Questions tagged [words]
Questions about the definitions, meaning and use of words specific to Judaism or words that carry unique meaning in Jewish law.
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If Hebrew was the target language, what was the source language in any of the Psalm in which “maskil” is mentioned?
If Hebrew was the target language, what was the source language in any of the Psalms in which “maskil” is mentioned?
Rashi on Psalms 88:1 wrote:
משכיל: כל מקום שנאמר משכיל ע"י תורגמן נאמר שהיה ...
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Why is a black skin strange, unusual or weird?
Why is a black skin strange, unusual or weird?
This question developed after reading the following:
כוש: מה כושי משונה בעורו אף שאול משונה במעשיו
Cush: Just as a Cushite has unusual skin, so did Saul ...
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Saying God is Great in Arabic - is a Jew allowed?
We all know the "aqbar" phrase. Is it permissible for a Jew to say this phrase?
The assumption is that it is ok, because it commonly said that we are talking about the same Hashem. This ...
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What does רבנן קשישאי mean?
I'm wondering what this term "רבנן קשישאי" specifically refers to. I think it just means old Rabbis, but I'm wondering if it's a reference to a specific group.
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What are the characteristics of המשכלים in Daniel 12?
I would like to know more about the word הַ֨מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים which I highlight in a bold face in the texts below.
Daniel 12:3 is
וְהַ֨מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים יַזְהִ֖רוּ כְּזֹ֣הַר הָרָקִ֑יעַ וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ ...
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Midpoint of each Sefer
I am looking for sources that tell what word, letter and verse is at the midpoint of each Sefer, meaning 5 midpoints if considering the Torah containing 5 books or if you want, 7 as the Talmud states ...
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"Earth" in Tanach
I am embarrassed to admit, I don't actually know the proper name for the planet we live on in Lashon HaKodesh, or if there even is one.
Maybe it is Ha'Aretz, which literally means "the land"....
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What's the difference in meaning between the words טעם and עילה?
In the introduction to Chovos Halevavos, R. Bachya (as translated by R. Yehuda Ibn Tibbon) writes:
מצות השמע שאין השכל מחייב בהם ולא דוחה אותם כאיסור בשר בחלב ושעטנז
וכלאים והדומה להם ממה שנעלמה ממנו ...
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How many times does the word "Chesed" (in singular or plural forms) appear in Tanach?
How many times does the word "Chesed" (in singular or plural forms) appear in Tanach? I've heard somewhere that the number is 248, but I cannot confirm this.
If it is 248, it would be an ...
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What is the difference between איל and עתוד?
במדבר ז יז - וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַ֒יִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתּוּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קׇרְבַּ֥ן נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָֽב׃ {פ}
And for his ...
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Why is there variation in number regarding entering the land?
In some situations, the Torah, when issuing a commandment regarding being in Israel uses the singular and in other cases, the plural:
Dev 26:1 -- וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־תָב֣וֹא אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
Bam 15:2 -- כִּ֣י ...
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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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לְךְ - what is this grammatical form?
Occasionally in a sefardi siddur, I see לְךְ. The first shva is a shva na, and the last is a shva nach. I always thought it was a typo but I keep seeing it now so I thought I'd ask a grammatical ...
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Hebrew texts (like the Torah) with IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transliteration of each term?
Is there a mapping of Hebrew terms in the Torah (or any other key Hebrew text like you'd find on Sefaria), to the IPA pronunciation? Ideally even there would be at least two transliterations, one to ...
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Why does the opening משנה in מסכת מגילה have a weird לשון?
The opening Mishna in Masechta Megilla reads as follows:
מְגִילָּה נִקְרֵאת בְּאַחַד עָשָׂר, בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה
עָשָׂר, בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר. לֹא פָּחוֹת, וְלֹא
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Why does the Mishna refer to Sunday as "after Shabbat"?
The Mishna in Megilla 1:2 uses varying terminology to refer to days of the week:
מְגִילָּה נִקְרֵאת בְּאַחַד עָשָׂר, בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר,
כֵּיצַד. חָל לִהְיוֹת יוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בַּשֵּׁנִי, ...
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Is it permitted to call Hashem, or a human (made in Hashem's image) an "it"?
I have heard it stated in shiurim, in response to the question of why do we refer to Hashem as "Him", one of the reasons is that it would be not kavodik (i.e. it would be dishonourable) to ...
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שים / תן חלקנו בתורתך
I've noticed that on Yom Tov, sefardi (edot mizrach) machzorim say תן but on Shabbat in siddurim, they say שים in the bracha of Yom Tov/Shabbat respectively (which are parallel).
Am I just not widely ...
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Why don't the birds get the bracha of פְּרוּ?
In the creation of the world when Hashem is creating fish and birds, the verse in Beresheit 1:22 says,"וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת־הַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים ...
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How are the concepts redemption and salvation related in Judaism?
Does the term salvation (or save, yeshua) encompass redemption (geula)? Does redemption concern harm or punishment has already occurred while salvation contemplates future possible future harm? Does ...
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Asking a shaila - not looking for a psak
How does one phrase a request for a Rabbi's opinion on a halachic matter so as not to receive a psak? Are there multiple acceptable expressions?
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What does 'Hashem's Countenance' mean?
What is countenance/פָּנָ֛יו? Face? Something more specific? What is the nimshal?
Always wondered. Thanks.
Apparently I need more words to post the question so, happy Purim everyone!
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Why do we repeat our intent in Musaf?
In the musaf for Shabbat we make the following plea about the future (loose translation mine):
שֶׁתַּעֲלֵנוּ בְשמְחָה לְאַרְצֵנוּ. וְתִטָּעֵנוּ בִּגְבוּלֵנוּ וְשָׁם נַעֲשה לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת קָרְבְּנות ...
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What is chiltis?
Something "sharp" for the purpose of reawakening taste in vessels which are "eino ben yomo" (ones that haven't been used for 24 hours), is a subject of dispute. According to the ...
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Bones and Essence
I believe the root of עֶצֶם/bone, and of עַצמוּת/essence, is the same.
Is there any discussion about metaphorical connections between bones and essence?
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Is there a name for the timeframe when a wife is permissible to her husband?
Is there a name for the time when a woman can have sex with her husband?
The Torah tells married couples not to have sex during the period of niddah, when she menstruates until right before the moment ...
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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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How do you interpret the expression עול בחיקו?
This is a metaphor used sometimes, such as in ואם הנהגה של רשע תהיה עול בחיקו של הצדיק למטה (R' Natan Nata Spira, 1585-1633, Megaleh Amukot al Iyov 34). I also read this expression in the R' Salman ...
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Vayimaen (וימאן) Connection
The word וימאן is mentioned 3 times in Sefer Bereishis
Where Yaakov refuses to be consoled over the supposed death of Yosef (37:35)
Where Yosef refuses the advancement of Eishes Potifar (39:8)
Where ...
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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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Madir vs Mudar vs Noder
What are the roles of מדיר / מודר / נודר when it comes to נדרים?
Originally I thought the Madir is the one who makes the Neder that makes an item forbidden,
The Mudar is the subject to whom the item ...
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The word Apikores
The Word אפיקרסין is mentioned in Yerushalmi Brachos (14-in old prints) to mean a robe. Also in Maseches Avel Rabasi perek 9 and 22. Also in Maseches tzitzis perek aleph.
This word is strikingly ...
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Is the Medrashic understanding at the Akeidah applied elsewhere?
In Bereisheet 22:2, Hashem commanded Avraham וְהַעֲלֵ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה to "raise [his son] up as a sacrifice." Rashi explains that the language was never that Hashem demanded an actual ...
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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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Is there a term used to refer to a certain passage from Shemot?
I’m wondering if this passage from Shemot 34:6 is referred to with a “title” or “name”, if you will. There are many variations of the English translation. I like the one below.
I very much love this ...
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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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Does Tractate Nedarim never mention the talmudic terminology 'Tanu Rabanan'?
I heard that Nedarim is rare as a Tractate in that it completely omits usage of the phrase Tanu Rabanan (its purpose being the introduction of a well known Baraisa, followed by an amoraic discussion).
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Is it wrong (or at least off) to refer to Judaism as a "faith"?
I teach Jewish Studies to primarily non-Jewish college students. One of my students referred to Judaism as a "faith." I associate the term "faith" with Christianity since it is ...
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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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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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Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch: "שמח" and "צומח"
In this question I brought a quote that I saw in Rabbi Twersky's The Enemy Within (Shaar Press: 2002) in his chapter entitled "Finding Joy in Life" (p.104):
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch ...
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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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Why do Chazal refer to the emergence of a baby from the womb as pesichas hakever
A term throughout Chazal is פתיחת הקבר, pesichas hakever, translated literally as the opening of the grave. For example, Niddah 21a. This term refers to the emergence of a fetus or baby from the womb (...
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In 1 Chronicles 27:25, what is the difference between a storehouse and a treasury?
The same word, אוֹצָר seems to be translated both ways.
1 Chronicles 27:25
And over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth the son of Adiel, and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, in ...
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The distinctions between different roots meaning "save"
Is there any source which explains the textual uses and disticntions between the following roots
פ-ד-ה
ה-צ-ל (is that the root?)
י-ש-ע
ג-א-ל
(and any other similar words, even including the Aramaic פ-...
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Source of the expression בית עולמים referring to the temple
Where does the term בית עולמים come from in reference to the Temple?
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How do I tell whether an "Efrati" is an Efraimite or someone from Efrat (i.e. Bethlehem)?
Sometimes an אֶפְרָתִ֜ means someone from the Tribe of Ephraim. It is certainly used that way in the context of the "Shibollet" story.
Other times, is means someone from Bethlehem. (Ruth) ...
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The word chaveir חבר
According to Jastrow, the word chaveir refers, sometimes to "associate, friend, partner (in sacrifices); colleague, fellow-student; fellow-being; of the same kind(also of things)" (via ...
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The Word נולד by Each Tribe
The Yalkut Shimoni uses the word נולד when each tribe was born:
ראובן נולד בי"ד בכסליו מת בן מאה חמשים וחמש שנים
שמעון נולד בכ"ח בטבת ומת בן מאה ועשרים שנה
לוי נולד בי"ו בניסן ומת בן ...
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Where to find references of words in the Tanach and other ancient texts? [duplicate]
I am interested in understanding the usage of some words in their biblical context, as the centuries have changed the meaning of some words. Given a word, for instance עולם, how might I find all ...
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