Questions tagged [tanach]
An acronym of "Torah" (Five Books of Moses), "Neviim" (Prophets), and "Kesuvim" (Writings). The three books together form the "Written Torah".
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Tools to validate Torah codes
Torah codes are "a purported set of secret messages encoded within the Hebrew text of the Torah" (Wikipedia).
For instance, a well known code suggests that counting 3 intervals of 12111 letters from ...
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Can someone translate this Targum Jonathan on Ezekiel?
Can someone translate this Targum Jonathan on Ezekiel 40:5?
וְהָא שׁוּרָא מִבָּרָא לְבֵיתָא סְחוֹר סְחוֹר וּבְיַד גַבְרָא קְנֵי מְשַׁחְתָּא דְחַד מִנְהוֹן שִׁית אַמִין בְּאַמְתָא דְהִיא אַמָה ...
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What is the order of the Great Hallel (Hallel HaGadol)?
Psalm 136, the Great Hallel (Hallel HaGadol), is a series of praises of Hashem. It is ordered starting with the wonders of creation, moving onto taking us out of slavery, followed by the miracles ...
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Why did David’s harp playing relieve King Saul's illness?
David's harp playing brought relief to King Saul from his mental illness. (Source: I Samuel 16.)
Why did the harp playing provide relief?
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What did the animals eat before Adam prayed for the trees to grow?
We learn in chullin 60b that the trees and herbage only began to sprout on the third day and that they only grew fully when Adam prayed for the rain (Genesis 2:5). If none of the plant life grew yet, ...
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English translation of the Tanakh with transliterated Hebrew [duplicate]
I'm looking for an English translation of the Tanakh that includes the Hebrew, the English and transliterated Hebrew.
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Infertile man in TANACH: Boaz
I'm writing a paper about Ruth and I found a midrash that describes Boaz as being an infertile man (Ruth Rabba 6:2). From Ruth's prayer, he is allowed to conceives.There are others that put the ...
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Jewish names commonly used in a different form than found in Tanach
Some names are popularly used in a different form than the way they're spelled or pronounced in Tanach. A few that I can think of are:
Nochum (נָחוּם) - is written in Tanach (Nah. 1:1) as נַחוּם (...
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Are you allowed to recite a verse from Tanach by heart while reviewing Mishnayos?
According to those who hold that it is forbidden to recite a verse from Tanach by heart even for yourself, would it be permitted if he is quoting it from a Mishnah while reviewing it by heart?
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Doubled up names of God - pronounce יהו-ה as Elokim
Many times in Tanach, God is referred to as יהו-ה or אדנ-י. Individually, each of these is read as Adonai. However, when those two different names are mentioned consecutively, the custom is to ...
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Are Jews allowed to destroy the fruit trees and give bad water to cattle if they're fighting a war outside/unrelated to the Holy Land & Mesopotamia?
Deuteronomy 20:19,20 (NIV) states:
When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. ...
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Why did none of the later kings of Israel destroy Amalek?
There is a commandment to obliterate Amalek.
Shaul Hamelech was commanded to obliterate Amalek and failed.
Dovid continued in the process, but obviously didn't destroy them completely.
None of the ...
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Do we know how Rabbi Moshe Feinstein felt about Malbim's commentary on Nach?
Igros Moshe OCI:157 says one can make a siyum on any book of Tanach "provided it was studied with our Rishonim; not those latter-day commentaries who make up new stuff and show contempt for the ...
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Is profiting off of a war allowed in Judaism? Like for example, is it allowed in Judaism to sell equipment to both sides?
Historically, Jews often lived in regions where it wasn't uncommon for a war to occur. I imagine some shrewd businessmen took advantage of this to profit by doing things like selling equipment or ...
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Is mixing features of an animal and a human in art forbidden in Judaism (e.g., is making a sculpture or a drawing of a sphinx or similar forbidden)?
Recently, I've heard someone claim that mixing human and animal features when creating an artistic feature constitutes an element of idolatrous cultures and can bring harmful spirits or something ...
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Apparently "above-ground mausoleums" are forbidden for burying the dead in Judaism, but what about underground mausoleums or underground tombs?
According to this relatively short article on the Chabad.org website, it seems that "above-ground mausoleums" are forbidden for burying the dead, but what about underground mausoleums or ...
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Why aren't peas mentioned in the Tanach/Talmud?
Or if my premise is wrong, please correct me?
Guns, Germs, & Steel talks about early domesticated crops of the Fertile Crescent. No surprise that he quickly mentions wheat, barley, olives, dates, ...
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What is the meaning of Genesis 28:14?
I love this forum because I learn too much with all you. One of the most enigmatic psukim in my view is Bereshit 28:14:
וְהָיָ֤ה זַרְעֲךָ֙ כַּעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וּפָרַצְתָּ֛ יָ֥מָּה וָקֵ֖דְמָה וְצָפֹ֣נָה ...
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Does the Tanakh teach some will suffer eternal conscious torment?
Many identifying as Christians teach that sinners will suffer eternal conscious torment, but I'm wondering what the Jewish view is. Is there an argument from the Tanakh that some will undergo eternal ...
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The importance of every word in Nach
When we learn the Torah, we work off the assumption that as the Torah is directly from Hashem, every word and even letter is there for a reason, and a lot of commentary and even Halacha is based on ...
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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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Genesis 32:33 a law or a custom?
It is mentioned in The Tanach that Jacob fought with an angel who could not beat him. At the end of the fight, the angel strikes a nerve in Jacob's leg, causing him to limp. The verse then states: &...
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What were the negative names of holy people in Tanakh, and vice versa?
Quoting from Chabad's articles on Sha'ar Gilgulim:
God created a corresponding reality with respect to this as well.
Therefore just as there is for a person a pre-determined name from the
side of ...
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what's a source for a ḥolam ḥaser dot floating onto alef?
In BHS, and in many fonts, a ḥolam ḥaser dot floats forward onto the upper right of alef if that alef is not functioning as a consonant. Probably one of the most common cases of this is vayomer. E.g., ...
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What may I reference to learn Tanach chapters by topic?
What may I refer to to learn where to locate verses or sections in the Tanach by topic? Preferably one of our own sources rather than a Christian one because the interpretations of the Tanach need to ...
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Did Yael Sleep with Sisra?
I've read that Yael slept with Sisra, but this obviously isn't directly in the text. What is the source for this and the reasoning behind it. Wasn't Yael married?
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Where can I find Torah, Tanakh, siddur in Arabic?
I'm Arabic convert and I'm looking for books like the Tanakh or a siddur or anything similar in the Arabic language.
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Judeo-Arabic Translation of Bible
Anyone know of any Judeo-Arabic translations of the Bible (i.e. Arabic in Hebrew characters)? It would be great if you could link me to them as well.
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Is there any mention to someone wearing tefillin in Tanach? [duplicate]
Aside from the passages in Shmah, are there any accounts discussing or of Jews wearing tefillin in tanach?
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Binyamin spelled with or without a second Yud
In Tanach the name Binyomin appears 150 times as בנימן. It appears 16 times as בנימין. Why the difference?
The 16 times it appears with a Yud are as follows.
בראשית לה:יח
ויהי בצאת נפשה כי מתה ותקרא ...
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Any digitized text that marks the shva na?
Does anyone know of any downloadable digitized text that marks the 'shva na's?
For now, I am looking specifically for a text of Megilas Ester. But I would appreciate all of Tanach and also the siddur.
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Where in the Tanakh is it derived that females are to cover their heads when praying?
Where in the Tanakh is it extrapolated that females are to cover their heads or hair when praying or reciting the name of HaShem?
I form this question upon reading the following: Women and girls ...
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Enigmatic interpretation of Mishlei 4:23 - "More than all that you guard, guard your heart, For it is the source of life."
Mishlei 4:23:
מִֽכׇּל־מִ֭שְׁמָר נְצֹ֣ר לִבֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ תּוֹצְא֥וֹת
חַיִּֽים׃
More than all that you guard, guard your heart*, For it is the source
of life.
The basic understanding of this ...
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Death as a key flaw in existence -- where is this from?
I recall learning at one point the idea to effect: Death is the key imperfection in human existence
What are the sources under this?
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Where is Nimrod written about outside Genesis, Chronicles, and Micah? In particular, is he described anywhere as mighty, strong, vigorous, etc?
I am ultimately interested in finding out why Greek scribes translated the Hebrew works as "mighty hunter" in Genesis and Chronicles for the Septuagint. The original Hebrew in those books do ...
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Taking the Torah metaphorically
Many people interpret things in Tanach as metaphorical sometimes. For instance, Rambam’s whole reading of Bereshit is an allegory. The Gemara says that Iyov may never have happened. Basically like all ...
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What date was the crossing of the Red Sea?
Some dates relating to Exodus are in the Book of Exodus, others are in other Books of Torah, or elsewhere in the Bible. And some are speculative, with evidence from a variety of sources.
Note: I'm ...
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Why is this verse 15.16 mentioned in both Joshua and Judges?
I have two questions. The first is why is there a repeat of the posuk, one in Joshua and one in Judges?
The second question is: According to Rashi this was only mentioned here to mention the division ...
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Why are none of the Pharaohs in the Torah identified by name?
Throughout the Torah, the various Egyptian Pharaohs are always referred to as simply "Pharaoh" or "the king of Egypt" (or both), but never with any other parts of their official titulary.
By contrast,...
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How did Moshe know the name of Hashem to kill the Egyptian?
We find in Parshas Shemos that Moshe killed the Egyptian with the name of G-d. Where did Moshe know this from? After all he grew up in Pharaohs palace....
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Are there any sefarim about Melech David
Today we named our son David at the Brit Mila and I realized I wanted to learn more about King David. Outside of Tehilim and Shmuel I&II (which are understandably the core sources), does anyone ...
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Touching A Tanach Before Netilat Yadayim
Can one touch a Tanach, not Torah scroll, before doing netilat yadayim?
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A Meta reason for the two spellings of Binyomin
The word בנימן is spelt בנימין when he is born, this spelling is used around ten times. Otherwise, it is spelt with one י, why is this? I am not looking for a pshat answer. I am looking for a Drosh or ...
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How to perform a Goral HaGra
How is a Goral HaGra performed? Is there a special book I use? What is the proper procedure?
Do you just open it up and see what Pasuk you land on?
What do you do?
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Does Ramban's 8th principle require holding the Masoretic Text to be perfectly preserved? [duplicate]
If Rambam's 8th principle is accepted, is it neccessary to hold that the Masoretic Text is perfectly preserved, and superior to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint in all cases where there are ...
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Examples of prophecies that didn't and cannot come to pass?
Are there any examples of prophecies recorded by established Jewish prophets in Tanach which were about a specific time and/or a specific people and did not come to pass, and subsequently cannot come ...
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Do any poskim discourage Bible study?
The Torah is traditionally seen as being comprised of a Written Torah - the Bible - and an Oral Torah - all other traditions that comprise the covenant between God and Israel. For millennia Jewish ...
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Hashem calls people twice and Hinneni
In many places in the Tanach Hashem uses a name twice (ie Avraham, Avraham in Breshit 22:11; Jacob Jacob in Breshit 46:2; Shmuel shmuel in Shmuel Aleph 3:10 and more).
Rashi says that this is an ...
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Why didn't the Tana'im or Amoa'im write a commentary on Tanach?
To the best of my knowledge the first time we have a verse by verse pshat (ie simple or basic authorial intent meaning) commentary on Tanach is from the Geonic period (even if the commentary is not on ...
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Why is Proverbs 22:6 omitted in the Septuagint?
Why is Proverbs 22:6 omitted in the Septuagint?
I don't see anything offensive about Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.&...
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