Questions tagged [translation]
Questions about translation in general, or about translation of specific words in Jewish texts.
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Meaning of Purim
What is the origin/meaning of the word Purim? I always assumed it meant the multiple lots of Haman, but I just heard a shiur saying the word Purim comes from "pirurin" - little things - of the ...
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2answers
36 views
Learning to translate the Shulchan Aruch
How can I get good at translating the Shulchan Aruch? Due to the fact that a lot of the words are more of a Rabbinic Hebrew rather then a Modern Hebrew, it's harder to translate without an English-...
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2answers
54 views
Dealing with translation differences when reading in English
As I learn more Hebrew, I still daven and read things like Tehillim in English for the most part.
Many sources casually say that English is as good as Hebrew when you daven/read alone.
However, what ...
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0answers
34 views
Do we apply עושה מעשה עמך consistently anywhere it says עמך?
The Gemara in several places (BM 48b and 62a, Yevamos 22b, Sanhedrin 85a, BB 4a, BK 94b, Makkos 8b) quotes the exposition
ונשיא בעמך לא תאור - בעושה מעשה עמך
“A prince in your people you shall ...
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2answers
78 views
What does the Rambam mean by “velo yishtomem”?
The Rambam uses an unusual word in Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah 5:11: ולא ישתומם, which is translated on Sefaria as "and does not act so ridiculously".
I am not criticizing this translation, rather I am ...
3
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2answers
418 views
Mac or PC computer file Bencher in Hebrew and English
I would like to get (for free or for pay) a bencher in Hebrew and English, similar to Artscroll, one side Hebrew and one side English in pdf format that I can open on a Mac or a PC and do some changes....
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1answer
24 views
Does Shalom/“peace” need Genizah?
It is known that Shalom is a name of Hashem, thus it is forbidden to say it as salutation in some places.
And also, to not write it in a letter, because the risk of the receiver throwing it to the bin....
3
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1answer
61 views
Yoash what does it mean
I’ve a short question about the biblical name Yoash (יאש or יואש or יהואש, see e.g. מלכים ב:י"ב:ב), online I came across the meaning of: ‘HaShem has given’ or ‘Given by HaShem’, many times. But how ...
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2answers
43 views
Where can find the Iggeret Hashemad of the Rambam online in English?
Where can find the Iggeret Hashemad of the Rambam online in English? There are lots of scholarly resources talking about it, but I am unable to find the words of Rambam complete in translation.
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6answers
190 views
Correct translation of “לא תרצח” - Thou shalt not kill or murder?
There are, basically, two English translations of the Sixth Commandment - "לא תרצח" (Ex 20:13 and Deut 5:17): some read "kill", some read "murder".
Murder seems more accurate since there is ...
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1answer
44 views
Translation (or searchable version) of *Sefer Elim* of Rabbi Joseph Solomon Delmedigo
Does there exist any translation of the Sefer Elim of Rabbi Joseph Solomon Delmedigo into a European language? If not, does there at least exist a text-version of the original Hebrew version (all I ...
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1answer
122 views
Where can I find a transliterated; translated Tanakh?
I'm looking for a Tanakh that has the following specifications:
The original Hebrew text
Transliteration of that text into the Latin alphabet
English translation
Does anyone know where I could find ...
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1answer
35 views
Which translation is the most accurate for the phrase “העוֹנה לתפלת חסיד ידשׁן בּטוֹב חיינוּ ושׁנה טוֹבה ישׁלח לבית ישׂראל עמנוּ”?
My suggestions:
העוֹנה לתפלת חסיד
The response/answer to the prayer of a righteous person
The return to prayer of a righteous person
The season of prayer of a righteous person
ידשׁן בּטוֹב חיינוּ
is a ...
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1answer
113 views
Has the “Mäṣḥafä Kedus” (Holy Scriptures) of Beta Israel been translated into English?
From Wikipedia:
Mäṣḥafä Kedus (Holy Scriptures) is the name for the religious literature. The language of the writings is Ge'ez. The holiest book is the Orit (from Aramaic "Oraita" – "Torah") which ...
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0answers
81 views
Is there a surviving Jewish translation of the entire Masoretic Text in Greek?
Please don't say "the Septuagint" because I know that this has fallen out of favor among most modern Jews (the only exception being Beta Israel, which I believe still uses it - correct me if I am ...
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2answers
151 views
What are the different types of oaths mentioned in Kol Nidre?
I have a vague idea of what a Neder (an oath affecting an object's status) and a Shevuah (an oath affecting oneself) are based on cursory study of the Talmud, but what are the other 5 or so types of ...
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2answers
111 views
The meaning of ירך
I’m unclear as to the meaning of the word ירך that appears in Vayishlach, in 32:26. What’s the precise meaning of ירך often translated as hip, thigh, loin, gird etc. Which body part, bone or muscle is ...
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1answer
64 views
The introduction to the translation of Al Charizi
In Shem Hagdolim in the section on Pirush Hamishna, the author quotes the introductions of various translators of the Rambam's Pirush Hamishna.
שם הגדולים מערכת ספרים אות פ [לט] פירוש המשנה של הרמב"...
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0answers
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Was the Sheiltot of Rav Achai Gaon ever translated?
Does anyone know if the Sheiltot was ever translated into English?
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2answers
49 views
Hebrew phrase/term and pronunciation for “the Lord is my high ridge” from Psalm 18.2
I would really appreciate to know the original Hebrew phrase/term and its pronunciation for "the Lord is my high ridge" from Psalm 18.2
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101 views
Why does the Steinstalz Talmud interpret this one sentence in contradiction to Rashi?
A sentence towards the bottom of Sanhedrin page 5b speaks of kneading dough in a state of impurity. In the English Koren edition, Rabbi Steinsaltz translates this as meaning the people were impure. ...
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1answer
116 views
Can you help me translate an inscription on an amulet for a friend?
Can anyone help translate the inscription in the image below?
This is from a necklace/amulet that a friend picked up in Jerusalem many years ago. She asked me to translate it since I took some ...
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Understanding the parameters of translating the pesukim
In Kiddushin 49a R' Yehuda makes the following statement
ר' יהודה אומר המתרגם פסוק כצורתו הרי זה בדאי והמוסיף עליו הרי זה מחרף ומגדף
One who translates a verse literally is a liar, one who ...
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0answers
81 views
What is the best translation of the Tanakh with commentary? [closed]
I am looking for a good translation of the Tanakh with commentary.
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0answers
105 views
What is the difference between Ish and Zachar in Leviticus 20:13?
Leviticus 20:13 brings the prohibition of homosexuality:
וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֤ב אֶת־זָכָר֙ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֔ה תֹּועֵבָ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם מֹ֥ות יוּמָ֖תוּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃
And if a ...
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What is the most effective way to translate non-Hebrew translations found in Rabbinic literature?
Non-Hebrew translations are often included by our Sages when attempting to clarify words or concepts.
There are myriad examples in RaSh"I (Shemot 5:7) and Hizquni (Wayiqra 11:16). For relatively ...
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1answer
56 views
Meaning of ונתחזק
In the famous phrase: חזק חזק ונתחזק
What exactly does the word נתחזק v’nitchazek/v’nitchazak mean?
I’ve seen different translations like:
“may we be strenghtened”
“ let us be strenghtened”
“ les ...
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2answers
75 views
Section of the Zohar before Magid — English Translation
At the Pesach Seder, before Magid, some say the portion from the Zohar "פקודא בתר דא". Where can I find an English translation of this?
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4answers
538 views
What is the best translation of the word נַעַר?
So I have been studying the meaning of the Hebrew word נַעַר. I understand that it's difficult to always find exact translations of certain words in the Hebrew vocabulary, but I have found in my ...
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1answer
143 views
What does it mean that “his face became blackened” in the Gemara?
Throughout the Gemara we see times when someone's face is described as becoming blackened, due to fasts or other things like intense learning. (Example: Sotah 12a) What does this mean?
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1answer
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Yasis alayich, not yasos
The gemara in megillah 10b and Sanhedrin 39b make a diyuk from the word 'yasis', as opposed to 'yasos' in devarim 28,63 that Hashem makes our enemies happy when we sin but he himself is not happy.
In ...
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1answer
104 views
What is a kilbis fish?
The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 40a) mentions that if you find a "kilbis" (כילבית) fish in fish brine you can eat it. What does a "kilbis" fish translate out to in English?
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1answer
72 views
To whom did Reish Lakish sell himself?
In Gittin 46b-47a it discusses the laws when one sells himself to a non-Jew. There it recounts that Reish Lakish sold himself to the Ludai (לודאי). Rashi (end of 46b) and Sefer haAruch explain that ...
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0answers
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Chalom meaning aspiration [closed]
In both English and Modern Hebrew, the word for dream means both what goes on in the brain when asleep and an aspiration (e.g. I dream to finish shas/get 50 upvotes on my MiYodeya question).
Is this ...
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2answers
164 views
What does “Yeshuos Panai” mean exactly?
I am a bit confused on the wording of Tehillim 42. Verse 6 states:
:מַה־תִּֽשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י | נַפְשִׁי֘ וַתֶּֽהֱמִ֪י עָ֫לָ֥י הוֹחִ֣ילִי לֵֽ֖אלֹהִים כִּי־ע֥וֹד אוֹדֶ֗נּוּ יְשׁוּע֥וֹת פָּנָֽיו
...
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1answer
47 views
Why does שמי שמים mean “the loftiest heavens”?
In the Artscroll translation of מנוחה ושמחה (The Interlinear Family Zemiros p.58), it translates the phrase שְׁמֵי שָׁמַיִם as "the loftiest heavens". What is the etymology of the first word in this ...
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1answer
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What is a “fishtran” fish?
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 10, Sief 1
.(וְיֵשׁ לִמְשֹׁחַ הָרְצועוֹת תָּדִיר בְּשֻׁמָּן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ
שְׁחוֹרִים (וְלֹא יִמְשְׁחֵם בְּשֻׁמָּן דָּג הַנִּקְרָא פִישְׁטְרָאן
כִּי הוּא מִדָּג טָמֵא
...
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1answer
164 views
Is there a “most trusted” translation for the Pirkei Avot - ethics of our fathers?
I always seem to have this issue when choosing Jewish texts. I never know if certain books are more trusted than others. I was curious if there was a version of the Pirkei Avot that is considered the ...
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1answer
22 views
Atzeret to gather or store?
Atzeret (עצרת) comes from the root עצר which means (nifal, as a verb) to stop, be delayed or to be arrested.
But I also heard that R.S.Hirsch explains it means 'to collect, to store or to gather' as ...
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1answer
94 views
Looking for an english translation of targum onkeles
I am looking for an english orthodox translation of targum onkeles or if a translation doesn't exist maybe a shuir which goes through targum in english on a weekly basis .
Thanks
I looked but did ...
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1answer
49 views
Mishlei Proverbs 16:4
I found some different translations of Mishlei 16:4. On the chabad.org website it is translated as:
'The Lord made everything for His praise - even the wicked man for the
day of evil'
While the ...
2
votes
1answer
387 views
Translation of “Ashrei”
What is the correct translation of "Ashrei"? For ages every siddur translated it as "happy". But in recent decades, Artscroll decided it was "praiseworthy" and Chabad decided it was "fortunate".
...
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2answers
415 views
Genesis 4:7 Timshol-bo
The verse of Genesis 4:7 ends with the words תמשל-בו (timshol-bo), and is often translated as 'you shall rule over it'.
But the prefix Bet often means 'in', 'with', 'at' or 'on'. Maybe there some ...
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0answers
61 views
Representing מִשְׁפָּט in English?
I was wondering how Jewish people understand this word with a specific interest in how it is best translated into English. In case it’s context specific here’s an example from Ezekiel (5:7) I was ...
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2answers
89 views
(Why) Does Mishlei 25:23 say that “the north wind begets rain”?
A relative of mine who works in the aviation and meteorology industry is grappling with the pasuk in Mishlei 25:23, which reads:
"As the north wind begets rain, so a backbiting tongue [begets] an ...
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4answers
1k views
Do Jews today consider the King James translation of the Old Testament to be acceptably accurate?
It is my understanding that Jewish tradition holds considerable reverence for accurate translations of its scripture. Do Jews today consider the King James translation known as the Old Testament to ...
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1answer
89 views
commentary on deut. 18:22 Ramban
I'm looking for an english translation of commentary on deut. (18, 22) by Ramban. Where is it possible to find it?
Thank you
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2answers
270 views
Sefaria and Rabbinic Endorsements
Sefaria is a popular and novel Web site with various translations of holy texts; are any rabbinic authorities on record as endorsing or forbidding it? Translations can be subjective, it is inevitable ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Nachalah vs. Morasha
On a biblical level, what is the difference (if any) between נחלה and מורשה?
We find both שרשים being used in various forms, for example:
(Deut. 32:8-9) בהנחל עליון גוים...יעקב חבל נחלתו.
(Duet. 33:...
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2answers
74 views
“Tekhelet=Turquoise Wool”?
In the Artscroll Chumash B'midbar 15:38, Tekhelet is translated as "Turquoise wool". Does anyone have information on how 'wool' is derived from the word 'tekhelet' or from the verse in which it is ...
