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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What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to "Anti-Torah"?

What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to "Anti-Torah"? I am hoping there is only one. In English, I would say the word "Anti-Torah" equates to "lawless" or "lawlessness". When I ...
ninamag's user avatar
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Is ‘kol tuv’ a religious phrase?

I often hear religious people saying the phrase ‘Kol tuv’ - May everything be good by you. Is there any history behind the wide usage in religious communities, other than it being said in Hebrew?
Dr. Shmuel's user avatar
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Tzitzit an appearance in visible form

Rabbi Hirsch seems to have written something like: “tzitzit; indeed it is called tzitzit from the Hebrew root meaning “to appear in physical form.” Which root is that? And what does this mean in ...
Levi's user avatar
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Help with two Yehudah Ya'aleh responsa

there are two Yehudah Ya'aleh responsa on the same topic (Orach Chaim no 35 and no 37) and each has a passage that I'm struggling to work out what it means. In number 35: שמספר את זקנו ע"י משיחה ...
Zarka's user avatar
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The Nikud of the word תמות in the sentence תמות נפשי עם פלישתים

In the Tanach, Shoftim טז Pasuk ל: וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְשׁוֹן, תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי עִם-פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וַיֵּט בְּכֹחַ, וַיִּפֹּל הַבַּיִת עַל-הַסְּרָנִים וְעַל-כָּל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-בּוֹ; וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים, ...
dafnahaktana's user avatar
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How is מְצַוְּךָ pronounced? [duplicate]

A simple question for the users here. I have just started learning how to read Hebrew to read the Scriptures so I am finding difficult words for me. I am confused about the וְּ in it. Thanks Andy
andy hanukaai's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
160 views

Does ehad mean "one" or "first" when used together with "rishon"?

How should ehad be translated in this phrase and why? וְשַׂ֣ר׀ מַלְכ֣וּת פָּרַ֗ס עֹמֵ֤ד לְנֶגְדִּי֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וְאֶחָ֣ד י֔וֹם וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל אַחַ֛ד הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים בָּ֣א לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי ...
iamtirado's user avatar
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Where can I find how many roots the author needs to compose for each book of the Tenach

For example: I am reading now the book of Joshua in Hebrew. It looks to me quite simple language. The author uses often the same terms. Poetry and wisdom-litterature is much more complex. My ...
Anton Ribberink's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
104 views

Translating וידבר using BDB Lexicon and Gesenius' Grammar

Context I am practicing my biblical Hebrew by translating the weekly Parshah. As resources, I have the Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB) Lexicon (coded with Strong's concordance numbers) and Gesenius' ...
Ezra Goss's user avatar
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1 answer
637 views

Why is sleep spelled with an aleph in Tehillim 127?

In Tehillim 127:2, the author spells the word for sleep as שנא: Source: Wikisource I found this unusual, as the word is usually spelled שנה in Tanach (Tehillim 90:5, Mishlei 6:4, and Mishlei 20:13). ...
DonielF's user avatar
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What does "mazik the rabim" mean?

The Va’ad HaRabbonim of Greater Cleveland has issued a statement about the COVID-19 virus that contains the following paragraph: Additionally, anyone who was exposed to someone who tested positive ...
Mike's user avatar
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What or is there a difference in Adonai and Adonoy?

I have just started learning Hebrew and I found a transliteration for the after meal blessing which includes Adonai and Adonoy; what is the difference between the two? “Baruch ha-gever asher yivtach ...
Mercer's user avatar
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What is a 'potential convert' called in hebrew/yiddish?

I know that a convert is called a ger tzedek. While a righteous non-Jew/goy is called a goy tzedek. From what I have found so far online, most just say/use "potential convert" when referring to ...
Re'eh's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is there any research available for the original 'Hebrew' 3rd & 5th month names?

I'm looking at a question that was posted here 7 years ago about the original name of the months. First-Temple-Era names of the Hebrew months? There is mention of a possible month called, "Tzach."...
kanai.Warrior's user avatar
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2 answers
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How does "Israel" mean to struggle with G-d?

How does "Israel" mean to struggle with G-d? https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/israel-means-to-struggle-with-god/ This is what I could find in the Hebrew text: בראשית לב כט וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא ...
user27343's user avatar
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What is the difference between Vayomer and Vayomar?

In Chumash, sometimes it says vayomer, but other times it says vayomar. What is the difference? Don't they both just mean "he said"?
yishairasowsky's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
486 views

What is the etymology of the name Jesse?

I can find multiple possible etymologies for the name Jesse/יִשַׁי Yishai: "King" "Wealth/Abundance" "G-d's gift" "G-d Exists" [From יש Yesh ("there is&...
Johan88's user avatar
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קָמָץ vs. קָמַץ in Ashkenazi pronunciation

All Ashkenazi readers/minhagim/etc. I've seen call this vowel קָמַץ, while there is considerable variation on whether the second syllables of the other vowel names (except for סֶגּוֹל, though there is ...
user17584's user avatar
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2 answers
1k views

Is a gentile permitted to learn the original Hebrew of the Torah?

I've been reading the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and came across this in Part I 5:2 note. 91 "...(1) It is also prohibited for a Jew to teach Torah to gentiles in the canonised Hebrew or ...
Jake w's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is "covet" in the tenth Commandment more than a mental attitude? [duplicate]

In halacha - Stoning of homosexuals - Mi Yodeya, mbloch recently said: In a nutshell, the Torah is not so concerned and doesn't judge how people feel or what their desires are. It prohibits actions ...
Ray Butterworth's user avatar
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0 answers
320 views

Where is a free online copy of the Torah with the "correct" number of letters in it?

First off, my intention is to create a pretty decent replica of the Hebrew text close to the formatting of the Sefer Torah or a Tikkun, for personal documentation purposes. My question though is 2-...
Lance's user avatar
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2 answers
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Explanation of the Term "פירוד הלבבות"

I looked up the term "פירוד הלבבות" and it comes out literally as "separation of hearts". What is the interpretation of this term in Yiddishkeit generally? Thanks in advance.
Feigenbaum's user avatar
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1 answer
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What's the Literal translation of these basic words?

What do the words Mishnayos, Gemara, & Torah literally mean?
Lages's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is the English "YHWH" a valid equivalent to the Tetragrammaton?

What is the halachic stance on the Tetragrammaton transliterated into English as YHWH or Yawheh or Jehovah? Is it accurate to use the English letters YHWH as the Hebrew equivalent? We see this ...
Ephraim77's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
126 views

Grammatical difficulty in root אשר (happy)

The root אשר seems to act weirdly in relation to number. On the one hand, it takes on plural morphology in situations that are clearly singular, here in the form of a plural (const.) noun (...
Joshua's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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What is the Chidush that Parashat Hamelech is read off the Torah scroll in Hebrew?

ואלו נאמרין בלשון הקודש: מקרא ביכורים, וחליצה, ... ברכת כהנים,... ופרשת המלך... (Sotah 32a) these are recited only in the sacred tongue, Hebrew: Bikkurim and Chalitzah and the blessings and curses ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
130 views

Is “breath of life” in Genesis 2:7 is the same as spirit?

Does this mean that God breathed his spirit into Adam giving him life.
Jacques Morreale's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
91 views

In the Al Cheit prayer, do we say bagalui or b'galui?

In the Al Cheit prayer, is it Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha bagalui uvasater or is it Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha b'galui uvasater I get about the same number of hits whichever of the two ...
Gerry Myerson's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
73 views

Does Pharaoh's daughter speak Hebrew in Exodus 2:10 or is the book of Exodus simply translating what she said in Egyptian into Hebrew? [duplicate]

Exodus 2:10 says: "And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said: ‘Because I drew him out of the water.’" Is the text ...
David the Prince's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
223 views

Alternative spelling for El*him

According to Wikipedia, the spelling for El*him is aleph-lamed-he-yud-mem But in a book I found the following spelling: (This is from the first line at p.171 at https://archive.org/details/...
User5312's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
65 views

Why the first ה in יהודה?

וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתֹּאמֶר הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת־ה' עַל־כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ יְהוּדָה וַתַּעֲמֹד מִלֶּדֶת׃ She conceived again and bore a son, and declared, “This time I will praise the LORD....
Al Berko's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
191 views

What software to use to write a multi-section sefer?

What software is available that allows Hebrew and English and multiple sections? i.e. the main section and then a footnote/pirush (section #2) on that, and then a 3rd section which footnotes items ...
Chaim's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
213 views

Does Hebrew allow for this conception of the pronunciation of the "Tetragammaton"?

Disclaimer: I know no Hebrew. I'm trying to find out if the Hebrew argument that this article makes concerning the pronunciation of the divine Name is cogent or not. As an outsider they seem to know ...
Ruminator's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
74 views

List of Hebrew Words in Aleph-Beis Order? [closed]

To help me study Chumash, where can I find a downloadable list of most commonly used Hebrew shorashim in Aleph-Beis Order? (Rav Hirsch dictionary is phenomenal but I'm not going to retype the whole ...
NJM's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
220 views

Connection Between Liver & Honor?

Seeing that lashon hakodesh allows for analyzing the connection between similar rooted words, what is the connection between liver (כבד) and honor (כבוד)?
NJM's user avatar
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1 vote
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What is the true definition of the word Kadosh in Hebrew? [duplicate]

This question may be simple but I was curious if we have a true definition for it. People talk about living in a (Kadosh) or holy way. The word gets used a lot but I don't necessarily think I've ...
user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
199 views

Why did Rashi choose Hebrew over Aramaic?

Rashi chose a form of Medieval Hebrew to write his commentaries, which facilitates the life of many students, as the Aramaic content in his writing is very low compared to the Gemara or contemporary ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
566 views

Talmudic concept of a sensitive individual--"istus?"

There is a Talmudic term I've heard mentioned in passing but have not been able to locate. It relates to the concept of a person who is especially sensitive to physical discomfort in situations such ...
sheino-yodeah's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
101 views

Help what does this mean? [closed]

Need this translated, and what does it mean or say?
Exmalus's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
214 views

Why is the word for silver in Torah the same word for money? [closed]

Is there a reason why the Hebrew word for silver is the same word for money in Hebrew?
Ethan Merryman's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
82 views

Does Maharal, Maharsha or Zohar discuss the concept of how שָׁלוֹם, שְׁלֵמוּת, שָׁלֵם are associated with one another?

Rav Shimon Schwab writes that the word שָׁלוֹם is related to שְׁלֵמוּת, completion, שָׁלֵם, perfection (on Iyov, page 67) Does anyone know if the Maharal, Maharsha or Zohar say such a concept?
Knowledge Seeker's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is there math in Torah?

I have watched a nice movie back in the day that deals with numbers. In one of the scenes. A Jewish man comes to The Mathematician and tells about how the Hebrew uses the same "letters" as letters ...
Delta Oscar Uniform's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
148 views

Where do the words יְרִידַת הַדּוֹרוֹת come from?

There is a term in Judaism called יְרִידַת הַדּוֹרוֹת, the diminishing spiritual level of subsequent generations. Where do the words יְרִידַת הַדּוֹרוֹת originate from? Is it posuk, mishna or gemara ...
Chiddushei Torah's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
162 views

Origin of the word dati (דָּתִי) [duplicate]

Is there any Talmudic sources that claim the origin of the Hebrew word “dati” (דָּתִי) comes from the Avestan word daena?
Micheal Afingindin's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
418 views

What is the meaning of Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5 when it uses the Hebrew phrase "כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה'"?

In Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5, Rambam quotes Isaiah 11:9 using the phrase: כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים This is commonly translated as, That the earth ...
Yaacov Deane's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Hebrew Letters and corresponding body parts

When I was a little child, I remember being taught that each of the Hebrew letters had a corresponding body part. I am sure I learned what they were at the time, but I've long forgotten most of them. ...
Alpehbet's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
83 views

Are Jews obligated to learn/speak Hebrew? [duplicate]

Presuming a Jew wants to observe the laws of their religion, are they obligated to learn and speak Hebrew? Or is it sufficient if they read a translation of the Torah into their local language?
JonathanReez's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
55 views

What do these phrases mean, "come as one" and "teach a precedent"?

What do these phrases mean, "come as one" and "teach a precedent"? I think "come as one" means, they "are both the same" (?), but I am not sure this is the meaning of this in the phrase quoted below. ...
ninamag's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
164 views

Who is a boor בור? [closed]

The Talmud frequently calls an individual a "boor". Two examples: It has been reported: If one has learned Tanach and Mishnah but not Talmud, Rabbi Eleazar says he is an ignoramus [am ha-aretz]; ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
38 views

Personal Attributes, Influence and Importance of Japhet Among Noah's Sons [closed]

Would you be so kind and provide brief, yet details information about personal attributes, influence and importance of Japhet, commonly agreed among Jews and also Hebrews, perhaps if possible by ...
Emma's user avatar
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