Evil eye
The term evil eye, written עין הרע ˁyn h-rˁ describes a dangerous magic glance. For the spooks, it may be a pun with עין הרעי ˁyn h-rˁy for the “eyes of one’s subjects”, which they fear and seek to deceive at all costs. Complementary puns may be אין הרא ˀyn hrˀ for “no [false] appearance” and “investigated evidence”, which are the worst things that can happen to one of those corrupt aristocrats.
In Hebrew, “evil eye” is written עין הרע ˁyn hrˁ. Except for N and R, the term contains only weak vowel-type letters, so many “fuzzy” puns are possible.
- עין הרע ˁyn-h-rˁ means “eye of the evil”.
- עין הרעי ˁyn h-rˁy means “eyes of the flock”, and figuratively “eyes of the subjects”. This is an evil thing for the spooks. In fact, it’s the only enemy they ever had, see Genesis. Note: The “subjects” meaning is mostly found in Arabic.
- עין הרא ˁyn hrˀ means “looking at an appearance” and “looking at evidence” (Ayin spelling). This is an evil thing for the spooks.
- אין הרא ˀyn hrˀ means “looking at an appearance” and “looking at evidence” (Aleph spelling). This is an evil thing for the spooks.
- אין הרא ˀyn hrˀ means “no appearance” or “nullified appearance”. This is an evil thing for the spooks.
There is some confirmation by looking at the magical thingies that are supposed to ward off the evil eye. All these remedies pun with “veil” & “mask”, or even “hidden ruler”. The spook message is clear: If a leader “veils” & “masks” himself, he will ward off his pesky subjects from “looking” at his true corrupt & weak “appearance” — or worse, “looking” at “evidence” of his misdeeds.
- The Nazar amulet is supposed to ward off the “evil eye”. The amulet is an eye itself, the name is derived from nṣr for “watching” & “guarding” (also a government title). But the term nazir also means “veiled” in Arabic. It is the Niph‘al passive-reflexive form n-ˀzr of the verb ˀzr for “veiling” & “girding” (think “Nazir”).
- The Hamsa amulet is supposed to ward off the “evil eye”. The amulet is a hand, the name is derived from ḥmš / ḫms for “five”. But the Hamsa also puns with h-mwsh for “the veil” & “the mask”.
- The Hamsa amulet has a second thumb. That would be ˀgwdl šny for “second thumb”, which puns with gdl šny for “disguised majesty”.
- In Arabic, saying Tabarak Allah for “Blessings of God” is supposed to ward off the evil eye. But that phrase puns with t-brqˁ ˀlh for “veiled ruler” (think “burqa”).
- In Arabic, saying Masha’ Allah for “God has willed it” is supposed to ward off the evil eye. But that phrase puns with mswh ˀlh for “veiled ruler”.
- Jews are supposed to spit three times. That would be šlš rwq, which puns with slsl rqˁ for “veiled exaltedness”.
- In Italy, a horn amulet or making a horns gesture is supposed to ward off the evil eye. That puns with k-ˀḥrn meaning to be “like another one” (think “cornuto”).
Hebrew ˁyn, ˀyn = eye, looking, investigate; ˀyn = no, not, none, null
עין ˁyn : eye, sight, look — Hebrew (Jastrow)
עין ˁyn : to look at, watch over carefully; to be on guard; to see clearly; to study, to examine; to investigate — Aramaic (CAL)
עון ˁwn : to be round, curved; to look in, read; to look carefully; to search, investigate; to speculate, contemplate — Hebrew (Jastrow)
אין ˀyn : to look upon, investigate — Hebrew (Jastrow)
אין ˀyn : nothing, not — Hebrew (Jastrow)
אין ˀyn : to negate, deny, nullify; negated, denied; annihilated — Hebrew (Klein)
אין ˀyn : nothing, naught, non-existence — Hebrew (Klein)
Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic rˁ = evil, flock, subjects; rˀ = see, appearance, shown, proof, evidence
רעה rˁh : evil — Hebrew (Jastrow)
רעי rˁy : flock; pasture; pastured flock — Aramaic (CAL)
ܪܵܥܝܵܬ rˁyt raiiat : a subject (one governed by a monarch), a vassal, one subjected / reduced to serfdom by an absolute ruler, a serf / feudatory — Syriac (AAF)
رَعِيَّة rˁyʰ raˁiyya : herd, flock; subjects (of a ruler), the ruled; subject (of a ruler); (Christianity) parish — Arabic (Wikt)
ראה rˀh : to see; he saw; he looked at, beheld; he perceived — Hebrew (Klein)
הראה hrˀh : he caused to see, caused to look at, showed; he was caused to see, was shown; it was shown, was exhibited — Hebrew (Klein)
ראי rˀy : seeing, sight; appearance, figure — Hebrew (Klein)
ראיה rˀyh : evidence, proof — Hebrew (Jastrow)
ראיה rˀyh : proof, evidence — Hebrew (Wikt)