Questions tagged [etymology]
About the history and origins of words.
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1answer
43 views
Why the principal (money) is called Keren?
In all kinds of monetary transactions, the main part is called Keren or for the reward for Mitzvot as in Kesubos 3,9:
"הָאוֹמֵר גָּנַבְתִּי וְטָבַחְתִּי וּמָכָרְתִּי, מְשַׁלֵּם אֶת הַקֶּרֶן עַל ...
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1answer
95 views
What is the literal meaning of the 42 encampments in the wilderness?
As written in Bamidbar 33, we read of the 42 places in which the people were encamped. I know that some have attributed the 42 encampments to the 42 letter name of Hashem. But I wanted to know the ...
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1answer
68 views
Ibn Ezra: Moshe = Monius?
Ibn Ezra in his commentary to Shemos 2:10 says that the name Moshe was a translation of the Egyptian "Monius". I have, then, two questions:
1) Where does he get that his name was that? And 2) how is ...
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1answer
89 views
What is the etymological definition of הגיס?
What is the etymology and definition of הגיס?
(Reference Rashi in Chulin 108A ד״ה טיפת חלב שנפלה על החתיכה and ד״ה ניער את הקדרה)
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1answer
152 views
Source and etymology of כפירה kefirah ‘heresy’
Can someone inform me of where the word כפירה meaning ‘heresy’ was first used? Mishnah? Talmud? Word is not found in Tanach, apparently. How is it distinguished from other triliteral roots meaning ...
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1answer
32 views
A heap of people and ingathering of food
Is there any connection between the word אסף (to gather, collect) and אסם (literally a barn or storehouse but could be from an unised root meaning to heap up).
I wondered because there is a feast in ...
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0answers
60 views
Orah, Or and Torah
I found this on the Aish website:
The accurate meaning of “Torah” is twofold. Firstly it comes from the word “הוֹרָה,” which means teaching. More precisely it means “teaching with direction,” i.e. ...
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0answers
29 views
Expressing benefit in the Pentateuch
Regarding the prohibition of deriving benefit from a murderous animal (shor haniskal), the gemara (e.g. Bava Kamma 41a) suggests (in an initial interpretation) that, from the fact that the Torah uses ...
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1answer
129 views
Why is אותו מקום referred to as the מקום התורף? What does תורף mean?
In Bavli Berachot 24a (and Shabbat 64b), the Gemara records that:
כל המסתכל באצבע קטנה של אשה כאילו מסתכל במקום התורף
-- Anyone who gazes upon a woman’s little finger is considered as if he gazed ...
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2answers
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Origin of Histakel Be'Oraisa Uvara Alma
The term "Histakel Be'Oraisa Uvara Alma" is often invoked when discussing chassidus or metaphysics. Literally translated, it means "[Hashem] gazed in[to] the Torah and created the world."
While the ...
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0answers
109 views
Question with regard to dual meanings in the Hebrew words “Erev” and “Boker” in Genesis 1
I happened upon this thought whilst researching the creation account in Bereishit. I don't know if it's original or has been discussed before, but if anyone is familiar with this idea, can you point ...
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2answers
288 views
What is the meaning of the name Lemech?
In Bereshis 4:18 Lemech is introduced. Do any commentators explain the meaning or implication of his name?
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1answer
79 views
Etymologic origins of “Maimouna”
Maimouna, the day after Pesach, is probably the most well-known of the
isru chag traditions. It originated with the Jews of North Africa, and
these days Israelis honour it by making barbecues. ...
2
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1answer
58 views
The afflicted, poor and humble a reference to the command to afflict oneself on Yom Kippur
How do we know that 'v'initem' (Leviticus 16:31) includes fasting in the context of Yom Kippur? How does this usage relate to usage of the word, or related words, in other contexts?
Some food for ...
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1answer
395 views
The name Nataliyah/Natali (is it Jewish?) [closed]
Where does the name Natalia come from? I ask this because many many Jewish girls, even religious ones, use this as a name. I always thought that it is a feminine version of Naftali, is that true? Or ...
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2answers
62 views
what is the etymology of “Nebat”?
Brown Driver Briggs, usually unabashed at offering extra-canonical etymology, offers only "proper name" as the etymological parse of נבט, given that it is only ever found in the phrase " יָרָבְעָ֣ם ...
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0answers
166 views
Change in meaning of the word “midah”
In the Torah, the word מדה means "measurement". Example:
Exodus 26:2 (Sefaria translation)
אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה
וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה ...
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2answers
340 views
Ger Tzedek/Tzadik earliest sources and definition
As I understand a "Ger Tzedek/Tzadik" is a fully converted follower of the Torah of Moshe. According to Hilchot Melachim 10:3-4, a "Ger Tzedek" is defined as someone who has confirmed their conversion ...
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1answer
751 views
What is the origin of the Yiddish word “nebach”? Is there a Jewish, Biblical source? [closed]
I've found numerous articles about what the word "nebach" (נעבעך) means, for example here and here.
However, I have not been able to determine the true source of it.
Is this word, so commonly used ...
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3answers
118 views
What is the connection between “שיח” as prayer and “שיח” as a bush?
פרשת וירא (כא טו): וַיִּכְלוּ הַמַּיִם מִן הַחֵמֶת וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת הַיֶּלֶד תַּחַת אַחַד הַשִּׂיחִם
Genesis 21:15: And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the ...
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1answer
61 views
When was the term “Next World” (עולם הבא) first used in Jewish literature
In modern Jewish literature and folklore the "next world" (עולם הבא) is mentioned multiple times. In contrast, it is not mentioned (AFAIK) at all in the Torah.
So where/when did this start?
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0answers
132 views
Relationship between *segulah* and violet color
We have a tradition, very often used in drush, that words deriving from the same root are really manifestations of the same idea in different facets.
In this context, what is the relationship between ...
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2answers
121 views
What is the origin of the name “Artscroll” [closed]
If I were naming a company dedicated to bringing Jewish soures to the masses, I would choose a name more descriptive of the mission than "Artscroll". What is the origin of this name?
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2answers
655 views
What exactly does “Lord of Hosts” (צְבָאוֹת) mean?
When I think of the Judaism, I don't think of Angelic armies attacking the armies of evil directly. G-d usually works in far more subtle ways than this, e.g. appearing as a burning bush to motivate ...
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0answers
39 views
Book, commentary, or other source that explains the Biblical usage of “compass” directions
IIRC, there may have been a M.Y. question that referred to a source that explained the Biblical usage of the 4 directions. I.e. it explained why:
קדם is East
ים is West
נגב is South
צפון is North
...
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2answers
120 views
Source for the Usage of “Kabbalah”
What are the earliest sources that refer to Jewish mysticism in particular as "kabblah".
(Preferably the answer should include an indication that the word was associated with this in particular, ...
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1answer
74 views
Source of “Koteret”
I have heard Rambam's presentation of the mitzvos at the beginning of each set of halachos referred to as the כותרת (koteret).
What is the source for this usage?
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1answer
232 views
How did the term “Shalom Bayit” come to mean “matrimonial harmony”?
A follow up to this M.Y. question :
The answer there (so far), addresses the source of the term, in general and cites Talmud Shabbat which seems to address the importance of lighting Shabbat candles. ...
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2answers
185 views
Source that “Teiku” References Eliyahu?
What is the earliest source that indicates that "teiku" (תיקו) references Eliyahu?
Any source earlier than the Tosafos Yom Tov who provides an alternative explanation?
4
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2answers
294 views
When did the word challa start being used to mean our Shabbos bread?
In the Torah we seem to only find this word associated with Temple related breads. In Rabbinic writings the word challa was the word referring to the amount of dough separated to be given to a kohen. ...
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2answers
192 views
Source of Term “Shiur”
What is the source for referring to a rabbinic lecture as a "shiur" which literally means 'measurement'?
When did this usage begin?
What is its significance?
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4answers
281 views
Source of the word “teva” for nature
I was told by someone who I consider to be very reliable that the word טבע, which means nature, does not have a source in Biblical or Talmudic literature, and it is a word that first emerges in ...
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5answers
680 views
Etymology of the word sanhedrin
what is the root and source of the term "sanhedrin," the name of the Jewish high court and of a tractate in the Talmud?
As far as I know, it is not from scripture.
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2answers
181 views
What are the origins of Qayin?
This article is expressing that "Qayin" derived from the 1st millenium BC South Arabic word Qyn, and that Cain is not a name old enough in Bible times of the 2nd millenium. Is it plausible that this ...
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3answers
258 views
Why is it called “Eden”?
God planted a garden in Eden (Genesis 2:8). Why is it called Eden?
I don't see that any of the commentaries in my mikraos g'dolos discuss this.
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2answers
125 views
First use of the term “Taharat HaMischpacha ”
When and by whom (and why) was the phrase "טהרת המשפחה" ("family purity") first used to describe the halachot relating to niddah?
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2answers
141 views
The word 'Halakhah'
When and under what circumstances did the word "halakhah" (also spelled "halacha", "halachah" or, in Hebrew, הלכה) come to mean Jewish law?
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4answers
173 views
etymology of the word “Kittel”
What is the etymology of the word "Kittel"? (Kittel is a white garment worn by many at the Pesach Seder and on Yom Kippur by Davening)
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3answers
192 views
What is the meaning of the phrase לצאת ולבוא?
What is the meaning of the oft-repeated phrase לצאת ולבוא as in Deuteronomy 31:2 ? I realize it means "to conduct business" or "to lead", but I was hoping for more of a deep dive (does it come from a ...
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1answer
578 views
Etymology of the word “trope”
The word Trope seems to me to be a Yiddish word. What is the source of this word? How do you say this word in Hebrew? Taamei Hanegina?
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0answers
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Is there a reference that explains the literal meaning and etymology of the names of the Hebrew months?
Is there a reference that explains the literal meaning and etymology of the names of the Hebrew months? I am looking for something that explains both the common Babylonian names as well as the Tana"ch ...
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1answer
1k views
When, and why did the term “am ha'aretz” come to mean “ignoramus”?
In Tana'ch, the term "am ha'aretz" meant either "the tribal counsel" as we see when Abraham wanted to purchase the Cave of Machpela, he bowed down to the "am ha'aretz". It also meant "the nation" or "...
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1answer
363 views
Pronunciation of Yerushalayim
In the Tanach, the word Yerushalayim is almost always written without a yud between the lamed and mem, but pronounced as if there is a patach under the lamed and a yud following it. We find though ...
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0answers
288 views
The difference between Chazal and Razal
I have heard it said before that Chazal (חז"ל = חכמינו זכרונם לברכה; "our sages of blessed memory") refers to sages of the Mishna and Gemara, while Razal (רז"ל = רבנים/נו זכרונם לברכה; "our/the ...
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1answer
122 views
First Use of the Phrase “Cheit HaMeraglim”
The negative report given by the people who are sent to scout the land of Cana'an before Bnei Yisrael go in, resulting in the punishment that they have to wander for another 38 years in the desert, is ...
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4answers
306 views
Etymology of מחילה
I am looking for a possible etymological root for the word מחילה as meaning forgiveness.
The word מחל does not appear in Tanach1, and neither does מחילה, nor does מוחל, and I was unable to find any ...
5
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0answers
63 views
Grammatical origins of names in Tanach
Almost all nouns in Hebrew fit into one of several standard "templates". For example, מִבְחָן comes from the root בחנ combined with the pattern מִפְעָל (already used by many other words). There would ...
6
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4answers
285 views
Is there a substantive difference in meaning when the Torah uses the Hebrew verb root דבר rather than אמר?
Is there a substantive difference in meaning when the Torah uses the Hebrew verb root דבר rather than אמר, or do they both pretty much mean "to say" or "to speak"? Do any sages see the choice of one ...
6
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3answers
237 views
Niqqud of the name of the מהר"ץ חיות
What is the correct niqqud to put on the name of the מהר"ץ חיות? Wikipedia claims that his last name is spelled Chajes in English, and that Chayes or Hayot may also be seen. This seems to imply that ...
2
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1answer
278 views
Etymology of “yochevetzville”? [closed]
I've heard several Ashkenazic Jews (particularly those from the Midwest), both religious and secular, who use the word "yochevetzville" as synonymous with "nowhere". (e.g. "Of course he can't find ...
