Gutter-cleaner, despised occupation (גּוֹרֵף בִּיבִים)
Gutter-cleaner, despised occupation (גּוֹרֵף בִּיבִים)

Gutter-cleaner, despised occupation

A person who engaged in cleaning gutters. By analogy: a simple person (a 'gutter' meaning a channel or pipe for drainage).

("And it came to pass, in the time of Solomon's old age, that his wives turned his heart after other gods (1 Kings 11:4) - ...It would be better for Solomon to be a gutter-cleaner of whom this scripture was not written" - Shemot Rabba 6:1)

Translation

Expression (Hebrew)

גּוֹרֵף בִּיבִים

Definition (Hebrew)

אָדָם שֶׁעִסְּקוּ נִקּוּי תְּעָלוֹת בִּיּוּב. בְּהַשְׁאָלָה: אָדָם פָּשׁוּט (בִּיב מַשְׁמָע תְּעָלָה אוֹ צִנּוֹר לִשְׁפָכִים).

("וַיְהִי לְעֵת זִקְנַת שְׁלֹמֹה נָשָׁיו הִטּוּ אֶת לְבָבוֹ אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים (מְלָכִים א יָא ד)- ...נֹחַ לוֹ לִשְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁיְּהֵא גּוֹרֵף בִּיבִים שֶׁלֹּא נִכְתַּב עָלָיו הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה"- שְׁמוֹת רַבָּה ו א)

Keyword

To err is human, and mistakes happen.

We would be happy to receive your comments, corrections, and suggestions for improvement. If you notice any mistakes, please let us know.

Contact Us

Share

Search Expression

    Click a letter below to find expressions that start with that letter.

    Might Interest You