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Not really all that complicated
In the bible you will find:
MICHAEL (m.), the meaning of which is not really being discussed
MICHAL 1 (f.): She was the daughter auf Saul and one of King David’s wives (1. Sam 14,49). Her name is generally looked upon as a short form of Michael with the character aleph dropped in the middle.
MICHAL 2: This appears as a vocabulary word, not a name, in 2. Sam 17,20 (and nowhere else!) and the meaning may well be “brook”, as one of the two sites says. The Greek Septuaginta has “mikron tou hydatos” which translates “little water”. In later Hebrew michal became indeed a word for “brook”. Etymologically it has nothing to do with the name Michael and I don’t see any evidence that it should have anything to do with Michal 1. I know there is Brooke Shields, but I can’t think of a biblical name that would have a similar name giving motive.
MICHA (m.): This is the name of a prophet (Mi 1,1) and in Jer 26,18 he is referred to as Michaya (“who is like Yah”) which is pretty much the same as Michael. I don’t know if it’s used as a feminine name in Israel, too.
MICHAYAHU (m./f.): This is the name of various persons, one of them being a woman (2. Chr 13,2). “Hu” is “he” (!) and does not add anything to the meaning.Andy ;—)
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i was alittle confused about the Brooke Shields thing, though
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You needn't be confused, because BROOKE means "brook". And the existance of the name might make you think that a name with the same meaning may have existed in biblical times. But there are no comparable names in that time, as far as I can see. That's what I tried to say.Andy ;—)
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i understand. i thought it was something to do w/ Brook Shields herself
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oh no, there is nothing complicated about it, but i thought it should be added on to the meaning of Michal
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Now I know what you mean: The meaning "female short form of Michael" should be added to the data base. Good idea!Andy ;—)
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that or Hebrew form of Michele/Michelle
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The latter doesn't really make sense, unless the name Michal was revived in Israel or on a Jewish background after Michele/Michelle had appeared on the screen, which I don't believe. Michal was first. Definitely.Andy ;—)
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i used to know a Israeli girl who said that Michal is actually used in Israel quite often. I had asked her about the Jewish/Hebrew/Israeli form of different names & that was 1 she had listed
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