Questions tagged [language]
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214
questions
0
votes
3answers
76 views
The panav of HaShem [duplicate]
Exodus 33:28 and 23:
לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת-פָּנָי: כִּי לֹא-יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם, וָחָי.
וְרָאִיתָ, אֶת-אֲחֹרָי; וּפָנַי, לֹא יֵרָאוּ.
Looking at these verses G-d clearly says that no one can see ...
-1
votes
1answer
85 views
How does one say Pesach in a foreign language? [closed]
It is debatable whether Pesach means Passover, as it is called in English, or "hover over" like in Isaiah 31:5.
I am wondering if other languages besides for English use the term Pesach (in their ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
What is the origin of the “divine name” of דיקרנוסא
I noticed this kabbalistic holy name "דיקרנוסא" mentioned in the Amidah of a Edot haMizrach siddur in the extra supplications, and apparently it is not allowed to be pronounced. It sounds like it is ...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
Overly broad definition of Chametz in sale contract
I was reviewing the language of a mechirat chametz contract I had been sent and noticed some unusual specific language defining the parameters of the sale:
...The term 'Chometz' shall refer to any ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
Genesis 18:21 then I will know?
I find it strange that Genesis/Bereshit 18:21 seems to imply that G-d has limited knowledge of what's going on in Sodom and Amorah, so I wondered if the word eda'ah (אֵדָעָה) could be translated as: ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
May you live until one hundred and twenty [duplicate]
The phrase: May you live until one hundred and twenty (עד מאה ועשרים) is a famous one derived from different verses of the Tenach.
But I would like to know if there is any deeper (gematrial) meaning ...
-3
votes
1answer
51 views
Does Avraham invite one of his visitors inside?
I've a question regards the following phrase from Genesis 18:10: "וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו".
"And Sarah was listening at the opening of the tent, and it was behind him."
"And ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Awesome or aweful - נורא
Looking at verses such as Devarim (Deuteronomy) 7:21 and 10:17 those seem to talk about a awe-inspiring and awesome G-d. Yet the word נורא also means aweful or terrible or dreadful.
So how should I ...
2
votes
2answers
135 views
To find favor in one’s eye?
What does the idiom: מצא חן בעיני (to find favor/grace in one’s eyes) express, what does it really mean and when is it used in the Tenach?
I noticed it’s almost always connected to a request of some ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Why is a side of a Talmudic page called “amud”?
On some occasions, I have heard one side of a Talmudic page called tzad meaning "side".
The more common term I have heard is amud meaning "pillar". Why is that term used, and when did this term first ...
-2
votes
2answers
72 views
Old French in commentaries
Why are there references to "Old French" in some commentaries? I don't have any examples to show but if that is required I could research.
5
votes
0answers
64 views
How should Rashi's comment about Noah's belief be parsed?
Rashi in his commentary to Genesis 7:7 writes:
אף נח מקטני אמנה היה מאמין ואינו מאמין שיבא המבול ולא נכנס לתיבה עד שדחקוהו המים
I see (at least) two ways to read this:
Noah believed in general (...
5
votes
2answers
762 views
What is “okinta”?
A friend of mine, a professional translator and interpreter, was stymied in her work by a word that some rabbis keep using when quoting Talmud, baraitot, Rambam, even Rav Kook. To her ear (she is a ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
What does it mean that G-d calls names to things?
In the process of Creation G-d eventually calls names of different things:
וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה ...׃
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
Question about the comma in Psalm 82:1
I've a short question about Psalm 82, verse 1.
The hebrew reads: מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת־אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט
So how should one read these verse?
1. Is it that G-d will ...
2
votes
0answers
40 views
Where does HaShem stands and in which council?
Psalm 82 teaches that Elohim (אלהים) stands (נצב to position oneself) within the council/congregation (עדת-אל) of El, among/amidst (בקרב) elohiem (אלהים) He judge (ישפט).
Someone told me to look at ...
3
votes
0answers
27 views
Does language change affect what hyssop is valid for the ḥatat ritual?
In Parah 11:7, we learn that hyssop that is called simply "hyssop" (אזוב) is valid for use in sprinkling mei ḥatat, but hyssop that has an accompanying name (such as "blue hyssop", etc.) is unfit.
Is ...
6
votes
1answer
171 views
How is it “well-known” that Esav hates Ya'akov?
Rash"i in Breishit 33:4 cites Sifrei, by stating:
הֲלָכָה הִיא בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁעֵשָׂו שׂוֹנֵא לְיַעֲקֹב
It is a well-known halacha that Esav hates Ya'akov
How is this "well-known"? Based on ...
1
vote
0answers
692 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
76 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?
1
vote
1answer
333 views
Plural form of shabbat - is it ever shabbatim?
I am curious if the word shabbat שבת has ever taken the plural form of shabbatim? I had a dream about this word. In this dream, it was used in a spoken two word phrase with "shabbatim" being the ...
3
votes
2answers
76 views
'Alcoholic drinks' and 'reward' are both “שכר”
Alcoholic drinks (and drunkenness) and reward seem like rather disparate ideas! Is there a reason why they might imply one another and do any commentaries interchange between the two to bring some ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Does the verse וארשתיך… count as the language of Kiddushin?
Following the discussion about different formulations of non-Orthodox Ketubahs on this site.
A couple wishes to find a milder non-Orthodox formulation of the Kiddushin. So they chose that the groom ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
What's the basis for “דברה התורה כלשון בני”א" (Torah used common language)?
The Sages used the "דברה התורה כלשון בני אדם" excuse (acc. to the WIKI page) in two ways - in the Gemmorah to resolve [the problem of] repeating languages in the Torah (like עלה נעלה or פדה תפדה) and ...
6
votes
1answer
99 views
For things that can be said in any language, how fully must you understand the language?
Sotah 7:1 gives a list of things that are said in any language, including the Sh'ma and the t'filah. Several commentaries I've seen explain that these texts are so important that you need to ...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
Megilat Ester linguistics - why inline translations?
M"E is full with "inline" translations or clarifications from Hebrew to Parsi and vice verse, for example:
פור הוא הגורל
הֲדַסָּה הִיא אֶסְתֵּר
בחודש השנים עשר הוא חודש אדר
This is pretty unusual I ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
What country is Tarsia / טרסי?
In Bavli Megilla 13b, we are told that Bigtan and Teresh were two טרסיים, translated by R. Steinsaltz as Tarsians. We are told that they spoke in the Tarsian language.
In what modern country or ...
3
votes
1answer
175 views
How is כֹּרֵת בְּרִית interpreted as “make” instead of “cut”?
וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי כֹּרֵת בְּרִית נֶגֶד (Exodus 34:10)
And Targum translates similarly:
"וַאֲמַר הָא אֲנָא גְזַר קְיַם"
Why כֹּרֵת relatively to the covenant end up being interpreted as "...
4
votes
1answer
272 views
Origin of the word “pushka” [closed]
European Jews tend to use the word “pushka” for ‘charity box’. What is the origin of the word?
As far as I can tell, Slavic languages use somewhat similar sounding words for ‘container’. In ...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
How did Adam got his intellect?
The tradition says that Adam was created grown up and extremely intelligent. We know that his body was formed from the earth and his soul was blown into the body and then he became a living (talking) ...
2
votes
2answers
114 views
Why is the colour כחול ('blue') not mentioned in Tanach?
The colour כחול is not mentioned in Tanach. Given it's wide usage in later hebrew texts, why does it never feature in Tanach? Do any sources pick up on this?
(There is a different debate about what ...
7
votes
1answer
138 views
Would Emoji halachically be considered a language?
While admittedly close to Purim, this is NOT a Purim Torah. 😂
Pretty much all of us know about emojis, as they're virtually everywhere nowadays. Emojis are increasingly being used as proof in court- ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
Common language and the language of the Scripture used in 1st century BCE?
I read from the internet where most articles say:
A. The common language used by the Jews around 1st century BCE to (at least) the beginning of 1st century CE was Greek and the Scripture they use is ...
6
votes
1answer
64 views
Why list קונם and קונס explicitly in Kol Nidrei but not other Kinuyim?
Nedarim 1:2 lists several kinnuyim, alternate expressions you can use for making a neder.
In the Ashkenazi version of Kol Nidrei that I'm familiar with as well as the Nusach Sefarad one I found on ...
-2
votes
1answer
52 views
Is there no word for objects/'things' in Hebrew aside from referring to things as 'words'?
I read the following passage and wonder about the first couple of sentences, which are pretty practical and I wonder if they're 'empirically' true. In common Hebrew language, how are 'things' referred ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
Does Judaism have a concept of “positive speech”?
Inspired by this question I am curious to know if Judaism has a concept of positive speech, i.e., turning a negative statement into a positive one.
The original example given above is, using a car ...
6
votes
2answers
114 views
Torah Study in English
Will one receive the reward of Learning Torah if they read the Tanach, Gemara, Shulchan Aruch, etc. in English if English is their mother tongue? Please cite sources.
1
vote
1answer
58 views
make atonement - אכפרה
Shemot 32:30 teaches us that Moshe said to the people: “You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make atonement for you.”
Bereshit 32:20 Likewise teaches ...
4
votes
3answers
291 views
What does “Esav soneh l'Ya'akov” mean?
There is this famous statement (B"R 78:9): "Esav Soneh l'Ya'akov."
Although the Torah tells us that Esav bore a grudge (Genesis 27:41) in his heart and showed great animosity in wanting to kill Ya'...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
Is anyone aware of a good Dictionary/Lexicon style book to help expand a person's Hebrew/Yeshivish vocabulary?
I was curious if a good book existed which broke down common phrases or words related to religious practice and observance. Say a dictionary but it defines common phrases in observance.
Example:
Mi ...
1
vote
0answers
117 views
Distinction between Samekh and Sin in the Yemenite tradition [closed]
As far as I know, in the Yemenite tradition there is a distinct sound for all consonants for the exception of Samakh and Sin. In the Wikipedia, it says that both sin and samakh are pronounced ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Why do people respond “Gam L'mar”?
During this past Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur, whenever I wished someone Shanah Tovah or (G'mar) Chatimah Tovah s/he responded Gam L'mar.
I don't recall having heard that before this year. Doesn't ...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
מלא יד - full hand, meaning?
I've a question about the combination of words מלא יד as shown in verses like Shemot 29:35, 32:29, Vayikra 8:33, Bamidbar 3:3, 1 Divrei HaYamim 29:5, 2 Divrei HaYamim 6:4, 6:15, 13:9, 29:31 etc...
...
2
votes
2answers
151 views
Words for ‘a teaching’; d’var Torah, shiur, drash etc
Could someone explain me the differences or nuances between a shiur, d’var Torah, drash (and drashah) as they all seem to refer to ‘a teaching’.
P.s. is there something in their roots which defines ...
3
votes
4answers
944 views
best Hebrew-English Tanakh in printed form, interlinear if possible?
I've been using the Artscroll Interlinear series to read the Torah and it's helping me make a lot of progress in finally learning Tanakh Hebrew. But outside of the five scrolls and the psalms, ...
0
votes
2answers
91 views
ענה how to define
I would like to know how to define the root word ענה, what actual meanings are given to this root and what is the common denomitor?
[I’ve found this root in different verses, so I don’t want to ...
2
votes
2answers
160 views
Explain the Use of “Zachur Latov”
Frequently, when we refer to Eliyahu (Elijah the prophet), the term זכור לטוב ("Remembered for good things") is used. I vaguely recall seeing the Talmud use this term for someone else, but I don't ...
4
votes
0answers
59 views
Source for galuta d'galuta גלותא דגלותא?
I so clearly remember from my days of Talmud study the phrase גלותא דגלותא, meaning a place that was REALLY far away, seriously in exile, "deep diaspora", totally removed from eretz yisrael. Maybe it ...
