HEBREW TRANSLITERATED GLOSSARY

Mayim Hayim

This Glossary uses the English alphabet and phonics to provide a Hebrew pronunciation to people who do not read Hebrew. We all should know the first word that is listed below. Yeshua the Messiah used this word of His Father in Heaven, Mark 14:36. Also Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) in his letter to the Romans (8:15) -- "For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry out, Abba, Father."

• 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
• E'dah
  • Congregation - EX 12:3
• 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
• 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.
• 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 Month
  • New Moon
  • The head of the month
  • The beginning of the month
• Rosh Hashannah
  • Head (Start) of the Civil Year
  • Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah - Oldest name for this is the Last Trump)
• 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 Chazon (Kah - ZON)
  • The Shabbat of Vision or Prophecy
  • Occurs before the fast of Tisha B'Av
  • Read Yesha'Yahu (Isaiah) 1:1-27, last of the "three readings of affliction"
• 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 Nachamu (Nah - kah - MU)
  • Shabbat of Comfort
  • Shabbat after Tisha B'Av
  • First Shabbat of readings of comfort from YeshaYahu (Isaiah)
• 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 Shekalim (Shek - a - LIM)
  • The Shabbat for the offering of the Temple Coin
  • Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar (The first of the month of Adar)
• Shabbat Shuva (Shu - VAH)
  • The Shabbat between Rosh Hashana -Yom Teruah and Sukkot
  • Shabbat of Returning
• 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 (Sha - MASH)
  • servant
  • term for the ninth candle used to light the other candles in the Chanukiah ... the beadle in the Synagogue.
• Shavuot (sl.Shavuah) (Sha - vu - OT)
  • 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 (Shi - may - NEE At - zair - ET)
  • The Eighth Day assembly of Sukkot.
  • Picture of the Word to Come
• Shofar (Sho - FAR)
  • A rams horn trumpet.
  • Used as warning, call to arms, and in celebration.
• Simchat Torah (Sim - KAAT Toe - RAH)
  • The day of rejoicing the Torah
• S'lihot (See - Lee - HOT)
  • Liturical prayers of Teshuvah
• Sukkot (Soo - KOAT)
  • 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 - 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.
• Tu' B'Shvat
  • New Year for Trees
• 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
• Yahrzeit
  • Memorial / Commemeration of a death
  • Observed on the yearly aniversary of the death
• 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). Matthew 5:18