pertaining to the Hebrew language
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Why is the word שמך vocalized differently in different places?
Gen 32:29 says:
וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ...
Thy name shall be called no more Yaakov...
But in 30 it says:
וַיִּשְׁאַל יַעֲקֹב, וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה-נָּא ...
3
votes
1answer
123 views
Importance of learning grammar
What are the traditional Jewish opinions about the importance of learning and speaking Hebrew with proper grammar (dikduk)?
4
votes
2answers
47 views
Difference between חֵטְא and עֲבֵרָה
Is there a difference between a חֵטְא (cheit) and an עֲבֵרָה (aveira)? I translate both of those words as "sin." Maybe they signify a different level of magnitude? Or maybe one word is simply ...
5
votes
0answers
49 views
What is the source of the expression המבין יבין?
The Forward writer Philologos in his most recent column claimed that the earliest uses of the expression והמבין יבין are found in the Ra'avad and in the Radak. Based on the fact that both these ...
10
votes
1answer
94 views
הוא is he? Or is it?
The third-person feminine pronoun in Hebrew is היא, "hee." But in most instances in the Torah, the word is spelled הוא, with a vav rather than a yud as the middle letter. How does this make sense ...
20
votes
2answers
791 views
25
votes
6answers
985 views
Which alphabet were the original Torah scrolls in?
I've assumed that the Torah scrolls we read today as the same that Moses wrote. I always assumed it's been the same alphabet.
However lately I came across documents explaining the evolution of the ...
-2
votes
1answer
101 views
Why is there a Vuv with a Patach in וַיִּקְרָא?
What is the reason for the patach under the vuv in וַיִּקְרָא, the first word of the third book of the Pentateuch?
I would expect a schva, which, at least in modern Hebrew, is what sits under a vuv ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
hebrew grammar query, Bamidbar 31:17
I seek to understand Bamidbar sedra mattos Chapter 31 verse 17. Specifically, the word הֲרֹגוּ is stumping me. It is not the kal impererative masculine plural. The word Hirgoo, הִרְגוּ, appears as the ...
-2
votes
1answer
48 views
Hebrew alphabet spelling for phrase in psalm 23, and the phrase “God is my refuge”?
I find the Hebrew alphabet to be very beautiful but as of right now I only know the meaning of a couple of symbols. I would love to have the correct original spelling for the beginning of psalm 23, ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Regional Ashkenazi Pronunciation
I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this, but I would like to find audio tracks of Jews from different Ashkenazi communities speaking Hebrew (be they leyning, davening, discoursing or ...
3
votes
0answers
47 views
Saying “Elokim” when not referring to Hashem
People often say "Elokim" instead of "Elohim" when speaking in order to avoid taking God's name in vain. I have observed, however, that some people always substitute the word "elokim" for "elohim" ...
9
votes
1answer
125 views
Prounciation - IM vs YIM? with ים ending
I've read that ידים is to be pronounced ya- DAI - im, yet שמים is to be pronounced sha-MAI-yim.
Both end the same, but are pronounced differently. (This was from a text purporting to teach "Biblical ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Why is birkas kohanim in the masculine singular?
If the kohanim are blessing the entire people, one would think that it should be worded, "יברככם...וישמרכם" Why is it in the singular form?
On a related note, if a father places this blessing on his ...
13
votes
4answers
270 views
Zeraim Moed Nashim Nezikim Kodshim Taharos - why not Moadim?
The names of the Shisha Sidrei Mishna (Six Orders of Mishnah) are: Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikim, Kodshim, Taharos. All of them besides Moed are in plural form. However Moed is in singular form. Why ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
What is the meaning of this painting?
I am in possession of this mysterious painting with Hebrew characters, but I do not know what words mean. I suspect that they may provide a clue to what is being represented in each of the painted ...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Netzach, Selah, Vaed - what is the difference between these words?
Eruvin 54a says that it was taught by Rabbi Eliezer ben yaakov that wherever it says Netzach, Selah, or Vaed it means it will remain so forever. "כל מקום שנאמר 'נצח' 'סלה' 'ועד' – אין לו הפסק עולמית" ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Will all Jews speak Hebrew when Mashiach comes?
This question just kind of popped into my head, so I'm not sure whether it is really a good question for this site, but I wonder if anybody has written about it.
I would imagine that since when ...
8
votes
2answers
196 views
Ashkenazic vs. Sefardic grammar tendencies
I notice that when referring to God in the second person in a possessive form, Sefardim often use the female form where Ashkenazim use the male form.
For example, where Ashkenazim say in kedusha, ...
2
votes
3answers
151 views
Root of word צְלוֹתְהוֹן?
Looking at the Kaddish Shalem focusing on the words תִּתְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתְהוֹן, what is the etymology of the word tzelot-hon? Is this construct even hebrew? I found the root צְלָא meaning "pray" with ...
2
votes
0answers
154 views
Can we teach reading Hebrew without using the full names of the letters and vowels?
I've heard in Chabad and elsewhere that when teaching children to read Hebrew, one must call the letters and vowels only by their full traditional name. This is in my opinion very distracting for a ...
-1
votes
1answer
108 views
What's the Hebrew idiom for “what's his name” or “What's his face”
I vaguely remember some phrase used in Torah discussions such as "moni palomy" or "moni plamoni" that means "John Doe" or "What's his name" or "John Q Public". Seems like it was used in Ester, but I ...
5
votes
1answer
103 views
What is the Shekhina?
To what are people referring when they talk about the Shekhina? Is it a form of God? A part of God? An attribute of God? Perhaps it is something else entirely?
Also, what is the etymology of the ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
Do we read it as directing or breaking the ear?
Rashi to Shemos 31:17 states:
וינפש: כתרגומו ונח, וכל לשון נופש והוא לשון נפש, שמשיב נפשו ונשימתו בהרגיעו מטורח מהמלאכה. ומי שכתוב בו (ישעיה מ כח) לא ייעף ולא יגע, וכל פעלו במאמר, הכתיב מנוחה ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Singular and plural language in Vaikra 10:1
In parashat shemini, chapter 10, verse 1 it is written:
וַיִּקְחוּ בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלֶיהָ קְטֹרֶת וַיַּקְרִיבוּ לִפְנֵי ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Shem Ha'Poel for 4-letter-root verbs [closed]
For normal verbs with 3-letter roots, each root is addressed by Peh, Ayin, and Lamed (respectively). In the rare verbs with 4 roots, how are each of the root letters indexed?
Hope the question is ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Why is the Haggadah written in Hebrew?
The Haggadah was written during the Talmudic period, so I would expect it to be written in Aramaic. Especially since the entire purpose of the Haggadah is the telling over of the story of ...
2
votes
1answer
31 views
Hamracheim or Hammerachim?
In Modim in the Shmoneh Esre we say המרחם כי לא תמו חסדך the question is whether the מ in המרחם should have a daggesh or not, and thus what sort of Shva should be under said מ?
2
votes
3answers
116 views
Translation of the word “nimshal”
Rabbinic writings (e.g. * Rabbah and other midrash) use the words "mashal" (noun) and "nimshal" (verb). What do these terms mean in English? I've heard "parable" or "allegory" for the noun but I am ...
3
votes
2answers
175 views
Correct response to tizku l'mitzvot
What is the correct response to someone saying, "tizku l'mitzvot" after you do a mitzvah, or something helpful? For example, after helping someone make an Eruv Chatzeirot they might say "tizku ...
2
votes
0answers
94 views
Conceptual Relationship Between “River” (יאר) and “Light” (אור)
There seems to be a relationship between the words "river" (יאר) and light (אור), that is only underscored by the fact that "river" in Hebrew (נהר) is essentially the same word as "light" in Aramaic ...
4
votes
1answer
64 views
Hebrew of the Mishneh Torah
In what type of Hebrew did Rambam write the Mishneh Torah?
I just started to learn Biblical Hebrew and when I have learned basics I will start to read Pentateuch in Hebrew with some help The next ...
2
votes
2answers
55 views
Niqqud for שְׁיָרֵי in Zevachim mishnah
I am really no expert in Hebrew grammar and I know there are many variants of same word. In particular I think there is no tradition for the puntuaction of the Mishnah.
However in my siddur ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Why “מִי וָמִי” instead of “מִי וּמִי”?
I have always thought that as a general rule, the vav conjunctive prefix is usually a "וְ". But, when the word being "prefixed" either starts with a shva or starts with a "lip-letter" (בומ"פ), the vav ...
3
votes
0answers
56 views
Difference between 'rafa' and 'ripa'
The root רפא, "heal", is used in various places in Tanach, sometimes in binyan paal and sometimes in binyan piel. I wonder what the difference is between these. Does any Tanach commentator, or the ...
4
votes
0answers
38 views
Levana or Yareach?
In the entire Tanach the moon is generally called Yareach. There are 3 instances where it is called Levana. One is ישעיהו: כד. כג.
וחפרה הלבנה ובושה החמה. Another one is ישעיהו: ל. כו.
והיה אור הלבנה ...
4
votes
3answers
135 views
Remember the Sabbath day: meaning of “Sabbath”
Is the word "Shabbat" in Scripture, or anywhere really, ever translated as anything but "Sabbath" by Jews? IF so, what?
Based on the Tanakh, that says to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy," ...
3
votes
0answers
68 views
Correcting tav/sav
If someone who usually pronounces the letter "ת" without a dagesh as "sav" is leining Torah, and he accidentally says "tav" in a place where he would normally say "sav", should the gabbai correct him? ...
8
votes
3answers
218 views
Did any Achronim Write Books Comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
Did any achronim write books comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
2
votes
2answers
107 views
Different words for clothing
Whats the difference between kasah (covering) and labash (covering)? And when we look to clothes then what's the difference between kesut and lebush? And what about beged (cloths) ? Please show me ...
-3
votes
2answers
211 views
Can the root ש ל ם be used to mean “Submission”?
In Arabic, the root S-L-M (س ل م) has a general meaning of "Peace", but can also be used for "Submission" (such as in the words Islam/Muslim). Given the close relation between Hebrew and Arabic, I'm ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
Formatting Benching / Davening in a design program [closed]
Where can I get the text of the siddur/prayer book and benching/grace in a free computer friendly format? I'd like to be able to make materials that include commonly needed teffilos(prayers) (e.g. a ...
2
votes
0answers
87 views
How could different pronunciations arise when we are obligated to pronounce the Shema precisely?
If one does not pronounce the Shema correctly, one has not fulfilled their obligation (שולחן ערוך או"ח סימן סב). If so, then how could different pronunciations of the Hebrew words arise? Shouldn't at ...
0
votes
2answers
498 views
What does Psalm 82 mean?
6 I -- I have said, 'Gods ye are, And sons of the Most High -- all of you,
http://yltbible.com/psalms/82.htm
So how many gods are there? Who are "you" here? Are we all gods?
Here is the context. ...
5
votes
1answer
52 views
“Vashti the queen” vs. “Queen Vashti”
Is there a peshat difference between the usual wording,
“ושתי המלכה”
Vashti the queen
(or “אסתר המלכה” Esther the queen),
and the wording used twice in Chapter 1 (verses 12 and 15),
“המלכה ושתי”
the ...
5
votes
2answers
109 views
Translation of Ex. 4:8–9
Sh'mos 4:8–9:
וְהָיָה אִם לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ לָךְ וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ לְקֹל הָאֹת הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהֶאֱמִינוּ לְקֹל הָאֹת הָאַחֲרוֹן.
וְהָיָה אִם לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ גַּם לִשְׁנֵי הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְלֹא ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Etymology/connection between Ari, Aryeh, Yehudah, Leib, and Leibel
What is the relationship between the following names that often go together is some combination?
Ari/Aryeh
Yehudah
Leib/Leibel
I've encountered many men, young and old, with the following first ...
-1
votes
1answer
110 views
11
votes
4answers
467 views
Why “Lach” not “Lecha” in “Modim Anachnu Lach”
Could someone please explain why the "Lach" in Modim Anachnu Lach is not "Lecha"... I guess this is some grammatical point rather than the use of the feminime "you"?
0
votes
3answers
316 views
Good Jewish Blogs about the Modern Hebrew language? [closed]
Are there any good Jewish Blogs about the Modern Hebrew language?
