European Words Derived from the Name BaNIMIN (Benjamin)

Interesting information! Thanks for sharing

Interesting linguistic connections. Since you mention my native language, I would like to mention the word "barn" too ("rn" pronounced like a palatized "n" in most dialects). It means child, and since "ben/BaN" means son in Hebrew I have for some time thought there could be a connection. A son is a child, and this if correct would give further credence to your assumption that "a" would be the right vowel, not "e".

I forgot to mention another link showing that "a" is the correct vowel, not "e".

In Islamic literature, "Bani Isra`il" may refer to the "children of Israel (see e.g http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bani_Isra'il). Again we see the "a" in use instead of "e", and it is extremely close both to "bane" and "barn".

A digression, but if interested read also this short but interesting article explaining in brief the Islamic opposition to the "Bani Israel" due to their perceived (from an Islamic point of view) shortcomings to obey the commandments of "Allah". This is the root of the Moslem hatred for "Jews" and ultimately all ISHaRaALites.

http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/february02_index.php?l=5

I just realised more connections to the word "BaN" in Hebrew. It`s really simple once you see it :)

I think at some point "BaN" was realised as "BaR", which according to my (limited) understanding of Hebrew means son in Aramaic and perhaps some Hebrew northern dialects at the time of the Exile. Yair Davidy e.g claims the Northern tribes spoke more Aramaic than Hebrew at some point, even though the two languages are very close.

Note the close connection between "BaR" and Scandinavian "barn" (child). It is really a combination of BaN and BaR!

But there is more! BaR in Hebrew can also mean grain or seed! Quite natural right? A son or a child is the seed of two people, man and woman. From this it is quite crystal clear to me that the words "bear" (= give birth) in English, and "bære" (give birth) in Scandinavian have the same root; from BaN/BaN.

We also have the word "barm" which means the female bosom. It is quite possible that the English "breast" (Scandinavian "bryst") derives from "BaR".

And then you have "bread" of course in English (Scand. "brød"). What else can it derive from than "BaR" (seed)?

This is why Rachel (RaCHAL?) could say (my additions): Gen.30:22 "And IEUE remembered Rachel and IEUE hearkened to her, and opened  her womb.23 And she conceived , and bare (!)  a son (BaN/BaR) ; and said , IEUE hath taken away  my reproach:

The son she bare was of course BaNiMIN!

Sorry, the first son Rachel bare was Joseph of course; I forgot :) But she was confident IEUE would give her another son (BaN) too, BaNIMIN.

Very insightful Kjetil.

I think BaR [bar] can mean grain, but ZaRO (H2233) is a better word for a seed itself (BaR can also mean soap [and clean] [AHLB] because an ingredient of soap back then was potash lye from burned wheat [from grain] stalks). Makes sense that "bread" and "brød" could be linked to BaR though.

I also discovered that the word for daughter is actually BaNaT (like the English surname Bennett)—and not BaT which is a defective spelling. This is more evidence the second letter of the Ancient Hebrew alphabet is BaT and not beit/bet/beyt.

Right! Like I said my knowledge of Hebrew is limited, hoping to start learning it soon. Both modern and old perhaps.

Since you confirm that BaR can mean grain, I think it is also found in another edible food which is a bit similar to grains: "berries" in English, "bær" in Norwegian. It seems to me the OBaRI words are all over the place once you start to search a little bit.

Since you mention "BaT" and probably more correctly "BaNAT", do you think that is the origin of "daughter", which is "datter" in my language, "tochter" in German?