular word. He is also correct [in translating ka’aka as engraved].