Questions tagged [hebrew]
Questions pertaining to the Hebrew language, as related to Judaism. See the help center: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic
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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-...
Lyu
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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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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?
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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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What's the difference between פקד and זכר? [duplicate]
וה' פקד את שרה
Would it be the same if the word זכר was used?
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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 ...
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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)
...
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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?
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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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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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Hebrew Dictionary for Mishneh Torah
I’m looking for a dictionary which contains words that one would find in The Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, not Biblical Hebrew. Any suggestions would be helpful.
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Translation of Hebrew letters [closed]
I hope that this is not off-topic for this forum. If so, please let me know and I will delete it.
I'm trying to understand the meaning of these letters which I believe are Hebrew. Can someone who is ...
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Dagesh in pe lefufah
If you were writing pointed text with a pe lefufah (or doubled/spiral pe, or pe kefulah) for pedagogical purposes, and the pe had a dagesh, would you write the dagesh inside the inner spiral, or ...
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How to convert dates? תשכ'ה
תשכ'ה
And generally, what is the system here? (I took a quick survey of the internet, and did not find a way to parse these dates from letters to roman numbers.)
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Catholic interested in learning about Judaism ✡️ & learning Hebrew to better understand the difference between the Bible & the Torah 🙏
I don’t know much about the Jewish Faith. During my younger years I attended Catholic School until 10th grade. Recently I have become stronger Spiritually, I’ve always had a strong curiousity about ...
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Translation of Hebrew words [duplicate]
Why is it that a lot of Hebrew words or names are translated weirdly into English and not maintained phonetically? A few examples are עזה becomes Gaza, בלעם becomes Balaam, עמורה becomes Gomorrah…I’m ...
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What is the difference between these two phrases used by Poskim?
I have seen both Mekach U’Memchar and Masa U’Masan used by various Rabbis and Poskim to mean, what I think, is business or business dealings. Is there a difference between these two phrases in meaning?...
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Is Hebrew compulsory to practice Judaism?
I am an atheist and loosely read mi yodeya because I am generally interested in cultures and the technicities of Judaism are fascinating.
A lot of the questions (and especially answers) cite verbatim ...
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How to pronounce Hebrew with the Chassidic pronunciation?
First of all, I'm not Jewish but I love Judaism and feel a strong connection to the Jewish people and faith.
My question is regarding the Chassidic way of Hebrew pronunciation when praying and reading ...
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Did Judaism have a more ancient name before it became Judaism?
Judaism comes from Judah. Specifically, it comes from the Kingdom of Judah.
The names we get from Torah are typically for the people and not for the faith. We were called Hebrews and then we were ...
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Does the Torah teach, that mountains have an extension below the mountain’s base?
Job 28:9 “They put their hand to the flinty rock,and overturn mountains by the roots מִשֹּׁ֣רֶשׁ.
the word מִשֹּׁ֣רֶשׁ is used literally for a root of tree or shrub,as in Jeremiah 17:8
Does the Torah, ...
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Use of יצ"ו, expanded to יבנה ציון וירושלים (May He build Zion and Jerusalem), how and where used?
I'm trying to remember where I have seen this (יצ"ו) used. I think it appears sometimes in sefarim, sometimes after the names of towns (not in Israel), and that the intent is to hope for the ...
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What will be the official language of the Kingdom of Israel?
This question assumes the correctness of the Shita that it is forbidden to use Lashon Koidesh for mundane language today. Rather I'm asking if this will or will not be the case in the restored Kingdom ...
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Excel Hebrew formula [closed]
If I put this following function into Excel, it will generate random letters in the given highlighted cells. 65 thru 90 is supposedly the excel defined values for the english alphabets from A thru Z.
=...
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What's the difference between "Hinchilanu" and "Hinchaltanu"?
The Kiddush for Friday night contains two verbs, Hinchilanu and Hinchaltanu, that seem to be on one Hebrew root and share the translation "has given us as a heritage."
I guess that there ...
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Was the term shlita (שליטא) always reserved for rabbis or prominent people? If so, why? If not, how come it became limited in this way? [duplicate]
"Shlita" is customarily added to the name of a living rabbi or leader, either in addressing or speaking/writing about him. It is often written as an acronym, as in "shlit"a" ...
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Are these vowels?
I know the hebrew vowels. However, I recently came across this word: כְּשֶׁעָמְ֒דָה. What are the three dots above the מ?
Another example: עַמְּ֒ךָ
In the same paragraph, I had וְהִדְלִֽיקוּ. What ...
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How to automatically add nikud to a text? [closed]
I have seen such a site, but cannot find it.
And would it correctly add nikud to this phrase:
שהטוב הוא במאמר שיפעל והרע במאמר שיתפעל כי כל התפעלות רע
?
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The letters aleph-lamed are sometimes blended into a single figure in certain texts. What is the origin/purpose of this?
My first guess was that it was a way of avoiding writing out a Divine name, but the texts where I've seen this, the same page may indeed include a full Divine name, so there must be another reason. I'...
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