Post by priest

"Human" is one of those English words that has multiple meanings because of how it sounds. This is a phenomenon across languages, but particularly English. English translations of the Bible will tend to replace the Hebrew word הָֽאָדָם ha-a-dam "Adam" with Man. Likewise the Greek word anthropos means Man. The name Adam is actually the Hebrew word for Man. It literally means "of the earth". What makes Man unique among creatures is being made in the image and likeness of e-lo-him or God. Scholars have noted that the Hebrew word for God is rendered in many places as plural, which implies many gods. Jesus Christ reveals that God is three Persons—a Trinity—therefore, when viewed through a New Testament lens, the plural form of the Hebrew word elohim is not contradictory, it merely took time to be revealed. As for the word Human in the Bible—when you go to the original languages, you just won't find it.

You will find an early version of the word in Latin: humanus. This word means "of man, human." So, out the gate, we have a bit of an interpretive issue with the word humanus. What does it mean to be "of man?" Is it man actually, or of the substance of man? One would have to dig deeper into how the word was used in context of 12th century Latin.

There is a 15th century French rendition of the word: humaigne. This also means "of or belonging to man." Perhaps we are beginning to see further distinction, but to me, it does appear to be getting more complex. In this case, the word is an adjective. Just as hue-man could be used as an adjective—literally, "the color of man."

That, naturally, leads me to a deeper investigation into the British Empire, their legal system, their Admiralty and Maritime law. It is there that we see how English words have multiple meanings.

Colloquially, to use the word "human" as you did conveys "man," as I think it will in most contexts. But, the Catholic in me focuses me on distinctions. The meanings of words matter—especially in court, and without a doubt in maritime courts, which make up the majority of courts in the West. So, to be addressed as a hue-man in court would almost certainly imply they are referring not to the flesh and blood man, but rather something OF MAN. That something is more than likely an instrument such as a Cestui Que Vie trust, REGISTERED ORGANIZATION, birth certificate, or some other corporate entity designed to interact with the legal system. It is a facsimile of the flesh and blood Man.