Questions tagged [hebrew]
Questions pertaining to the Hebrew language, as related to Judaism. See the help center: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic
828
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Yaakov's thigh and the side of the altar
When Yaakov wrestled with the angel (Bereishis 32:25-26), the angel was losing the fight, and touched the hipsocket of Yaakov, making it go out of the socket. The word for hip/thigh used here is ...
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Chanukah greetings proper form
why is the greeting for Hanukah
חג אורים שמח "chag urim samach"
And not חג אורות?
- 29
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How does a Jewish community recognize a Jewish person they hadn't seen ever before?
Let's say there is a Jewish community where everybody knows each other, for example in a city. Let's say a new Jewish person arrives and manifests their will to get integrated with them. Nobody knows ...
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What is the term for esoteric exegesis (of the Jewish texts) in Hebrew?
Is there like a nice one-word term to use when describing any estoeric reading/exegesis of any Jewish text, but specifically the Tanakh and the Oral Torah?
I think that there should be at least some ...
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What’s the meaning of the abbreviation (ז"פ)?
What’s the meaning the abbreviation (ז"פ)?
Example as found in Sefer HaGoralot by Rabbi Chaim Vital:
“ וזאת היא התפלה שצריך להתפלל קודם שישליך הגורל: אנא בכח גדולת ימינך תתיר צרורה ז"פ.”
...
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What did Abraham call himself in his language?
Curious to know what did Prophet Abraham call himself from a religious perspective in the language he spoke. Did he call himself "jew" or "yahood"?
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Translating Genesis 1:1 "בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית" to "in the beginning"
Apologies if this is a stupid question (or belongs in a different group). Since I'm not Jewish & only beginning to learn Hebrew I lack the background to pose an intelligent question.
English uses ...
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Why does there appear to be a ן (final nun) in the middle of a word (שןיתי), is it a typo or what?
I am working from a scanned document. There are vavs, nuns, and final nuns in the text, but there appears also to be a final nun mid word.
It makes sense if this were a vav, as it would then read as:
...
- 121
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Would Jews speak Lashon Hakodesh by default?
If my memory serves me correctly, I read in the sefer Daas Torah some while back that if one doesn't teach a [Jewish?] child a language it will start talking Lashon Hakodesh on its own accord. Is ...
- 1,155
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What is the nachash in Genesis 3?
I see that the Hebrew word for serpent in Genesis 3 is nachash and that according to Strongs this word is a noun which stems from the verb 'nachash' meaning to practice divination, or observe signs. ...
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what is the difference between שלל, ביזה, and חרם?
We know that there are no true synonyms in the Torah. What does each of these connote? (to pass the test here - i googled and did not find anything)
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Confused Letters in Hebrew mss.: kaf vav
would anyone know of examples of these two letters being confused, esp. in foreign names or words used in a Hebrew context in medieval or early modern times? Thank you.
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Psalms/Tehillim 18:26
In Psalms 18:26:
עִם־חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם־גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֜מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם
Why is the word עם־גבר vocalised as עִם־גְּבַ֥ר ʕim-ggəvár instead of עִם־גֶּבֶר ʕim-ggέvɛr? I am asking this because ...
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Gen 3:13 Did the snake "trick" or "advise" Eve to eat?
In Genesis 3:13, while Eve is answering God, she says:
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (NIV)
Rabbi Manis ...
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מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת - What is the etymology of נִּשְּׁתַּנָה (nishtana)? [closed]
I can find לְהִשְׁתַּנּוֹת where נִשְׁתַּנֶּה (nishtane) would translate to "we will change (ourselves)", but i cannot find where נִּשְּׁתַּנָה (nishtana) derives from. Or is it just old ...
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What are the characteristics of המשכלים in Daniel 12?
I would like to know more about the word הַ֨מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים which I highlight in a bold face in the texts below.
Daniel 12:3 is
וְהַ֨מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים יַזְהִ֖רוּ כְּזֹ֣הַר הָרָקִ֑יעַ וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ ...
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Difference between a Menahel and Rosh Yeshivah
Is there a difference between a Menahel and a Rosh Yeshivah, or are they synonymous?
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Non-Hebrew Torah commentary
There is a teaching that only Torah commentary written in Hebrew, the holy tongue, will endure.
However, the entire Talmud and the Book of Daniel are not in Hebrew, but in Aramaic. Even some parts of ...
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Pronouncing the vav in mitzvot and matzot [closed]
What is the reason for the different pronunciation of the vav in the words mitzvot and matzot?
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What are some good resources for advanced Biblical Hebrew study?
I have been studying Biblical Hebrew for over a year, and have come to the point where I can read most of the prose text in the Hebrew Bible without trouble. I started with a beginner's textbook and ...
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Roshei Teivos in Kli Yekar
עד עלות חמ"ס
What does חמ"ס stand for? If it's just the word 'violence', why the ''?
Context:
ויבא עמלק וילחם עם ישראל ברפידים. בילקוט מסיק שעמלק דומה לזבוב כו', משל למלך שהקיף כרם כו', ...
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What is the true definition of tirtzach? [duplicate]
In Hebrew, the word tirtzach is normally translated to mean murder. In English, murder means unlawful premeditated killing. But if this is the definition of tirtzach, then the commandment lo tirtzach ...
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Connection between Loshon Hakodesh and other languages
I remember finding seforim saying
All languages are really just a distortion of Loshon HaKodesh
It's as if Loshon Hakodesh is in gallus (exile) within those other languages. When we identify how a ...
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Information about some Kabbalah authors
There is a sentence on Wikipedia about Kabbalah, but unfortunately, there are no sources for it, and I would like to know the sources (if they exist).
The sentence says:
"Among the problems ...
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What's the name of gallery tombs in Hebrew: Kok, kokim?
In this article in the jewishencyclopedia it mentions some tomb galleries:
These galleries, or niches, which were called "kok" (plural, "kokim") by the Rabbis.
I want to know how ...
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Is the Yemenite pronunciation of Hebrew closest to correct? [duplicate]
Is the Yemenite pronunciation of Hebrew closest to correct? If so, would that mean that we should use the Yemenite pronunciation when davening or leining the Torah?
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Why are the Niqqud different for the name of God sometimes? [duplicate]
Through my research of the Tanakh, I have observed that the tetragrammaton appears with varying niqqud in different locations. Additionally, I have noted that the niqqud used may differ but produce a ...
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Biblical Hebrew Textbooks Written in Voweled Hebrew
The title may be a bit confusing; what I'm looking for is a Hebrew Grammar textbook (preferably biblical Hebrew, but modern is fine too) that is completelly written in Hebrew but its ment for non-...
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Number of dead after the Golden calf
When we get a count in the Torah it is in an exact form (either literal or metaphorical) for example the tribe of Reuven had 46,500 members. An exception to this rule would seem after the golden calf, ...
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Happiness of Purim
In Israel, many people wish each other Purim Sameach - have a happy Purim. Yet it seems those from chu"l wish Simchas Purim which translates as 'happiness of Purim. It would seem that purim ...
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Should Genesis 1:4 say that the light "was" or "is" good?
As a non-Jew who has very little knowledge of Hebrew, I'm curious as to the following:
Is the Hebrew text clear on this, one way or the other?
If so, which is it?
If not, are there any Jewish ...
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Drashos based on the doubled verb
In Menachos 17b, the gemara explains a drasha:
ור"א א"כ לכתוב רחמנא אם האכל האכל א"נ אם יאכל יאכל מאי האכל יאכל שמעת
מינה תרתי
And what would Rabbi Eliezer respond? He would say that ...
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What's the name of this poem in Danya Ruttenberg's "Surprised by God"?
The introduction to Rabbi Ruttenberg's book features an English translation of a Hebrew poem she is singing at the beginning of a Shabbat service. The translation seems to be unique to the book, and ...
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What does ממנ”פ mean?
I've seen the acronym ממנ”פ in multiple places but I am not sure what it means.
קיצורים וראשי תיבות בעברית indicates that it means ממערכת נשימה פנימית but I am not sure if that is correct.
Here are ...
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Preparation for Bar Mitzvah involved rote learning of pronunciation -- why is/was this?
I would not be surprised if this has changed but afaik, kids prepared for Bat or Bar Mitzvah by memorizing sounds without learning mean whatsoever -- I wasted years of afternoons reciting, an attempt ...
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Resources to improve my Hebrew to learn Halachic works?
My Hebrew is solid - I am able to get around Israel. When I learn works of Halacha (Aruch HaShulchan, Mishna Berura, Kitzur) I am not able to follow due to not knowing words and acronyms. What is a ...
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Nature of the stone in Psalm 118:22
https://biblehub.com/text/psalms/118-22.htm
I often hear in church the quotes from the following psalm used in the Christian new testament. But in translation 'chief cornerstone' strikes me as a very ...
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Problems with the Hebrew text in Job 26:12-13?
Proposed correction of the Hebrew text
I know a professor of religious sciences who saw problems with Job 26:12-13 considering it a hapax, especially in the following verse.
ברוחו שמים שפרה By his ...
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2
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What is the Mishnah in Yadiyim talking about when it says writing in "Ashrit" defiles hands ? "catuv Evri" (The ancient script) does not defile?
Does anyone understand this Mishnah?
The Mishnah in Yadiyim 4:5 says writing in "Ashrit" defiles hands but writing in the "catuv Evri" (ancient Hebrew) does not defile , why and ...
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Difference between meaning of Elohim and Elohe [closed]
What is the difference in meaning between Elohim and Elohe?
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Is ב״ה Baruch HaShem or Bezrat HaShem?
Is ב״ה Baruch HaShem or Bezrat HaShem?
Why did The Rebbe begin every letter with it?
2
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1
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Language of midrash?
What Hebrew did Louis Ginzberg learn to translate the midrashim? In his famous book, is there a dictionary for midrashic words and a midrashic grammar, or is modern Hebrew enough?
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What is the difference between the different Hebrew words for sin? [duplicate]
What is the difference between transgression, iniquity, and sin?
Exodus 34:7:
נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה
In the Sefaria translation:
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin
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Are there examples of "language transformations" in Hebrew grammar that significantly alter the apparent meaning of a text?
In a discussion on this site, a knowledgeable friend pointed out in comments how there are "many, many language transformations broadly associated with Hebrew grammar", such as "...
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1
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What does פ׳ ב׳ פ׳ stand for in the context of prayer (specifically related to prayer #8 of the Amidah)?
In the Siddur I am using (Siddurenu, The Prayer Book Press, 1961), there is a supplemental prayer directly below prayer #8 of the Amida (on page 56) that prays for healing of specific individuals. (It ...
- 123
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2
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Torah commentaries in modern Hebrew
I’m not sure if such thing exists, but I wonder if there are books which contain classical (if it has modern ones, also fine, but not necessarily) Torah commentaries in Modern Hebrew? What I mean is: ...
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Are there any corrections one might suggest to this table of different Hebrew pronounciations? [closed]
Sound
Modern Israeli (Based on Sephardic pronounciation)
Ashkenazi Chabad (inc. other non-Oberland / Unterland Chassidim.
Ashkenazi Chassidic (Oberlander, Unterlander and Galitzer, e.g. Satmar)
...
- 21
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Why is the word for afternoon (צהריים) plural? [closed]
Why is the word for afternoon (צהריים) plural but morning (בוקר) and evening (ערב) are singular?
- 7,946
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Is every word of a translation as important as every word of the original Hebrew?
This question came up during a discussion about Hebrew vs translated texts and I'm curious what the answer or consensus is.
We're taught that every single word and letter is specific and used for a ...
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2
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Why the use of אָחִֽי in 1 Melachim 13:30 וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֥וֹי אָחִֽי
In 1 Melachim 13:30 it says:
And the prophet took up the carcass of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. And ...
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