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TRANSLITERATED HEBREW GLOSSARY

Transliterated Hebrew uses our alphabet and typical phonics to provide Hebrew pronunciation to non-Hebrew reading people.

  • Abba
    • An affectionate way to say father
    • dear father or daddy
  • Acharit HaYamim
    • The end of the days
    • The end times when the Olam Hazeh comes to a close and the Olam Haba is about to begin.
  • Adam
    • The first man
    • generically "man" or "human"
  • Adar
    • Sixth month of Hebrew civil calendar: February-March.
  • Adonai
    • My Lord, Lord of all
    • Spoken by Jewish people instead of God's personal name YHVH ("Jehovah or Yahweh").
  • Adonai EloheiTzva'ot
    • Lord God of Hosts
  • Adonai Eloheinu
    • Lord our God
  • Adonai Elohim
    • The Lord God
  • Afikoman(al. Afikomen)
    • Half of the central matzah broken off and put away at the beginning of the meal
    • Greek word meaning that which comes after or "dessert".
    • It is represented in a broken piece of matzah wrapped in linen and buried (hidden).
    • This piece of the ceremonial matzah is the final thing eaten at the Passover seder meal.
  • Aggadah(al. Agada, Agadah) pl. Agadot
    • Stories
    • Parables
  • Alef
    • The first letter of the Hebrew Alef-Beyt (alphabet)
  • Al Netilat Yadayim
    • The blessing over the washing of hands before the meal.
  • Aliyah pl. Aliyot
    • Literally: going up.
    • To "have an aliyah" refers to the honor of being called up to the bimah to recite or chant the blessings over the Torah.
    • To "make aliyah" or "go on aliyah" means to immigrate to Israel.
  • Amen
    • It is true, so be it, may it become true.
  • Amidah
    • Standing prayer, quietly murmured, that is part of each daily service in the synagogue, alternatively called the Tefillah or the Shemoneh Esre.
  • Apocrypha
    • A Greek adjective in the neuter plural (from apokruphos, “hidden, concealed”) denotes strictly “things concealed.”
    • Old Testament Apocrypha, specifically the fourteen books written after the Old Testament canon was closed and which, being the least remote from the canonical books, laid strongest claim to canonicity.
    • The body of Jewish literature written between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D., not included in the canon of the Hebrew Bible.
  • Aravah pl. Aravot
    • Willow branch taken as one of the four species on the Feast of Tabernacles. Arba'ah Minim (al. the Four Species) - Palm, myrtle, willow and citron; another name for the lulav and etrog together, used on Sukkot.
  • Ariel
    • Lion of God
    • Fireplace on God's altar
  • Aron haKodesh
    • Literally: the Holy Ark.
    • The special cabinet in which the Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue
    • The Holy Ark is called Heichal in Sephardic synagogues.
  • Aseret Yemei Teshuvah
    • The ten days of penitence.
  • Ashkenazi pl. Ashkenazim
    • Referring to Jews of Central and Eastern European origin.
  • Athid Lavo
    • The coming age.
  • Atzeret
    • Conclusion
    • Used for concluding observance of festival.
    • Word derived from "gathering" or "detention," original meanings.
    • Shemini Atzeret is concluding day of Sukkoth.
    • Atzeret is Talmudic term for Shavuot, conclusion of Omer count.
    • A festive gathering for the conclusion of a festive season, a concluding feast.
  • Av
    • Eleventh month of Jewish year.
  • Avinu
    • our father
  • Avinu Malkenu
    • Literally: our Father, our King.
    • A prayer of supplication recited on Yom Kippur.
    • A prayer said on the Days of Penitence and fast days.
  • Aviv
    • Also called Abib.
    • Nisan was known as Aviv/Abib prior to Babylonian captivity
  • Ayin
    • 16th letter of the Hebrew alef-beit (alphabet)
  • Azarah pl. Azarot
    • The Temple Courtyard.
    • Ezrat Nashim - the outer Courtyard in the Sanctuary.
  • Azazel
    • scapegoat
    • Goat sent into the wilderness signifying removal of the nation's sins
  • Bar / Bat (al. Bas) Mitzvah
    • Literally: son / daughter of the commandment.
    • Ceremony marking a youngster's reaching the age of religious majority, traditionally thirteen for boys and twelve for girls; in many congregations, thirteen for girls as well.
  • Baruch
    • Bless, blessed
  • Beit HaMikdash (al. Bayt, Bet)
    • House of Sanctity; synagogue.
    • The sanctuary or Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Beit Lechem
    • Bethlehem
    • House of bread
    • Birthplace of Yeshua and King David.
  • Betzah
    • Roasted egg, a symbol for the second sacrifice of Passover.
  • Beyt (Beit, Beth)
    • The second letter of the Hebrew Alef-Beyt (alphabet)
  • Bikkurim (al. Bikurim)
    • The Offering of the First Fruit.
    • Barley harvest
    • First fruit
  • Bimah
    • The raised platform in the synagogue from which the Torah is read and from which worship services are usually conducted.
    • The platform is called tevah in Sephardic synagogues.
    • Reader's stand in synagogue.
  • Binyamin (Benjamin)
    • One of Jacob's (Ya'akov) 12 sons
    • One of the 12 Tribes of Israel
    • The Name means "son of the right hand"
  • Birkat haChodesh
    • The blessing of the New Moon.
  • Birkat haMazon
    • Benediction over food; grace after meals.
  • B'rakhah, B'rakhot
    • Blessing(s), Benediction(s)
  • B'rit
    • Covenant, Contract
  • B'rit Hadashah
    • Renewed Covenant, New Testament
    • B'rit Chadasha/Hadashah
      • Gospel
        • Mattityahu (Matthew)
        • Mark
        • Luke
        • Yochanan (John)
      • Acts
      • Epistles (Letters)
        • Romans
        • 1st/2nd Corinthians
        • Galatians
        • Ephesians
        • Philippians
        • Colossians
        • 1st/2nd Thessalonians
        • 1st/2nd Timothy
        • Titus
        • Phelemon
        • Ibrim (Hebrews)
        • Ya'akov (James)
        • Kefa Alef/Beit (1st/2nd Peter)
        • Yochanan Alef/Beit/Gimel (1st/2nd/3rd John)
        • Y'hudah (Jude)
      • Revelation
  • C.E.
    • Common Era (same as A.D.).
  • Challah
    • Egg bread
    • Used for Shabbat blessing
  • Chametz
    • Leavening
    • Yeast, baking powder, mixes with a leavening agent, bread and bread crumbs.
    • Literally sour
    Chanukkah
    • Hanukah, Hanukkah, Chanukah
    • dedication
    • name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 BCE.
  • Chanukiah
    • an eight- branched menorah
  • Cohen or cohenim
    • Priest or priests
  • Cohen HaGadol
    • The High Priest
  • Derech(Der-REK)
    • Way, Path, Journey.
    • Custom
  • Diaspora
    • Dispersion of the Jewish people from Israel
    • Dispersion of the houses of Judah and Ephraim from Israel
  • Eloheinu (al.Elohinu or Elohenu)
    • Our God
  • Elohim
    • God
    • gods, judges
  • El Shaddai
    • God Almighty
  • Eretz Yisra'el
    • The Land of Israel
  • Etrog
    • A fruit, usually a citron
    • Used during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
  • Gulgolta
    • Hill called the Skull on which Yeshua was crucified
    • Sometimes refered to as Calgary
    • Some believe this to be Mt.Moriah, the site of Avraham/Abraham's 'sacrifice' of Yitz'chak/Isaac
  • Hadas
    • A myrtle branch
    • Used during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
  • Haftarah or Hatarah
  • Weekly readings from the Nevi`im(Prophets)
  • Readings selected by sages durring the time when Torah reading was forbidden
  • Nevi'im reading selected to remind one of the Torah reading
    •
  • Haggadah/Haggadot
    • Hebrew for "the telling"
    • Named from the Lord's command "tell your son/show your son" in Shemot/Exodus 13:8
    • Book which relates the Passover story through readings, songs, prayers, foods, in the traditional prescribed order (Seder) around the meal
    • There are Haggadot posted online or avilable through bookstores...write the developers of this site developers@derech.org if you have any questions or would like some suggested links.
  • Hag Hakatzir
    • The Feast of Weeks
    • the official beginning of the summer heavest season (wheat crop specifically)
    • Shavuot
  • Hag HaMatzot
    • The feast of unleavened bread
  • Hallel
    • Refers to the passages contained in Tehilliim/Psalms 113-118
  • Ha satan
    • The adversary
    • The evil one
    • Satan
    • The devil
  • HaShem
    • The Name
    • Respectfully refers to the Name of God - YHVH
    • YHVH - the Tetragramaton - "Yud, Hey, Vey, Hey"
  • Havdalah
    • Separation
    • The ceremony at the end of Shabbat marking the beginning of the next week.
  • Hoshana Rabbah
    • The last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles
    • The day of the water drawing ceremony.
  • Hosheanah
    • Save now
    • Hosanna
  • K'tuvim
  • Writings
  • Books of the Bible known as the Writings
  • Tehillim (Psalms)
  • Mishlei (Proverbs)
  • Iyov (Job)
  • The Five Megillot (Scrolls)
  • Shir-HaShirim (Song of Songs)
  • Rut (Ruth)
  • Eikhah (Lamentations)
  • Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)
  • Ester (Esther)
    •
  • Dani'el (Daniel)
  • 'Ezra (Ezra)
  • Nechemyah (Nehemiah)
  • Divrei-HaYamim Alef/Beit (1st/2nd Chronicles)
    •
  • Lulav
    • A palm branch
    • Used during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
  • Mattityahu
    • Matthew
    • The Book of Matthew.
  • Matzah or Matzot
    • A flat bread made without adding leavening(yeast or baking powder..., a substance that makes the bread rise)
    • Called the 'bread of affliction'
  • Mashiach
    • Messiah, Christ.
    • Anointed, an anointed one
  • Megillah or Megillot
    • Scroll or book
    • Typically refers to the Book of Esther
    • Five scrolls: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther
  • Melech
    • King
  • Menorah or Menorot
    • Seven- or eight-branched candelabrum; people commonly refer to an eight- branched Chanukkiah as a menorah...the Lamp of the Sanctuary.
  • Mishkan
    • The Tabernacle
  • Mishpakhah
  • Family
    •
  • Mitzrayim
    • Hebraic equivilent of "Egypt."
    • Spiritually, a picture of the world and the world's system
  • Mitzvah or Mitzvot
    • Command or commandment.
    • Principle for living, good deed.
    • Instructions
  • Nevi'im
  • Prophets
  • Books of the Bible known as Prophets
  • Former Prophets (Historical)
  • Y'hoshua (Joshua)
  • Shof'tim (Judges)
  • Sh'mu'el Alef/Beit (1st/2nd Samuel)
  • M'lakhim Alef/Beit (1st/2nd Kings)
    •
  • Latter Prophets (Predicitive)
  • Yesha'yahu (Isaiah)
  • Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah)
  • Yechezk'el (Ezekiel)
  • The Minor Prophets (The Twelve)
  • Hoshea (Hosea)
  • Yo'el (Joel)
  • 'Amos (Amos)
  • 'Ovadyah (Obadiah)
  • Yonah (Jonah)
  • Mikhah (Micah)
  • Nachum (Nahum)
  • Havakuk (Habakkuk)
  • Tz'fanyah (Zephaniah)
  • Hagai (Haggai)
  • Z'kharyah (Zechariah)
  • Mal'akhi (Malachi)
    •
  • Olam Haba
    • The world to come.
    • The age to come.
  • Olam Hazeh
    • The present age
  • Pascal Lamb
    • The lamb selected for the Pesach/Passover sacrifice
  • Pharaoh
    • King of Egypt
    • Considered a god by Egyptians
  • P'rushim or Parush
    • Pharisees
    • Religious leaders
  • Parokhet
    • Curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Beit HaMikdash
  • Pesach
    • Passover
    • Memorializes the night when the Hebrews were protected by the blood of lambs
    • Memorializes the night when God's people were redeemed by the blood of The Lamb
    • One of 3 pilgrim festivals to Jerusalem
  • Pilgrim Festival/Feast
    • Three times a year, the Israelites, according to the instructions of the Torah, went in joyous celebration to Jerusalem.
    • Three feasts/festivals observed during this time are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
    • Shalosh Regalim
  • Purim
    • Lots
    • The observed day usually in March commemerating the deliverance of God's people
    • The beginning of the Passover season; a time of teshuvah
  • Rosh Chodesh
    • New Moon
    • New Month
    • The head of the month
    • The beginning of the month
  • Rosh Hashannah
    • Head (Start) of the Civil Year
    • Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
  • Ruach HaKodesh
    • The Holy Spirit
  • Seder (SAY-der)
    • Hebrew word meaning "set order"
    • Generally refers to the order of observing the Pesach
  • Sefirah
    • Hebrew word for counting .
  • S'firat HaOmer
    • Counting the Omer
    • Period of 50 days from Yom HaBikkurim until Shavuot
  • Shabbat
    • Sabbath.
    • Rest, cease.
    • God's appointed day of rest, a holy convocation.
    • The seventh day of the week.
    • Known today as Saturday.
  • Shabbat HaGadol (Hah - gah - DOL)
    • The GREAT SHABBAT
    • Preceeds Pesach
    • The selection of the lambs
    • Yeshua's triumphant ride into Jerusalem
  • Shabbat HaHodesh (Hah - khoo - DESH)
    • The fourth Shabbat of the Purim sequence
    • Preceedes the new year
  • Shabbat Parah (Pah - RAH)
    • The third Shabbat of the Purim sequence
    • The ordinance of the Red Heifer (B'Midbar/Numbers 19:1-22)
    • Purification before the feasts of Pesach/Hag HaMatzot
  • Shabbat Zachor (Zah - Khor)
  • The first Shabbat of the Purim sequence
    •
  • Shalosh Regalim (Sha - LOSH Re - GA - lim)
    • Pilgrim festival
    • Three times a year, the Israelites, according to the instructions of the Torah, went in joyous celebration to Jerusalem.
    • Three feasts/festivals observed during this time are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
  • Shammash or Shamash
    • servant
    • term for the ninth candle used to light the other candles in the Chanukiah ... the beadle in the Synagogue.
  • Shavuot (sl.Shavuah)
    • Literally weeks
    • The feast of Weeks
    • Pentecost (50 days)
    • The 50th day from Yom Habikkurim.
    • Memorializes the giving of the 10 commandments.
    • Memorializes the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in Acts 2.
    • One of 3 pilgrim festivals.
  • Shemini Atzeret
    • The Eighth Day assembly of Sukkot.
  • Shofar
    • A rams horn trumpet.
    • Used as warning, call to arms, and in celebration.
  • Simchat Torah
    • The day of rejoicing the Torah
  • S'lihot
    • Liturical prayers of teshuvah
  • Sukkot
    • The Feast of Tabernacles
    • Booth, temporary dwelling
    • One of 3 pilgrim feasts
  • Synagogue
    • A place constructed/fully dedicated for gathering and studying
    • After the destruction of the Temple, synagogues became a place of corporate worship.
  • Tahor
    • Rittually pure
    • Able to enter the Beit HaMikdash or Mishkan
  • Talmid, fem. Talmidah, pl. Talmidim
    • Disciple, student
  • Tam'ei
    • Rittually unpure
    • Not able to enter the Beit HaMikdash or Mishkan
  • T'fillin
    • Two black leather boxes containing scrolls of Scripture passages
      • Exodus 13:1-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21
    • Sometimes during prayers, one box is affixed to one's hand and arm and the other to one's forehead as a physical effort to obey the passage in Deuteronomy 6:8
    • Also called phylacteries
  • Tehillim
    • Psalms
  • Teshuvah
    • Return
    • Turning toward God
    • Repentance
  • Tisha B'Av
    • 9th of the month of Av
    • Day of fasting for the destruction of the temple
  • Tishrei
    • First month of the Hebrew civil calendar: September-October.
  • Tohorat Mishpakhah
  • Family Purity
    •
  • Torah
    • Teaching or instruction but usually translated 'law'. The Instruction of God.
    • In a narrow sense the Five Books of Moshe(Moses), the Pentateuch - B'resheet, Sh'mot, Vayikra, B'midbar, D'varim (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), called the Written Torah.
    • The above plus the Prophets(Nevi`im) and Writings(K'tuvim) is together called the Tanakh (TNK)/Tenach or the Hebrew Bible.
    • In a broad sense the whole Written Word of God is the Torah, to include what is called the "Old Testament" (Tanakh) as well as the New Testament (B'rit Chadashah).
    • note: additional material called the "Oral Torah" is considered in varying degrees as authoritative in Judaism.
    • Uncapitalized can be understood as principle.
  • Yahweh
    • YHVH or YHWH
    • Tetragrammatron (the four Hebrew letters usually transliterated YHWH or YHVH that form a biblical proper name of God)
    • God the Father
  • Yerushalayim (yeh - ru - sha - LAH - yeem)
    • Jerusalem
    • The city of our God
    • Capital of  Eretz Yisra'el- the Land of Israel
    •
    • Yeshua
      • Jesus - brought over into Greek as "Iesous" and into English as "Jesus"
      • It means God saves - which is "Yah is my salvation"
      • Variant of "Y'hoshua" (Joshua)
      • Yahshua
      • Y'shua
    • Yom Habikkurim
      • The Day of First Fruits
      • Barley harvest
      • The day from which we start counting the Omer 50 days to Shavuot (Pentecost)
    • Yom Kippur
      • The Day of Atonement
      • The Great Fast
    • Yom Teruah
      • The Day of the Awakening Blast
      • The Feast of Trumpets
    • Yud
      • The 10th and smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet (aleph-bet).

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