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ב״ה
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(Isaiah 2:3)

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Shofar

A Glossary of
Unfamiliar Terms
Compiled from numerous source documents

Ten Commandments Tablets
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Abbreviations Used In This Glossary

abbr. = abbreviated

alt. = alternate

Ar. = Aramaic

esp. = especially

Gr. = Greek

Heb. = Hebrew

lit. = literally

n. = noun

pl. = plural

pron. = pronounced

prop. = properly

sg. = singular

usu. = usually

v. = verb

Yid. = Yiddish

Transliteration/Pronunciation GuideBooks of the Bible
Proper NamesTribes of IsraelThe Mishnah

For more Hebrew words and phrases, you might
enjoy John Parsons’ Hebrew4Christians.com

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H  h

ha
the definite article “the” (Hebrew and Aramaic do not use the indefinite articles “a” or “an”). When transliterating from Hebrew or Aramaic into English there are several forms commonly used:

(1) the article is added to the beginning of the word with no other indication: haaretz

(2) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and the word is capitalized: haAretz

(3) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and both words are capitalized: HaAretz

(4) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and a hyphen is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha-aretz

(5) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and an apostrophe is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha’aretz
 

haAcharon
the last
 
haAlmavet
immortal
 
haAra
insight
 
haAretz
the earth
 
haAretz haHavtacha
the Promised Land
 
haAretz harishonah
the first earth
 
haAryeh
The Lion
 
haAsarah
The Ten
 
haAv
the Father
 
haAzinu, the Song of
a portion of Deuteronomy
 
habah b’basar
has come in bodily flesh
 
haBatzek
the dough (see Pesach Haggadah)
 
haBechor
firstborn
 
haBen
the Son
 
haBo’re
the Creator
 
haBri’ah
the Creation
 
haChayyot
the living beings
 
hachitzon
the outer one
 
hachnosas orchim
hospitality
 
hachrazah
proclamation; kyrygma; preaching
 
hadar
majesty; splendor
 
hadas
a myrtle branch taken as one of the four species during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
 
HaDerek ($rdh)
“The Way” (of Yeshua), the name of the Messianic branch of Judaism, which in the first century was considered as much a part of mainline Judaism as were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Herodians. HaDerek was never not called “Christianity” by its followers. Constantine merged much of Messianic Judaism into the Roman version of the Babylon Mystery Religion to create what he called Christianity in the early fourth century of the common era.
 
hadlakah
bonfire
 
hadom
footstool
 
hador hazeh
this generation
 
HaEmes
(alt. HaEmet) the Truth
 
HaEmes Hashem
(alt. HaEmet Hashem) Truth of God
 
Haftorah
(alt. Haftarah) weekly readings from the Nevi’im (Prophets), selected by sages during the time when Torah reading was forbidden, read or chanted after the weekly Torah portion during the synagogue service on Sabbath and holidays. Nevi’im reading selected to remind one of the Torah reading (pl. Haftarot)
 
Hag Hakatzir
the Feast of Weeks. The official beginning of the summer harvest season (wheat crop specifically). Shavuot
 
Hag haMatzah
Feast of Unleavened Bread
 
haGadol
The great
 
hagah
murmur (in either pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter
 
Hagbah
the lifting of the Torah scroll and displaying it to the congregation. On Simchat Torah, when we celebrate finishing and beginning the Torah, we also have the most difficult Hagbah. The Torah is a scroll and therefore when it is finished or started all the weight is on one side.
 
Hagbalah
Days of Abstinence
 
haGedulah
greatness
 
haGefen
fruit of the vine
 
haGevurah
might
 
Haggadah
(alt. Hagadah, Agada, Agadah, Aggadah) “the telling.” Named from the Lord’s command “tell your son/show your son” in Shemot/Exodus 13:8. A book which relates the Passover story through readings, songs, prayers, foods, in the traditional prescribed order (Seder) around the meal. A general Hebrew term for utterance, applied specifically to the nonlegal portion of rabbinic literature. It is also the title of the text recited at the festive meal (seder) on the first two nights of Passover … Literally: telling; book in which the Passover story is retold and the seder ritual is outlined … the tale of the Exodus from Egypt as read at the Seder Night (pl. Haggadot) (adjective, Haggadic)
 
Haggadali
the book that sets forth and explains the seder service
 
haggigah
(alt. hagigah, chagigah, chaggigah) the festival offering; the other sacrifices offered in the Temple in addition to the Paschal lamb; . a sacrifice offered on the eve of Pilgrim Festivals
 
Hagomel
a blessing of thanksgiving for deliverance from perils
 
ha'Ir
the City
 
haKadosh
the Holy One
 
haKadosh Baruch Hu
the Holy One, Blessed Be He
 
Hakafah
carrying of the Torah scrolls in a procession around the sanctuary … the circling of the Altar in the Sanctuary or the Bimah in the Synagogue (pl. Hakafot)
 
hakarat todah
gratitude
 
hakehillot
the congregations
 
haKeru’im
the summoned/called ones
 
haKetz
the End
 
hakhchashah
denial
 
Hak-heyl
assemble-ceremony of reading parts of Torah every seventh Sukkot
 
hakhnasah
income
 
halakah
(alt. halakhah, halachah, chalakah) the “walk” or way one goes; the word for Jewish law, or for the legal and regulatory portions of Torah and of the Talmud, and of all Jewish lore
 
Halakah Lemoshe Misinai
(alt. Halachah, Chalakah) an oral Law supposedly given to Moshe on Sinai and not written explicitly in the Torah
 
Halakhic
of or related to Halakhah
 
Hallel
(alt. Halel) praise, a prayer of praise; special psalms of praise recited or sung on the festivals … specifically the passages contained in Tehilliim (Psalms) 113-118 (see Great Hallel)
 
hama’amin
the believer
 
HaMabbul
the Flood
 
haMakkot
plagues
 
Hamantashen
filled three-cornered pastries supposed to represent Haman’s hat, traditionally eaten on Purim
 
haMat`eh
the Deceiving One
 
haMavdil
the blessing of Havdalah
 
haMechokak
Law-Giver
 
haMelech
the King
 
haMesim
the Dead
 
HaMashiach
The Messiah, lit. the Anointed One
 
Hametz חָמֵץ
(alt. chometz, chometz) (lit. sour) any fermented product of grain, all leavening agents; hence, that which makes “sour” … leavening, yeast, baking powder; mixes with a leavening agent, bread and bread crumbs; food prepared with leaven, by extension referring to all foods and utensils forbidden on Passover … leavened bread and anything made with wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt, which has not been supervised to ensure that it has not leavened; refers to prohibited foods during Pesach.
 
HaMotzi
blessing recited or chanted over bread on Shabbat or festivals: “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh haOlam, haMotzi lechem min haAretz. (Amein) Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. (Amen)”
 
Ha’Natseret
the Nazarine; derived from netzer, branch or shoot
 
hanevuah
the prophecy
 
hanivzim
the despised
 
HaNogah
of Brightness/Venus
 
Hanukah
(alt. Chanukah) dedication; name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 BCE
 
haptomai
to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
 
har
mountain
 
hara’ah
the evil
 
hara’im
evil deeds
 
haRah
the Evil one
 
haReshit
the Beginning
 
hareve’it; harevi’i
the fourth
 
harishon; harishonah
the first
 
Harpazo
(Gk.) to seize (in various applications), catch (away or up), pluck, pull, take (by force)
 
harsha’ah
condemnation as guilty
 
hartzige
heartfelt
 
hasagos
aspiration
 
HaSatan
The adversary (same as Satan)
 
haSatan
the Adversary; the Evil One, Satan, the Devil
 
haschala
start
 
HaShem
“The Name”; respectfully refers to the ineffable Name of the Most High
hwhy / YHVH / YHVH; the Tetragramaton “yod-hey-vav-hey”
 
HaShemurim
the Guarded ones
 
hasheni
the second
 
hasheniyah
the second
 
Hashkafa
Literally “View.” Typically Judaism’s philosophical viewpoint on any particular topic.
 
hashlishi
(alt, hashlishit) the third
 
haskama
approval
 
hataat
(alt. chatat) the sin offering in Temple
 
hatachlit
the ultimate
 
hatafah
preaching
 
Hatafat Dam Berit
Taking a single drop of blood from the penis as a sign of the covenant, necessary in the conversion of an adult male already circumcised
 
Hatarat Nedarim
the repeal of vows
 
haTikva
the hope
 
haTov
the good
 
haTov Vehametive
the fourth blessing of Birkat haMazon; “He Who is good and bestows goodness..”
 
hattohar
moral purity
 
haummim
the peoples
 
havamina
assumption
 
havdalah
lit. separation; the ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the week … the blessing over wine to mark the difference between the Sabbath and the weekdays
 
havtachah
promise
 
haYom
today
 
Hayom Harat Olam
verses recited during the Rosh haShanah mussaf prayer
 
hazan
(alt. hazzan, chazzan, chazan) the cantor, the leader in prayer
 
Hechag
(lit. the holiday) one of the names for Sukkot
 
Hechal
Hall of the Sanctuary
 
heimishe mekom linah
homey guest room; lodging place
 
Hellenist
The Hellenists were ethnic Hebrews who used the Greek language and embraced Greek culture.
 
hemshech
remaining part
 
heretic
one whose beliefs do not accord with those of the established religion to which he claims adherence; compare apostate
 
Hester Panim
the withdrawal of Divine Favor
 
heter
permission, permit
 
hevel
futility; vanity; emptiness; worthlessness
 
hezber
explanation
 
High Holy Days
A ten day period from Rosh haShanah to Yom Kippur
 
Hillel
The most prominent Jewish teacher of the first century (30 BCE-10 CE), thought to be Gamaliel’s grandfather.
 
hilula
a celebration of memorial
 
hinei
behold; look!
 
hinnazrut
self-denial
 
hisgalus
revelation; unveiling
 
hishtaltut
domination; taking control
 
hispailus
overwhelming awe
 
histalkus
passing; the death of the Mashiach in the midst of his Redemptive Mission on the analogy of Moshe dying before he crosses into the Promised Land; a fundamental doctrine of Messianic Orthodox Judaism
 
hitammelut
bodily exercise or training
 
hitarevut
meddlesomeness
 
hitbagrut
maturity
 
hitbodedut
seclusion; aloneness
 
hitkaddeshut
(alt. hitchaddeshut) purification
 
hitkhabrut
joining; adhesion; fellowship
 
hitkhadshut
regeneration; renewal
 
hitlahavut
enthusiasm; fervor
 
hitnahagut
conduct
 
hitnahagut hatovah
good conduct
 
hitstaddekut
apologetic defense
 
hivvased haOlam
the establishing of the world
 
hivvased tevel
foundation of the world
 
hod
honor
 
hoda’ah
confession; admission
 
hodayah
thanksgiving
 
holelut
carousing
 
Holy of Holies
most Holy inner part of the Sanctuary
 
homiletic
the art of preaching or public persuasion
 
hona’ah
swindling
 
hora’ah
instruction
 
Horeb
Another name for Mount Sinai, where God gave Israel His Torah
 
horim
parents
 
horiva over
analyzing
 
Hoshana Rabbah
(alt. Hoshanah Raba) the last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The day of the water drawing ceremony.
 
Hoshanah
(alt, Hosheanah, Hoshiah-na) chant of “Save us, L‑rd” or “please save” said while carrying Torah in procession
 
huledet
birth
 
hungerik
hungry
 
huppah
(alt. chupah, chuppah,) canopy under which pair stand at wedding ceremony, symbol of home to be established; represents the honeymoon chamber
 
hyssop
a plant (perhaps the caper, Capparis spirwsa) whose twigs were used in ceremonial sprinkling.
 

Use this “Jump Bar” to directly to any letter of the AlephBet
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
Appendix   Liturgy & Worship   Pronunciation   [More]

Page last updated on Wednesday, 01 June 2022 12:03 PM
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Major content changes are identified as "Revisions”)