6.8. Hebrew Dictionary
A Shortlist of Hebrew words & terms with their meanings, to help you understand the studies linked to the Web Site of BIBLE REVELATIONS.
Hebrew transliterated words are listed in alphabetical order
If your search is based on an English word, use ‘Edit/Find’ search on your top Menu bar
Pronunciations appear in italics under each word, followed by the word meaning, in normal type face.
General
Ha – used as a prefix to a noun, meaning ‘the’. eg. Sefer = Book; HaSefer = the Book
B’ – used as a prefix to a noun, meaning ‘in’ or ‘on’ eg. B’Shana = in the year, B’Bayit = at home
V’ – used as a prefix meaning ‘and’
Mi – used as a prefix to a noun, meaning ‘from’. eg. Mi’aretz = from the earth;
Le’ – used as a prefix to a noun, meaning ‘to’.
A
Adonai – ‘A’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’; ‘o’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘ai’ as in ‘high’ accent on ‘nai’.
Lord (in reference to YHVH, the Creator God); Wherever the Name (Tetragrammaton – YHVH) appears in the Hebrew Scrolls, Jewish custom requires that ‘Adonai’ is pronounced rather than the Sacred Name
Aliyah – ‘A’ and ‘a’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’; ‘i’ as in ‘in, see’; ‘y’ as in ‘yes’; accent on ‘yah’
Immigration to Israel as a returning Jew or 10-Israelite (Ephraimite, Yosephite)
Almah – ‘A’ and ‘a’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’; accent on ‘A’
a young, unwed woman who has never has sexual relations with a man (cf. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 7:14)
Am – ‘A’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’.
(pl. Amim)- nation. ‘Am Yisrael’
Avinu – ‘A’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’; ‘i’ as in ‘in, see’; ‘u’ as in ‘you’; accent on ‘vin’.
Our Father
B
Ba’Midbar – ‘Ba’ as in ‘but’; ‘i’ as in ‘in’; ‘ bar’ short as in ‘Barcelonia’; accent on ‘Mid’.
the Book of Numbers, being the 4th word in the Book – “in the desert”
Bar-Mitzvah – ‘bar’ short as in ‘Barcelonia’; ‘Mitz’ as in ‘ditch’; ‘ah’ as in ‘father, harp, Ah!’; accent on ‘Mitz’
lit. ‘son of the Commandment’ – a Jewish boy’s becoming of age.(13)
Bat-Mitzvah – ‘bat’ as in ‘but’; ‘Mitz’ as in ‘ditch’; ‘a’ as in ‘dark’ ; accent on ‘Mitz’
lit. ‘daughter of the Commandment’ – a Jewish girl’s becoming of age.(12)
Beit Din – ‘Beit’ as in ‘straight’; ‘Din’ as in ‘dim‘.
the ruling authority of the Rabbinical court (controlling authority)
Beit El – ‘Beit’ as in ‘straight’; ‘El’ as in ‘sell’.
(Bethel) House of God
Beit HaMikdash (alt) Beis Hamikdosh – ‘Beit’ as in ‘straight’; ‘Ha’ as in harp’; ‘Mik’ as in ‘Dick’; ‘dash’ as in ‘gush’; accent on ‘Mik’.
The Holy Tempel in Jerusalem
Beit-Lechem – ‘Beit’ as in ‘straight’; ‘Le’ as in ‘lemon’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach’; ’em’ as in ‘lemon’; accent on ‘Lech’.
Bethlehem; house of bread; house of food
Bereisheet – ‘Berei’ as in ‘beret’; ‘sheet’ as in ‘sheet’; accent on ‘sheet’.
the Book of Genesis, being the 1st word “In the beginning”
Bracha (s) Brachot (pl) – ‘Bra’ as in ‘bravo’ – with ‘a’ as in harp”; ‘Brach’ as in ‘Bach’; final ‘a’ as in ‘harp. Ah!’; accent on final ‘a’. and ‘ot’ ; final ‘ot’ as in ‘short’.
Standard Blessings recited over food, before certain occasions and before Scripture readings. May also refer to the Blessings received from HaShem
Brit Chadasha – ‘it’ as in ‘it’; ‘Ch’ as in ‘Bach’; all ‘a”s as in ‘harp. Ah!’; accent on final ‘sha’.
The New Testament
C
Chag (s) chagim (pl) – ‘Ch’ as in ‘Bach’; ‘a’ as in ”harp. Ah!’; ‘g’ as in ‘ghoon’
Sacred Feast. There are seven Main and several minor Festivals.
Challah – ‘Ch’ as in ‘Bach’; ‘a’s as in ”harp. Ah!’; accent on ‘Cha’.
‘Show bread’ in the Temple, special bread on Sabbath meal tabel. the home before Pesach; forbidden to possess during the 8-day Festival of Pesach (Passover) and Chag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Chamets being symbolic of pride, impurity and lawlessness in the life of the individual
Chazan – ‘Ch’ as in ‘Bach’; ‘a’s as in ”harp. Ah!’; accent on ‘Cha’.
Cantor, person who leads the Synagogue Service in prayer and worship with chanting/vocalising/singing.
Chometz – ‘Ch’ as in ‘Bach’; ‘o’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘e’ as in ‘fetch’; accent on ‘Cho’.
leavened food, forbidden during Pesach. (opp) Matzah – unleavened bread
D
Davar – ‘Da’ as in ‘duck’; ‘var’ as in ‘Barcelona’;
Word. HaDavar – the Word
D’var Torah, Divrei Torah – ‘var’ as in ‘Barcelona’; ‘To’ as in ‘raw’; ‘ah’ as in ‘Ah! harp’; accent on ‘To’. ‘Div’ as in ‘dim‘; ‘rei’ as in ‘ray‘.
analytical essays and lessons based on Torah portion
Devarim – ‘De’ as in ‘dim‘; var’ as in ‘Barcelona’; ‘im’ as in seem’; accent on ‘im’.
the Book of Deutoronomy, being the 2nd word of the Book – “the words”
Devir – ‘De’ as in ‘dim‘; ‘vir’ as in read’;
The Most Holy section in the Temple
E
Echad – ‘E’ as in ‘end’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘ad’ as in ‘mud’; accent on ‘chad’.
One
Ekklesia – ‘E’ as in ‘end’; ‘kle’ as in ‘clean’; accent on ‘kle’.
Called out assembly (often mistranslated as ‘Church’)
El – God (in a sense of His power and Strength)
Eloah – accent on ‘lo’.’
God (He who is worshipped, or “the Living God”)
Eloheinu – Our God
Elohi – ‘hi’ as in ‘he’; accent on ‘hi’ .
My God
Elohim – accent on ‘him’.
Hebrew noun for ‘an object or personage of worship’. Used extensively in the Tanach for referring to YHVH the Creator and Guardian of Israel, in which case it is translated as ‘God’ – with capital ‘G’. The exact same Hebrew word is also used to refer to pagan idols or ‘gods’ (Exodus 20:3). Click here for comprehensive details re. The Sacred Name of God
Eliyahu – ‘i’ as in ‘it, see’; ‘ya’ as in ‘yard’; ‘hu’ as in who’; accent on ‘yah‘.’
Elijah; my God is Yah
Eretz Yisrael – all ‘e’s as in ‘end’; accent on first ‘e’.
Land of Israel
Erev – both ‘e’s as in ‘end’; accent on first ‘e’.
Eve or evening before, thus ‘Erev Shabbat’ (Friday evening – start or first part of the Biblical Shabbat); ‘Erev Pesach’ – the Eve of Passover, on which the Seder (Passover Meal) is partaken of. Refer also Motzei Shabbat
G
Galil – ‘Ga’ as in ‘garden’;
Galilee
Galuth – ‘Ga’ as in ‘garden’; ‘luth’ as in ‘loot” – but short.
The Exile of the Jews from the Land of Israel
Gamarrah – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘mar’.
Discussions on Mishnah found within the Talmud. Also pronounced ‘Gemorrah’
Geulah – ‘G’ as in ‘ghoon’; ‘eu’ as in ‘dual’, accent on ‘eu’.
Redemption, Return, Restoration of the 12-Tribed nation of Israel at/after ingathering from universal exile.
H
HaDavar – Refer ‘‘Davar’
The Word
Haftorah – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘rah’.
Section which is read from the Prophets, after the Torah portion has been read in the Synagogue Service.
Haggadah – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘gad’.
The story; the telling, the Pesach Prayer book, the order of the ceremony
Halacha – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘cha’.
lit. ‘The Way to Go’ – referring to Jewish Law, which is based on Biblical Divine Commandments and Statutes, Oral Torah, rabbinic legislation and enactments, and religious-judicial decisions handed down through the ages. A Code of religious acts to establish a mode of religious living. Halachic – pertaining to Halacha.
Hallel – ‘a’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘lel’ as in ‘sell’; accent on ‘lel’.
Praise section which forms part of the main Feasts Services
Har HaBeit – ‘a”s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘Beit’ as in ‘straight’; accent on ‘Beit’;
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
HaSatan – ‘a”s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘tan’.
The Adversary, Lucifer, satan, the devil.
HaShem – ‘a’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘Shem’ as in ‘hem’.
lit. The Name, a reverend reference to God, rather than using His Personal Name YHVH or His Title ‘God’
Hoshanna Rabba – ‘Ho’ as in in ‘door, war’; ‘a”s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘shan’ and ‘ba’.
the last day of the Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles), known as the Day of Great Deliverance
I
Ivri – ‘i’ as in ”if”; accent on first ‘I’.
One who crosses over; a Hebrew
Ivrit – ‘i’ as in ”if”; accent on first ‘I’.
The Hebrew language
K
Kahal (alt. Qahal) – a’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘hal’ as in ‘dull’; accent on ‘Ka’.
congregation
Kidush – ‘i’ as in ‘it’, ‘dush’ as in ‘push’; accent on ‘Ki’.
Blessing, mostly done over wine for special occasions, events or pronouncements.
Kaddish – ‘a’ as in ‘harp, Ah!’ ; ‘dish’ as in ‘dish’; accent on ‘Ka’.
Mourner’s prayer.
Kituvim – ‘Ki’ as in ‘kit’; ‘tu’ as in ‘to’; ‘vim’ as in ‘seem’ ; accent on ‘vim’.
Sacred writings. The first letter of this word is a ‘kaf’. Sometimes also pronounced ‘Chaf’ (i.e. as in Bach) as in Hebrew word Tanach. The first letter of Kituvim forms part of the acronym for ‘Tanach’ (O.T.) Refer ‘Tanach’.
Kohein (s) Kohanim (pl) – Temple Priest; those of Levite descendancy
M
Mattityahu – ‘Ma’ as in ‘ Mars’; ‘tit’ as in ‘it’; ‘ya’ as in ‘yard’; ‘hu’ as in who’; accent on ‘yah’.
Matthew; the book of Matthew; my gift from Yah; gift from my Yah
Melech –‘e’ s as in ‘end’ ; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; accent on ‘Mel’.
King
Malchut – ‘Ma’ as in ‘ Mars’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘ut’ as in ‘put’. accent on ‘chut’.
Kingdom
Matzah – ‘Mat’ as in ‘but’; ‘tz’ as in ‘tzeina’, accent on ‘Mat’.
Unleavened bread, emblem of the Feast of Pesach. (Opp) – Chometz which is forbidden during Pesach
Megillot – ‘Me’ as in ‘melon’; ‘gi’ as in ‘guilt’; accent on ‘gi’.
Scrolls; the books of Shir haShirim, Ruth, Eikhah, Kohelet, and Ester
Menorah – 6 to 8 – branched candelabrum used in the Home, synagogue and Temple.
Mezuzah – ‘zu’ as in ‘zoo’; accent on ‘zu’.
A small handwritten scroll encased in a small container and affixed to the doorpost, with the words of the Shema, as a reminder of the Oneness of God and man’s duty to keep His Law.
Midrash – ‘Mi’ as in ‘mig’ (plane); ‘rash’ as in ‘rush’; accent on ‘Mid’.
Stories and parables that may or may not be true, but the moral or Biblical lesson learned is very true; one of several collections of Biblical interpretations by some of the wisest of Jewish sages
Mincha – ‘Mi’ as in ‘mig’ (plane); ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘a’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp’; accent on ‘Min’.
one of the three daily Synagogue services; i.e. the Afternoon Service
Mishnah – ‘Mi’ as in ‘mig’ (plane); ‘nah’ as in ‘but’;
Rabbinic commentaries to the legal code found in the Tanakh; includes arguments of the sages; the Oral Torah
Mitzrayim – ‘ray’ as in ‘eye’; accent on ‘Mitz’.
The land of Egypt
Mitzvah (s) Mitzvot (pl) Mitzvos (alt) – Commandment, Divine Instruction or Law
Moshe – ‘o’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘she’ as in ‘yes’; accent on ‘she‘.
Moses; ‘drawn out’, as ‘out of water’
Motzei Shabbat – ‘o’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘tzei’ as in ‘tray’; accent on ‘tzei‘.
lit. ‘The outgoing of Shabbat’, i.e. Saturday evening after the end of Shabbat at sunset on Saturday.
N
Na’vi (s) – ‘Na’ as in ‘nut’; ‘vi’ as in ‘be’; accent on ‘vi’.
Nivi’im (pl) – ‘Ni’ as in ‘knit’; ‘vi’ as in ‘in’; ‘im’ as in ‘seem’; accent on ‘im‘.
prophet
O
Ohr Bahir – ‘Ohr’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘Ba” as in ‘bar’; ‘hi’ as in ‘he’
Lit. ‘Light eluminating‘ – To use the teachings of the Hidden Torah to illuminate the events that are unfolding before our very eyes; to focus on issues which give us a glimpse of how glimmers of the Concealed Light are being revealed right here, right now.
Omer – ‘O’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘mer’ as in ‘bear’; accent on ‘O’.
Wave sheaf, new harvest grain offering. ‘Counting the Omer’ = counting the 50 days from the Festival of Peasach to the Feast of Shavuot.
P
Parashah – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘shah’.
Scripture portion from the Torah
Parashat HaShavuah – The prescribed weekly Torah portion read on Shabbat
Passuk (Passukim, pl.) – ‘Pa’ as in ‘pass’; ‘suk’ as in ‘took”; accent on ‘suk’.
Verse (verses)
Pesach – ‘Pe’ as in ‘pest’; ‘sach’ as in ‘Bach‘
Pass Over Feast, commemorating Exodus from Egypt, falling in the 1st month of Jewish Calendar (Mch/Apr).
Pikuach Nefesh – ‘Pik’ as in ‘pick’; ‘u’ as in ‘you’; ‘ach’ as in ‘Bach’, accent on ‘ku’. — ‘e’s as in ‘get’; accent on ‘Ne’.
A matter of life and death
Q
Qahal – See ‘Kahal’
R
Rosh Chodesh – ‘Rosh’ as in ‘gosh’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘o’ as in ‘door, war’; ‘esh’ as in the letter ‘S’; accent on ‘Cho’.
New Moon, start of the new month.
Rosh HaShanah – ‘Rosh’ as in ‘gosh’; ‘a’ s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘nah‘.
Feast on the 1st day of 7th Biblical month, traditionally became the Jewish New Year. ‘Feast of Trumpets’. Also: Yom Teruah
Ruach HaKodesh – ‘u’ as in ‘you’; ‘ach’ as in ‘Bach’, accent on ‘Ko‘.
The Holy Spirit of the Eternal Most High, God of Israel
S
Seder – ‘Sed’ as in said’; accent on ‘Sed‘.
Order of things; the Pesach meal/service order.
Sedrah, Sidrah – ‘Sed’ as in said’; ‘Si’ as in ‘sick’; accent on 1st sylable.
Portion of the Torah
Sefer (s) Sefarim (pl) – ‘Sef’ as in said’;
Book
Shabbat (alt) Shabbos – 7th Day of the week, Divinely ordained Rest Day (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset)
Shabbat HaGadol – ‘a’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘Ga’ as in ‘garden’; accent on ‘dol’.
The Shabbat preceding Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol (the Great Shabbat)
Shaddai – ‘Sha’ as in ‘chandelier’; ‘dai’ as in ‘high’; accent on ‘dai’.
God (the Almighty)
Shachrit – ‘Sha’ as in ‘chandelier’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘rit’ as in ‘Rita’; accent on ‘Sha’.
Morning Service – one of the three daily Synagogue services;
Shaliach – ‘Sha’ as in ‘chandelier’; ‘lia’ as in ‘Lea’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; accent on ‘Sha’.
One who is sent; emissary, apostle
Shavuot – ‘Sha’ as in ‘chandelier’; ‘vu’ as in ‘voodoo’; ‘ot’ as in ‘rot’; accent on ‘Sha’.
Feast of Weeks, ‘Pentecost’, occurring 50 days after Pesach – Giving of the Law. Also plural of ‘week’
Shekhinah – ‘kh’ as in ‘Bach’; ‘inah’ as in the name ‘Ina’; accent on ‘khi’.
The ‘shining Presence’ or Glory of the Spirit of the Most High which was present in the Most Holy Sector of the Temple in Jerusalem, indicating the Presence of the Most High amongst or with His People.
Shemah – accent on ‘mah’
Deut. 6:4, Jewish foundational Statement of Faith viz. “God is One”, not dual or triune
Shemini Atzeret – All ‘e’s as in ‘end’; all ‘i’s as in ‘is’; ‘A’ as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; accent on ‘She’ and on ‘tze’
The Last Great Day, 8th day of Succot, Concludes the annual Jewish Feasts Cycle.
Shir haShirim – All ‘i’s as in ‘he’; accent on ‘rim’.
The book of Song of Songs
Sod – Secret or mysterious level of Scriptural understanding
Shmot – the Book of Exodus, being the 2nd word of the Book, viz. “the names”
Shochet – ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘et’ as in ‘bet’; accent on ‘Sho’
Jewish slaughterman, educated and experienced in the precise rules and regulations concerning Jewish ritual slaughter of the non-forbidden meats.
Shofar – accent on ‘far’
Ram’s horn (trumpet) blown on Feast days and special occasions
Shomron – Samaria
Succot – ‘Suc’ as in ‘took’; accent on ‘Su’.
Feast of Tabernacles, from 14th of 7th month, for 8 days. Joyous Feast.
T
Tallit – ‘Ta’ as in ‘tuck’; ‘lit’ as in ‘it’; accent on ‘Ta’.
Prayer Shawl used by Jewish males to wrap around their bodies during prayer.
Talmid – ‘Ta’ as in ‘tuck’; ‘mid’ as in ‘seed’ but short; accent on ‘Ta’.
Disciple, pupil
Talmud – ‘Ta’ as in ‘tuck’; ‘u’ as in ‘you’; accent on ‘Tal‘.
A wealth of informative writings, commentaries and interpretations from ancient Jewish sages, which includes the Mishnah and the Gamara
Tanach – ‘a’s as in ‘ Ah! Harp, father’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; accent on ‘nach’.
the Hebrew word for what is generally the ‘Old Testament’. It is an acronym for
| T – N – CH = Torah (first five books of Instruction (Law); Nivi’im (Prophets) and Chituvim (Writings, sacred writings). Ref. Kituvim |
Tephillin – ‘Te’ as in ‘tent’; ‘phil’ as in ‘feel’; ‘lin’ as in ‘lean’; accent on ‘phil’.
Prayer phylacteries, consisting of small black boxes strapped to the forehead (next to the brain) and left arm (next to the heart, during Morning Prayers, each containing small scrolls of parchment enscribed with the Shema and 3 other Torah passages as a reminder of the Oneness of God, His Presence and man’s obligation to observe all His Commandments.
Teshuvah – Te’ as in ’till’; ‘shu’ as in ‘shoe’; ‘vah’ as in ‘Ah!’; accent on ‘shu’.
Repentance, To make Teshuvah = to repent
Torah – ‘Tor’ as in ‘more’; ‘ah’ as in ‘Ah!’; accent on ‘Tor’.
The Law of God as recorded in the first five Books of the Bible – Gen., Exod., Lev. Numb., Deut.
Tzadick – ‘a’ as in ‘Ah!’; accent on ‘Tza’.
A righteous person, one who observes the Laws of Torah
Tzitzit (alt) Tzitzis – ‘i’s as in ‘it’.
Tassles or fringes attached to the Tallit (Prayer Shawl) or to four cornered garments worn daily by religious Jews under their shirts and not only for prayer.
V
Va’Yikrah – ‘Va’ as in ‘vase’; ‘i’ as in ‘ls’; ‘rah’ as in ‘far’; accent on ‘Yi’.
The Book of Leviticus, being the first word of the Book “and called” (God)
Y
Yachid – ‘Ya’ as in ‘Yahoo’; ‘ch’ as in ‘Bach‘; ‘i’ as in ‘be’; acceent on ‘chid’.
“as one”
Yom HaZikaron – Day of Remembrance
Yom Kippur – ‘u’ as in ‘you’; accent on ‘pur’.
Feast on 10th day of 7th month, Day of Atonement (Judgement). Day. of fasting.
Yom Teruah – See ‘Rosh HaShanah’
Yom Tov – Alt. term for Chag (Feast Day). Lit. ‘Good Day’ – used as a parting greeting ‘have a good day!’