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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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P   P

p’ri
fruit
 
P’rushim
(alt. P'rushim, Parushim; sg. P'rush, Parush) Pharisees; religious leaders; the upholders of the Oral Torah (Tradition of the Elders, now codified in the Talmud) at the time of the Second Sanctuary. A strict religio-political party in late Second Temple period who were known for their zealous adherence to the teaching of the rabbis concerning the Torah. By most estimates, there were as only a few thousand —  probably not more than 6,000 — Pharisees in first century Israel, but because they held a majority of seats of the Sanhedrin, they wielded enormous power over the people. In direct violation of Torah, they added multiplied thousands of takanot (man-made rules) to their idea of Torah. Their chief doctrine was that salvation and God’s favor would come as a result of “Torah” observance according to their interpretation … they wanted to develop Judaism through prayer, study of Torah, and midrashic interpretations of Torah. Modern Rabbinical Judaism is the direct descendant of the Pharisees.
 
pachad
(alt. pakhad) fear; terror
 
padut
redemption
 
pakad
visit
 
Parah Adumah
Red Heifer, aspecial sacrificial animal (see Shabbat Parah)
 
Parashah
the weekly Torah portion; also called Sidrah or Sedrah or Sidra (pl. Parashot)
 
pareve
foods containing neither meat nor milk
 
parim
young bulls
 
parnasah
livelihood
 
parochet
(alt. parokhet) curtain … when capitalized, the curtain over the Ark in the Synagogue; the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the Hechal
 
pasach
(alt. pesah, pesach) passing over; letting go the penalty of
 
Pascal Lamb
(alt. Paschal) the lamb selected for the Pesach/Passover sacrifice; haMashiach
 
Pascha
Greek transliteration of the Hebrew pesach, meaning “Passover.”
 
paskudneh
contemptible
 
Passover
From the Hebrew pesah; the first of the seven feasts of ADONAI; the Paschal sacrifice; title may also include Feast of Unleavened Bread.
   The term “Passover” is usually applied to the entire Feast of Unleavened Bread; however, Passover is technically only during twilight on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nisan: “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between sundown and complete darkness, comes Pesach for ADONAI.” (Leviticus 23:5)
patur
exempt; free
 
payes
corners; therefore, earlocks of hair or sidecurls worn by ultra-Orthodox men and boys (pl. payot)
 
pe’ulot
works
 
pedut
redemption; geulah; release on payment of ransom
 
peh
mouth
 
pekuddat
stewardship; care
 
peledike
marvelous
 
penemer
faces
 
Pentateuch
the first five Books of the Bible, the Five Books of Moshe
 
Pentecost
In Hebrew, Shavuoth, the Feast of Weeks; the fiftieth day after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the festival of the ingathering of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.
 
perec
(alt. peres) gier-eagle; Egyptian vulture
 
perot
fruits
 
Perushim
See P'rushim
 
peruta
small coin
 
Pesabim
a section of Talmudic commentary on the feast of the Passover
 
Pesach
(alt. Pesah; pl. Pesachim) Passover. Memorializes the night when the Hebrews were protected by the blood of lambs, a type of when God’s people are redeemed by the blood of The Lamb. One of three pilgrim festivals to Jerusalem.
 
Pesach Katan
the second offering of the Paschal Lamb on the 14th of Iyar
 
Pesach Sheni
the 14th of Iyar, the offering of the Pesach Sacrifice by those who were not able to do so on the 14th of Nisan
 
peshat
plain or literal meaning
 
peshuto shel mikra
simple reading of the verse
 
Pesikta
Book of Haggadic discourses for festivals and special Sabbaths
 
petach
doorway
 
peysha
transgression
 
peysha’im
transgressions [Yeshayah 53:5]
 
Pharaoh
King of Egypt; considered deity by Egyptians
 
Pharisees
See P'rushim
 
phobeo
(Gk.) to frighten, i.e. (passive) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, i.e. revere
be (very) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence
 
pidyon haben / habat
lit. redemption of the (firstborn) son / daughter; home ceremony that takes place on the thirty-first day of a child’s life
 
pikkadon
deposit
 
piku’ach nefesh
the care for human life
 
Pikudey
a portion in the Book of Exodus
 
Pilgrim Festival/Feast
(also “Shalosh Regalim”) Three times a year (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot) the Torah requires all Israel to go in joyous celebration to Jerusalem (Exodus 34:23-24). [If anyone would try to coerce you to be overly “Torah observant” remind him/her that in order to be “Torah observant” he/she must attend these three Feasts in Jerusalem.]
 
Pinchas
a portion in the Book of Numbers
 
Pirkey Avot
“the Ethics of the Fathers”, a tractate in the Mishnah
 
pisechim
lame persons
 
pisei’ach
lame man
 
pitma
the wart of the etrog
 
pitron
interpretation (pl. pitronim
 
piyyut (alt. piyut)
Poetic prayer … liturgical poem (pl. piyyutim; alt. piyutim)
 
platke-machers
gossipy intriguers
 
plotst
burst
 
pneuma
(Gk.) a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) G‑d, HaMashiach’s spirit, the Holy Spirit
life, spirit (-ual, -ually)
Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word ruach
 
pnimiyus
innermost
 
po’alim
workers
 
poel
worker
 
poshe’im
the ones transgressing / rebelling
 
poshei’a
transgressor
 
posher
lukewarm
 
praht
detail
 
pri, p’ri
fruit
 
priests
descendants of Aaron (of the tribe of Levi) who officiated at religious services in the Temple; they also served as judges, physicians, and teachers.
 
proselyte
a convert to Judaism
 
Psak
Jewish legal ruling.
 
pseudepigraphic
written under another name
 
pshat
rationale
 
ptur
excuse
 
punkt
exactly
 
Purim
Lots. The observed day (usually in March) commemorating the deliverance and survival of G‑d’s people. The beginning of the Passover season; a time of teshuvah.
 

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Appendix   Liturgy & Worship   Pronunciation   [More]

Page last updated on Monday, 12 June 2023 11:41 AM
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