tefilla

en-noun

tefilla (countable and uncountable, plural tefillot or tefilloth or tefillos or tefillin)

tefillot (plural)
tefilloth (plural)
tefillos (plural)
tefillin (plural)
tefillah (alternative)

(countable, often in the plural) The Jewish phylactery, consisting of small boxes containing portions of the Torah worn most commonly during prayer by Jewish men and some Jewish women.

Chazal have said that the Ovos were childless, to induce them to daven for children, because Hashem longs for their tefilos.

2000 August 31, rach...@netmedia.net.il, “MIDEI SHABBOS by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler - Shoftim”, in alt.religion.judaism.orthodox (Usenet):

(Judaism, countable, uncountable) prayer.


shana tova

From Hebrew שָׁנָה טוֹבָה (shaná tová, “Happy New Year”, literally “good year”).

bor

שָׁנָה טוֹבָה

shanah tovah (alternative)
shanah tova (alternative)
shana tovah (alternative)

(Judaism) Happy New Year; a common greeting on and around Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.


Galatians

/ɡəˈleɪʃənz/

(biblical) The ninth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians.


Naomi

From Hebrew נָעֳמִי (no'omí, literally “my pleasantness”), from נועם / נֹעַם (nó'am, “pleasantness”) + ־ִי (-í, “my, of me”).

uder

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ruth 1:20:

(biblical) The mother-in-law of the Biblical figure Ruth.


Rosh Hashanah

/ˌɹɑʃ(h)əˈʃɑnə/

/ˌɹɒʃ həˈʃɑːnə/

From Hebrew רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (rosh hashaná, literally “head of the year”). Compare Yiddish ראָש־השנה (ròsh-(h)ashóne).

bor

רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה

Rosh Hashanah begins a ten-day period during which Jews enter into self-examination and repentance, known as the Ten Days of Awe, which conclude on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During this time, God, in a sense, withdraws His presence in order to create a hunger in the hearts of His people so that they will abandon all else in pursuit of Him.

2015, Rod Parsley, God's End-Time Calendar, Charisma House, →ISBN, page 107:

The past two days we have celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

2021, Dr Philippa Kaye, Doctors Get Cancer Too, Vie Books, page 216:

(Judaism) The Jewish holiday marking the start of the liturgical year, taking place on the first two days of Tishrei, 163 days after the first day of Passover.


Rosh Chodesh

en-proper noun

Rosh Chodesh (plural Rashei Chodashim or Roshei Chodashim)

Rashei Chodashim (plural)
Roshei Chodashim (plural)

bor

Hebrew ראש חודש

(Judaism) A minor holiday marking the beginning of a new month in the Jewish calendar.


Tishrei

Borrowed from Hebrew תִּשְׁרֵי (tishré, tishréi, “Tishrei”).

bor+

Tishri (alternative)
Tisri (alternative)
Tizri (alternative)

(Judaism) The first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Elul and before Cheshvan.

tixrí

first month of civil year in the Jewish calendar


Cheshvan

Chesvan (alternative)
Heshvan (alternative)
Hesvan (alternative)

(Judaism) The second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Tishrei and before Kislev.

חֶשְׁוָן

second month of civil year in the Jewish calendar


Kislev

(Judaism) The third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Cheshvan and before Tevet.

כִּסְלֵו

third month of civil year in the Jewish calendar


Tevet

Tebet (alternative)
Tebeth (alternative)

(Judaism) The fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Kislev and before Shevat.

טֵבֵת

fourth month in civil year in the Jewish calendar


Shevat

(Judaism) The fifth month of the civil year and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Tevet and before Adar.

שְׁבָט

fifth month of civil year in the Jewish calendar


Nisan

Micky Vayner shrugged; as far as he knew, it was, by the lunar calendar, an ordinary day in the month of Nisan.

2007, Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, 4th Estate (2010), page 346:

(Judaism) The seventh month of the civil year and the first month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Adar and before Iyar.

ܢܝܣܢ

seventh month of the civil year in the Jewish calendar


Iyar

bor

Hebrew אִיָּר

(Judaism) The eighth month of the civil year and the second month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Nisan and before Sivan.

ܐܝܼܵܪ

eighth month in civil year in the Jewish calendar


Sivan

(Judaism) The ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Iyar and before Tammuz.

סִיוָן

ninth month of the civil year in the Jewish calendar


Tammuz

Hebrew תַּמּוּז, from a Sumerian god's name (see [[#Etymology_2]]).

uder

Hebrew תַּמּוּז

(Judaism) The tenth month of the civil year and the fourth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Sivan and before Av.

תַּמּוּז

tenth month of civil year in the Jewish calendar


shalom aleichem

/ʃəˌlɒm əˈleɪxəm/

/ʃəˌlɒm əˈleɪkəm/

/ˌʃɔləm əˈleɪkəm/

From Hebrew שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם (shalóm 'aleikhém, “peace be upon you”). Doublet of salaam alaikum.

der

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם

(Judaism) A greeting said on meeting someone, especially when the two people meeting have not met in some time.


Elijah

→ Hawaiian: ʻElia

→ Maori: Irāia

From Hebrew אליהו (Eliyahu, “My God is Yahweh”). Doublet of Ilya. Compare Joel. See also Arabic إلياس.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Malachi 4:5–6:

(Abrahamism, biblical) An Israelite prophet in the Abrahamic religions.


Barnabas

From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Aramaic בַרְנֶבֻאָה (barneḇú’â, literally “prophet's son”), from בּר (bar, “son of”) and נְבִיָּא (nəḇiyyā, “prophet”).

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation, ) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

(biblical) An early Christian, one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem


Raphael

en-proper noun

Raphael (countable and uncountable, plural Raphaels)

/ˈɹæf.eɪˌɛl/

/ˌɹæf.aɪˈɛl/

/ˌɹɑ.faɪˈɛl/

/ˌɹæf.aɪˈɛl/

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-Raphael.wav

Latin Raphael. From Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl, literally “God cures/has healed”).

der

I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Tobit 12:15:

An archangel in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.


Silas

From Latin Sīlās, from Ancient Greek Σίλας (Sílas), from Aramaic שְׁאִילָא (šəʾīlā), cognate of Hebrew שָׁאוּל (šāʾūl, “Saul”). Doublet of Saul.

Aramaic שְׁאִילָא (šəʾīlā)

(biblical) The companion of Paul in the New Testament, also called Silvanus.


rabbinical

/ɹəˈbɪnəkəl/

1581, Robert Parsons, A Brief Censure vppon Two Bookes Written in Answere to M. Edmonde Campions Offer of Disputation, Doway: John Lyon, “Towching the Societie,” section heading,
Three kyndes of Rabbinical expositions of the Law.

to gain a little Rabbinical Learning, and find out some unobvious signification of a Word or Phrase, he must devour the tedious and voluminous Rhapsodies that make up the Talmud, in many of which he can scarce learn any thing but the Art of saying nothing in a multitude of words;

1665, Robert Boyle, Occasional Reflections upon Several Subiects, London: Henry Herringman, Reflection 7, pp. 168-169:

1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3,
Her father was a very learned divine, and who can tell but she may understand the rabbinical text?

Deronda was reading a piece of rabbinical Hebrew under Ezra’s correction and comment […]

1876, George Eliot, Daniel Deronda, Book 8, Chapter 68:

Oh, please, […] I’m a big boy now—so you can knock off the rabbinical righteousness. It turns out to be a little laughable at this stage of the game.

1969, Philip Roth, chapter 5, in Portnoy’s Complaint, New York: Vintage, published 1994, page 203:

Of or relating to rabbis, their writings, or their work.

rabínic

Referring to rabbis, their writings, or their work


Lodebar

Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Samuel 9:5:

(biblical) A place where David found a member of the family of Saul.


Jethro

Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew יִתְרוֹ (yitró).


Hiram

From Biblical Hebrew חִירָם (Ḥirám, “high-born”), possibly from Phoenician, or a shortened form of אֲחִירָם ('aḥirám, “brother of the exalted”).

bor

Harm. It wasn't even a nickname. It was just the way folks had always pronounced his first name Hiram, in mountain dialect, a long "i" sound blending the two syllables into an aspirated breath.

1994, Sharyn McCrumb, She Walks These Hills, Scribner's, →ISBN, page 8:

A male given name from Hebrew, taken into use by Puritans in the seventeenth century.


Colossians

(biblical) The twelfth book of the New Testament of the Bible, an epistle to the people of Colossae which is attributed to Paul the Apostle.

歌羅西書 /歌罗西书

Gŏ̤-lò̤-să̤ Cṳ̆


Sina

And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 7:30:


CKJV

(biblical) Initialism of Chinese King James Version (of the Bible).


Golgotha

* From the Ancient Greek Γολγοθᾶ (Golgothâ) from the Aramaic גּוּלְגּוּלְתָּא (gulgultā).
* (rooms of the heads of the colleges; a hat): Punning on "the place of the skulls/heads".

der

גּוּלְגּוּלְתָּא

Aramaic גּוּלְגּוּלְתָּא (gulgultā)

sense

"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha"

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 19:17:

(biblical) The hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.


Demiurge

/ˈdɛmɪˌɝd͡ʒ/

From Ancient Greek Δημιουργός (Dēmiourgós), see demiurge.

Demiurgos (alternative)
Demiurgus (alternative)

For the rest, we meet in the Demiurge of the Valentinians all the traits of the world-god with which we have by now become familiar and can therefore deal here very briefly

2001, Hans Jonas, The Gnostic Religion: The message of the alien God, page 191:

(Gnosticism) A prideful, inferior being that creates the material world; frequently identified with the creator God of the Hebrew Bible.


brit milah

brit milahs (plural)
bris milah (alternative)

Borrowed from Hebrew בְּרִית מִילָה (literally “covenant of circumcision”).

bor+

בְּרִית מִילָה

(Judaism) The Jewish ceremony of circumcision normally performed on the eighth day of life.


treyf

From Yiddish טרייף (treyf), from Hebrew טְרֵפָה (trēfáh).

treyfa (alternative)
treyfe (alternative)
treifa (alternative)
treife (alternative)
treif (alternative)
tref (alternative)
trefa (alternative)
trefah (alternative)
t'refah (alternative)
trayf (alternative)
traif (alternative)
traife (alternative)
trafe (alternative)
terefa (alternative)
terefah (alternative)
terephah (alternative)

The casserole looked delicious, but Moishe wouldn't eat it because it was treyf.


Festival of Lights

From the importance of candles or light during the celebrations.

[…] celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights[.]

1996, Jewish Life and Thought among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings:

One of our more Judaically advanced cellmates gave us insightful lessons about the laws and customs of the Festival of Lights.

2012, Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul, →ISBN:


Ten Commandments

Calque of Biblical Hebrew עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים ('aséret had'varím, “the ten items”), from Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13 and Deuteronomy 10:4.

cal

עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים

(biblical) A particular list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to the Old Testament of the Bible or the Hebrew Bible, were twice given or dictated by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and inscribed on two stone tablets.


Elisha

From Biblical Hebrew אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha').

(biblical) A prophet, a disciple and successor of Elijah.


Tobiah

From the Hebrew name טוֹבִיָּה (Toviyyah, “Yahweh is good”).

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

An Ammonite mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah. (biblical character)


Thessalonians

(biblical) Books in the New Testament of the Bible (1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians), epistles to the Christians in ancient Thessaloniki.


Judeo-Christian

Ferdinand Christian Baur
Judeo-Christian

After a German term coined by Ferdinand Christian Baur in an 1831 issue of the Tübinger Zeitschrift für Theologie. Also Judeo- + Christian.

Judæo-Christian (alternative)
Judaeo-Christian (alternative)

From all I can see there is but one way to bring about the object of the Society, that is by erecting a Judæo Christian community, a city of refuge, where all who wish to be baptized could be supplied with the means of earning their bread.

1821 October 17, Alexander M'Caul, “Extract of a Letter From Mr. M'Caul”, in The Jewish Expositor, and Friend of Israel, volume V, page 478:

He said, that in converting the Jews one should not compel them to change their ancient customs, as circumcision, and keeping the seventh day, for the Abysinians circumcise, and keep the seventh day ; in short, one ought to establish a Judeo-christian church.

1829, Joseph Wolff, Missionary Journal of the Rev. Joseph Wolff, Missionary to the Jews, volume III, London: James Duncan, page 314:

She and Fabrice and even Mosca are incapable of acting meanly, a thing that carries no weight in the Judaeo-Christian scheme of morals.

1939 July 27 [2017 February 4], George Orwell, George Orwell: An age like this, 1920-1940, David R. Godine Publisher, →ISBN, page 401:

And of course, the Baha'i Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

1992, Thomas Tai-Seale, Thy Kingdom Come: A Biblical Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith, page 235:

(Judaism, Christianity) Of or pertaining to Judaism and Christianity.


Judeo-Christian

Judeo-Christians (plural)
Judæo-Christian (alternative)
Judaeo-Christian (alternative)

Even the great devotion of the Judeo-Christians to Jesus did not separate them from Judaism.

2012, Bernard Beck, chapter 1, in True Jew: Challenging the Stereotype, illustrated edition, New York: Algora Publishing, →ISBN, page 25:

(Judaism, Christianity) Somebody who follows both Judaism and Christianity.

giudeocristiano

I myself have found what is variously called Neo-Paganism, Wicca, the Old Religion, etc. a source of joy, strength, and purpose. My life is not perfect, but it is far better than being hung up on sin, guilt, and other such bullshit, and going through bizarre intellectual gymnastics trying to reconcile being gay with being a Judeo-Christian.

1980 December 13, Patrick Alther, “Gay, Pagan And Proud”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 21, page 4:

No matter what religion people belong to, if they do not accept any formal religion, or even if they are Agnostics, Atheists, or Anti-theists, most Americans and Europeans use the word “God” with the Judeo-Christian definition. This does not mean that everyone who uses this word believes in that particular God or that there is any God. This volume discusses God in terms used by Judeo-Christians, as understood by them.

2006, Edward Nagell, Destiny, volume 2, 1094 New DeHaven Street, Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713: Infinity Publishing, →ISBN, page 1:

(Judaism, Christianity) Somebody who is either Judaist or Christian.


kashrut

Borrowed from Hebrew כַּשְׁרוּת (kashrut).

bor+

kashruth (alternative)
kashrus (alternative)

(Jewish law) The Jewish dietary laws, stating which foods are fit to eat.


Ark of the Covenant

¶ Then Solomon assembled the Elders of Israel, and all the heads of the Tribes, the chiefe of the fathers of the children of Israel vnto Ierusalem, to bring vp the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord, out of the citie of Dauid, which is Zion.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Chronicles 5:2:

Indiana Jones: The city of Tannis is one of the possible resting places of the lost Ark.
Eaton: The lost Ark?
Jones: Yeah, the Ark of the Covenant, the chest the Hebrews used to carry around the Ten Commandments in.
Musgrave: What do you mean the Ten Commandments? You mean the Ten Commandments?
Jones: Yes, the actual Ten Commandments, the original stone tablets that Moses brought down out of Mount Horeb and smashed if you believe in that sort of thing.

1981, 19:23 from the start, in Raiders of the Lost Ark (Action-adventure), →ISBN, →OCLC:

The story was true: In the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, a British expedition set out for Jerusalem to find the ark of the covenant, only to fail, spectacularly, in 1911, in an eruption of political turmoil and religious animosity.[…]
The expedition may have had an impact on British foreign policy in the region, Andrew said when we talked, and it helped spawn the world’s ongoing fascination with the ark of the covenant (and Indiana Jones).

2021 October 31, Olivia Parker, “What Happens When Everyone Is Writing the Same Book You Are?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-11-01, Essay:

(Judaism, Christianity, Islam) The sacred container, a gold-plated wooden chest, of the two tablets of law (the Ten Commandments) given to Moses by the Hebrew God.

𐕜𐔰𐕗𐔰𐕎𐔲𐔼 𐔳𐔰𐔲𐕒𐕡𐕘𐕒𐔺

the sacred container, a gold-plated wooden chest


Midrashic

en-adj

Midrashic (comparative more Midrashic, superlative most Midrashic)

more Midrashic (comparative)
most Midrashic (superlative)

Like the rabbis, the Christians used midrashic techniques to enable Jews to move forward.

2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 86:

(Judaism) Of or pertaining to a Midrash or to Midrashim.


Nimrod

Blake's depiction of the biblical Nimrod, whom Erdman traces to Young's poem, recalls Milton's Paradise Lost.

1993, G. A. Rosso, Blake's Prophetic Workshop: A Study of The Four Zoas, page 80:

In the fourth century St. Ephraim the Syrian wrote, in his commentary on Genesis, that Nimrod 'ruled in Erekh which is Orhay (Edessa)'.[…]In Jewish and thereafter in Moslem tradition, Nimrod was the foe of Abraham.

2005, J. B. Segal, Edessa: The Blessed City, page 1:

The historical facts testify that they were highly developed; Nimrod, a descendant of Ham, therefore making him Hamitic, was the first human king not just of Bible record, but secular history also speaks of him. He ruled over a kingdom that included several cities in Mesopotamia.

2010, Khamit Raamah Kush, Faces of the Hamitic People, unnumbered page:

(biblical) A grandson of Ham; a mighty hunter and king of Shinar.


Nevi'im

Hebrew נְבִיאִים (n'vi’ím, “Nevi'im”, literally “prophets”)

uder

(biblical) A subdivision of the Hebrew Testament (Tanakh) that is known in English as the Prophets. This section is subdivided into two sections, the Former Prophets and the Latter Prophets. The Latter Prophets is further subdivided into the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets (known as the Twelve).


Ketuvim

(Judaism) A subdivision of the Hebrew Testament (Tanakh), known in English as "The Writings." It is composed of Songs (Psalms, and Song of Solomon), Proverbs, and eight other books of the Bible that were written near the close of the canon. These scriptures are viewed as less authoritative than the Torah.


mitzvah

en-noun

mitzvah (plural mitzvahs or mitzvot or mitzvoth or mitzvos)

mitzvahs (plural)
mitzvot (plural)
mitzvoth (plural)
mitzvos (plural)

Borrowed from Hebrew מצווה (mitsvá, “commandment”).

She called Penansky regularly to remind her to observe the mitzvahs.

1988 September 2, Florence Hamlish Levinsohn, “A Special Connection With God”, in Chicago Reader:

(Judaism) Any of the 613 commandments of Jewish law.

mitsvà

any of the 613 commandments of Jewish law

‘You heard about them pulling my license. That was indirectly Joel. Who, without meaning to, did me such a mitzvah.’

2013, Thomas Pynchon, Bleeding Edge, Vintage, published 2014, page 17:

(Judaism) An act of kindness, a good deed.


balteus

Borrowed from Latin balteus (“belt, girdle”).

bor+

(biblical) The girdle of a biblical Jewish priest.


bubbe meise

Borrowed from Yiddish באָבע־מעשׂה (bobe-mayse).

If you look ahead to the second book of the Maccabees, you will see that Judah did not embrace the life of the tzaddik […] No, Judah discovered […] that war, not holiness, is good business. He spent the years after the Maccabean victory pillaging whatever small settlements happened to strike his fancy. So if some Hebrew school teacher feeds you full of bubbemeises about the Jews only having enough sacred oil to light the eternal flame for one day […] don't believe it for a minute.

1988 December 4, Liz Galst, “Lesbian Maccabee Unmasked!”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 7:

(Judaism) An old wives' tale; a fairytale.


lord of the flies

Calque of Biblical Hebrew בַּעַל זְבוּב (baʿal zəḇûḇ, “fly-lord, Beelzebub”), which in turn is a mistranslation of the name of the Semitic devil Baal-zevuv.

calque

בַּעַל זְבוּב

(idiomatic, biblical) a ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.


Delilah

Borrowed from Hebrew דְּלִילָה (d'līla, “[she who] weakened”).

bor

"Leila!" she said enigmatically. "Have you seen her?" / "I went to her flat last week with Dad—he likes her." / "Delilah is her real name, you know. All men like her. And Captain Fort is her lover."

1919 October, John Galsworthy, chapter I, in Saint’s Progress, London: William Heinemann, published December 1919, →OCLC, part III, 1 §, page 220:

A female given name from Hebrew of Biblical origin.


Jezebel

/ˈd͡ʒɛzəˌbɛl/

Borrowed from Hebrew אִיזֶבֶל ('izével).

“I know if anyone called me a carrot-topped Jezebel, umbrage is the first thing I'd take. Who was Jezebel, by the way? The name seems familiar, but I can't place her.” “A character in the Old Testament, sir. A queen of Israel.” “Of course, yes. Be forgetting my own name next. Eaten by dogs, wasn't she?” “Yes, sir.” “Can't have been pleasant for her.” “No, sir.” “Still, that's the way the ball rolls.”

1960, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter XI, in Jeeves in the Offing:

(biblical) The Phoenician princess and Queen of Ancient Israel who appears in the Old Testament (1 Kings & 2 Kings), who incited heresy and lured the Jews away from their God and back to idols.


groundling

From ground + -ling. Compare Old English grundling (“a groundling fish, grundel”).

cog

The BEARDED-LOACH or GROUNDLING. Gobites Barbatula. It is a small fish about five inches long, bearded with six small Threads, three on each side

1681, Nehemiah Grew, Musaeum Regalis Societatis. Or a Catalogue and Description of the Natural and Artificial Rarities Belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham Colledge:

When you angle for a trout, you are to do it as deep, that is, as near to the bottom as you can, provided your bait do not drag, although a trout will sometimes take it in that posture: if for a grayling, you are then to fish further from the buttom, it being a fish that usually swims nearer to the middle of the water, and lies always loose; or, however, is more apt to raise than trout, and more inclined to raise than to descend, even to a groundling.

Fertilized groundling (Misgurnus fossilis) and sturgeon (Acipenser Stellatus) eggs were irradiated (10,000 r) at stages from fertilization to middle gastrulation.

1958, Soviet Physics, Doklady, page 464:

Lopashov (1944) extirpated and grafted neural tubes from several species of teleosts—the groundling, Misgurnus fossilis, the loach, Nemacheilus barhatulus, and the perch, Perca fluviatilis — to determine whether pigment cells were of neural crest origin.

1999, Brian K. Hall, The Neural Crest in Development and Evolution, →ISBN, page 82:

Cobitis taenia
Cobitis taenia#Translingual

Any of various plants or animals living on or near the ground, as a benthic fish or bottom feeder, especially:

The spined loach (Cobitis taenia), weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis), or other member of the loaches.

Charadrius hiaticula
Charadrius hiaticula#Translingual

The ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula.

In the pond behind the garden there were plenty of carp and groundlings.

1922, Ivan Turgenev, chapter XXVI, in Constance Garnett, transl., A House of Gentlefolk, London: Heinemann, page 155:

[…] the ewe called Tiny
 Crossed over and touched her, the others turned anxious looks
 From sniffing the autumn-pinched leaves of the groundling blackberries.

1929, Robinson Jeffers, “The Loving Shepherdess”, in The Selected Poetry of Robinson Jeffers, New York: Random House, published 1937, page 219:

Delgard got out the handkerchief again and blew his nose loud enough to alert any bird or groundling within several hundred yards.

2012, David Williams, Planning on Murder, →ISBN:

The poor plodding groundling, helpless and impotent, is swooped upon at will, day and night, completely wiped out at the whim of the low- flying plane, which soars off leaving complete and utter destruction behind it!

1937, Field Artillery Association (U.S.), The Field Artillery Journal - Volume 27, page 342:

He then enlisted in the air force and served as a groundling in North Africa, Sicily, and England.

2010, Erin Bried, How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew, →ISBN:

Present at the Battle of Jutland, he had been recalled for the duration of this war and, being in the area, he had come to see how his little lad was faring in the sky. I was given permission to fall out and join him, gladly setting aside my groundling's bayonet.

2012, Pat Cunningham, The Fear in the Sky: Vivid Memories of Bomber Aircrew in World War Two, →ISBN:

One who is confined to the ground, especially:

(military, slang) A soldier who fights on the ground or serves as ground crew, as opposed to a seaman, pilot, etc.

It is not good for the groundling to be alone I will make for it a help as its counterpart (2.18).

1993, Athalya Brenner-Idan, Feminist Companion to Genesis, →ISBN, page 47:

The two of them were naked, the groundling and his woman, they were not ashamed.

2010, Margaret Hebblethwaite, Opening the Scriptures: Faith Throughout the Year, →ISBN, page 16:

It isn't until three chapters later that this groundling receives a name—Adam; at that point, the groundling is no longer referred to as “it” in the text, but becomes “him.”

2014, Megan McKenna, Leave Her Alone, →ISBN:

(Abrahamic religions) Adam, before eating the apple of knowledge of good and evil (emphasizing his creation from the ground).


Javan

From Hebrew יוון / יָוָן (yaván), identified with Greece.

he-m

יוון / יָוָן (yaván)


Reform Judaism

(Judaism) A movement in Judaism, characterized by the loosening of the strictures of much of traditional Jewish law that is seen as irrelevant to modern society, and by the shortening, simplification, and translation to the vernacular of Jewish ritual.


yid

yidden (plural)
yidn (plural)
yids (plural)


Rebekah

From Hebrew רִבְקָה (Riḇqāh, “enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”).

bor

And Isaac was fortie yeeres old when hee tooke Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the ſiſter to Laban the Syrian.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 25:20:

(biblical) The sister of Laban; Isaac's wife; the mother of Jacob and Esau.


kasher

en-verb

kasher (third-person singular simple present kashers, present participle kashering, simple past and past participle kashered)

kashers (present singular third-person)
kashering (participle present)
kashered (participle past)
kashered (past)

Borrowed from Yiddish כּשרן (kashern), from כּשר (kosher, “kosher”).

“Kosher salt” is called thus, not because it is any more kosher than other types of salt, but because it is used in the kashering process of meat.

(of meat) to remove excess blood from by washing and salting

David moved into his new apartment, put up mezuzahs, and kashered his new kitchen.

(of kitchenware) to remove traces of non-kosher substances from by cleaning, heating, etc.


blameshift

blameshift (third-person singular simple present blameshifts, present participle blameshifting, simple past and past participle blameshifted)

blameshifts (present singular third-person)
blameshifting (participle present)
blameshifted (participle past)
blameshifted (past)

(biblical) To blame another for one's own wrong-doing. Blameshifting can be caused by pointing the finger at another when trying to save one's own skin.


postlapsarian

/ˌpəʊstlæpˈsɛəɹɪən/

From post- (“after”) + lapsus (“of the fall”) + -arian (“of or pertaining to”).

confix

(Judaism, Christianity) The state of being which followed The Fall (the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden).


Holy of Holies

Calque of Biblical Hebrew קודש הקודשים \ קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים (kódesh hakodashím).

cal

קודש הקודשים

קודש הקודשים \ קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים

The holy of holies, a cubical space of ten cubits on the side, was separated from the larger antechamber by four columns, which were also covered with gold and stood upon silver sockets; they bore a second curtain of four colors.

1882, . Franz von Reber, Joseph Thacher Clarke, History of Ancient Art, page 146:

The inner sanctum of the Temple in Jerusalem.


Elohim

From Hebrew אֱלֹהִים/אֱלוֹהִים (ʾélôhím, “god(s), heavenly power”), plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾélôah, “god”), often taken to be an expanded form of אֵל (ʾēl, “god”) (whence El).

bor

Hebrew אֱלֹהִים

Elohim (Elohim)
 I shall not forgive
 Adonai (Adonai)
 I shall not forgive
 Living God (Living God)
 I shall not the forgive
 Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ)
 I forgive Thee not

2018, “God = Dog”, performed by Behemoth:

Latter-day Saint
Latter-day Saint#English

(Judaism) God; the name used for God in Hebrew scriptures, and used for the Father by Latter-day Saints.


Shem

From Ancient Greek Σήμ (Sḗm), from Hebrew שם (Šēm).

(biblical) The oldest son of Noah, brother to Ham and Japheth.


Japheth

Aelfric of Eynsham
James Tissot
Wycliffe's Bible

From Middle English Jafeth (as attested in Wycliffe's Bible), from Old English Iafeth (see e.g. Aelfric of Eynsham) and Middle French Japhet, both from Late Latin Iaphet, Iafeth, from Koine Greek Ἰάφεθ (Iápheth), from Hebrew יֶפֶת (yépheth). Further origin uncertain; folk etymology as well as rabbinical and patristic claims usually point to a meaning like "enlarged", in reference to Genesis 9:27, or "fair" (pale, in reference to complexion).

Jafeth (alternative)
Japhet (alternative)
Iapheth (alternative)

To the sons of Japheth; Spain, France, Greece, Germany, Asia Minor, Circassia, and Europe in general...Gomer: his numerous descendants spread themselves over a considerable part of Asia Minor, and the north of Europe.

1856, Sir John Stoddart, The student's handbook of ancient history: from the earliest records to the fall of the western empire, page 6:

The name Japheth (Yahpheth) the extender, or fair, has also been given by one who knows the character from the beginning. Japheth's posterity was to be fair, and spread over the world. Two derivations are given to the name...

1897, Jonathan Perkins Weethee, The Eastern Question, in Its Various Phases: Egyptian, British, Russian, Ottoman, Hebrew, American, and Messianic, page 164:

The Septuagint (LXX) Greek was considered by the rabbis as the only language capable of serving as a translation of the Hebrew...In rabbinic interpretation, Japheth represented the Greeks, Shem the Hebrews.

2004, Charles Kannengiesser, Handbook of patristic exegesis: the Bible in ancient Christianity, →ISBN:

Now, in 1620, the Orthodox group took advantage of a visit by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophanes, who in October of that year [said] of the Cossacks: "We all know about the Cossacks, that these chivalrous men are of our race, are of our kin, and are true Orthodox Christians...They are the descendants of the glorious Rus', of the seed of Japheth who fought Byzantine Greece on land and on sea."

2010, Paul Robert Magocsi, A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples, Second Edition, University of Toronto Press, →ISBN, page 202:

(biblical) The third son of Noah, brother to Shem and Ham, who received a blessing from God with Shem, considered to be the ancestor of the Japhetic people(s) (associated approx. with Indo-Europeans).


Enoch

From Late Latin Enoch, from Ancient Greek Ἑνώχ (Henṓkh), from Hebrew חֲנוֹךְ (Ḥănôḵ).

der

Hebrew חֲנוֹךְ (Ḥănôḵ)

Enoch was the son of Jared, and was Noah’s great grandfather.

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 5:24:

(biblical) In the Bible, one of the few people recorded as being taken by God before death.

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 4:17:


Sarai

From Hebrew שרי (Saráy), from the plural form of שר (“master, chief”).

And Abram tooke Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the soules that they had gotten in Haran, and they went foorth to goe into the land of Canaan: and into the land of Canaan they came.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 12:5:

A female given name from Hebrew, most famously born by Sarah, the wife of Abram and mother of Isaac in the Bible, prior to her name change


Melchizedek

From Hebrew מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (malkî-ṣed̠eq). The name literally means “righteousness is my king”.

uder

מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק

Hebrew מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (malkî-ṣed̠eq)

Melchisedech (alternative)
Melchizedec (alternative)

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

1611, King James Version of the Bible, Genesis 14:18:

(biblical) A king and priest mentioned in the book of Genesis; contemporary of Abraham.


Tabitha

From Aramaic טביתא (Ṭabītā’, “doe, roe, gazelle”), translated as Dorcas in the Bible.

Now there was at Ioppa a certain disciple, named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: This woman was full of good works, and almes deeds, which she did.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 9:36:

(biblical) A woman who was, according to the Bible, restored to life by Peter.


Tikkun Leil Shavuot

From Hebrew; literally, "rectification for Shavuot Night".

(Judaism) A special service for the evening of Shavuot, involving the study of Jewish sources, particularly the Jewish bible and postbiblical law materials all night on the holiday of Shavuot.

תִּקּוּן לֵיל שָׁבוּעוֹת

a special service for the evening of Shavuot

tiqqûn lêl šāḇû‘ôṯ


Adonai

/əˈdəʊ.neɪˌʌɪ/

From Hebrew אֲדֹנָי (ādônay, “My Lord”); used in place of the Tetragrammaton YHWH as a name of the deity of Abrahamic religion during prayer recitation.

This not the last empire to crumble / I bore witness to rise and fall of tribes of Adonai / And I have fallen short of a glory of God

(Judaism, Christianity) The Lord: a Hebrew title of God.


potter's clay

en-noun

potter's clay (countable and uncountable, plural potter's clays)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-potter's clay.wav

I am the potter’s clay.

We are but potter’s clay.

(idiomatic, biblical) A person or people created and shaped by God.

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 2:41:

In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom.

1971. Old Testament, NASB Version, Daniel 2:41

(idiomatic, biblical) A nation or kingdom.


Eli

From Hebrew עֵלִי (“ascent”); cognate to the Arabic-derived Ali.

(biblical) The priest who brought up Samuel.


broken vessel

From Old Testament symbolism that people are like clay vessels.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 31:12:

I am a broken vessel, Lord
rubble where a soul should be.

2000. Jill Alexander Essbaum, Kenosis (poem). Published in Heaven, University Press of New England, p. 48:http://books.google.com/books?id=vDQpQ8AzLPAC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=%22i+am+a+broken+vessel%22&source=web&ots=ZTM7SmiZUK&sig=sfLc4PEUu7-tAY4q63i8dIofxsE#PPA48,M1

2005. Kara Williamson, quote in Undisguised, the new project by singer/songwriter Kara Williamson, Your Guide to Christian Music, Gospel, Feb 4 2005.https://web.archive.org/web/20060529091348/http://christianmusic.about.com/od/upcomingreleases/a/aakaraWundisg.htm
I’m a broken vessel—thankfully, God uses broken vessels.

(idiomatic, biblical) A person who is destroyed or forgotten, or who feels flawed or broken.


Lois

From Ancient Greek Λωΐς (Lōḯs), of obscure meaning. Unrelated to Louise or Louisa.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

(biblical) The grandmother of Timothy who is mentioned in an epistle to him.


Star of David

equilateral triangle
equilateral triangle

(Judaism) A symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism, having the shape of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles.


Flying Spaghetti Monster

the Flying Spaghetti Monster (canonical)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Flying Spaghetti Monster.wav

I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.

2005 January, Bobby Henderson, “Open Letter To Kansas School Board”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Is the super-intelligent, super-popular god known as the Flying Spaghetti Monster any match for the prophets of intelligent design?

2005 August 29, Sarah Boxer, “But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There?”, in New York Times, →ISSN, retrieved 2011-10-28:

And now, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is demanding equal teaching time for its theory that the world was created by an FSM.

2006 May 24, Jack Huberman, “#75: Kansas State Board of Education”, in 101 People Who Are Really Screwing America, Nation Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC P95.82.U6 H83 2006, page 76:

A popular deity on the Internet at present — and as undisprovable as Yahweh or any other — is the Flying Spaghetti Monster, who, many claim, has touched them with his noodly appendage.

2006 September 18, Richard Dawkins, “The God Hypothesis”, in The God Delusion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC BL2775.3.D39 2006, page 76:

Call it what you want — God, Buddha, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Prime Mover Unmoved. The totality of everything. I don't care.

2008 April 29, Neil Gaiman with Michael Reeves, InterWorld, 1st edition, New York: HarperCollins, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC PZ7.G1273 Int 2007, page 73:

All rooms, no matter how tough, have someone who hates you the least. Even if you're a Flying Spaghetti Monster disciple speaking at the Vatican, someone in that room will hate you less than everyone else.

2009 October, Scott Berkun, “How to work a tough room”, in Confessions of a Public Speaker, 1st edition, Sebastapol: O'Reilly, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC PN4129.15.B47 2010, page 51:

(humorous) A deity consisting of spaghetti and meatballs, the creator of the universe according to the religion of Pastafarianism.


Garden of Eden

en-proper noun

the Garden of Eden (plural Gardens of Eden)

the Garden of Eden (canonical)
Gardens of Eden (plural)

Calque of Biblical Hebrew גַּן עֵדֶן (gan ʿḗḏen).

calque

Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 3:23–24:

Latter-day Saints know, through modern revelation, that the Garden of Eden was on the North American continent and that Adam and Eve began their conquest of the earth in the upper part of what is now the state of Missouri.

1943, John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations: Aids to Faith in a Modern Day, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, ch. 22, page 127:

Up until two decades ago, the Garden of Eden was, we thought, in Eastern Ontario, where the McIntosh variety happened along. Probably Americans feel you had two Gardens of Eden, the first one being where the Red Delicious was discovered, and the second one, where the Golden Delicious was discovered. The Australians must have thought the Garden of Eden was somewhere in Australia, where the Granny Smith appeared. According to the Bible, however, there was only one Garden of Eden and probably the population explosion started there, but from that time onward, all control was lost of both apple production and population.

1971, Western Fruit Grower, volume 25/26, Western Farm Publications:

“Were there many Gardens of Eden?” Surely! To read only of the biblical Adam and Eve is to grasp the story in this one way. In the hills they speak of the beginning as the time of the giants, another utopia. In eastern heathen lands, surely giants reigned in many Edens.

2001, George Szanto, The Condesa of M., Cormorant Books Inc., →ISBN, page 173:

For religious thinkers like William Warren and Landon West, the whole point of Eden was to unify mankind. To have two Gardens of Eden was worse than having none at all.

2011, Brook Wilensky-Lanford, “Practically Paradise”, in Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden, Grove Press, →ISBN:

(Abrahamism) In the Book of Genesis of the Bible and Surat Sad of the Qur'an, a garden at the source of the Gihon, Pishon, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers, where Adam and Eve first lived after being created.

Edens lustgård n (the most well-known, older translation)


Laban

From Middle English Laban, from Latin Laban, from Koine Greek Λάβαν (Lában), from Biblical Hebrew לָבָן (Lāḇān).

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 25:20:

(biblical) The brother of Rebekah and uncle of Jacob and Esau.


Edomite

[ˈiɾɪ̈mʌɪ̯t̚]

And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 36:9:

(biblical) A person descended from Esau (Edom).


Simeon

From Middle English Simeon, from Latin Simeon, from Ancient Greek Σῠμεών (Sŭmeṓn), from Biblical Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (šimʿôn, “hearkening, listening”), originally referring to Simeon, a son of Jacob. Doublet of Simon.

der

Now the ſonnes of Iacob were twelue. 23 The ſonnes of Leah: Reuben Iacobs firſt borne, and Simeon, and Leui, and Iudah, and Iſſachar, and Zebulun. 24 The ſonnes of Rachel: Ioſeph, and Beniamin. 25 And the ſonnes of Bilhah, Rachels handmaid: Dan and Naphtali. 26 And the ſonnes of Zilpah, Leahs handmaid: Gad, and Aſher. Theſe are the ſonnes of Iacob, which were borne to him in Padan Aram.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 35:22–26, column 2:

(biblical) Second son of Jacob, by his wife Leah.

And the ſecond lot came foorth to Simeon, euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Iudah.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 19:1, column 2:

(biblical) One of the Israelite tribes, descended from Simeon.


Naphtali

From Biblical Hebrew נַפְתָּלִי (naftalí), a son of Jacob. Compare Arabic نافس (“to compete with”).

(biblical) Sixth son of Jacob, by his wife's handmaid Bilhah.

(biblical) One of the Israelite tribes, descended from Naphtali.


Asher

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: ²³ The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: ²⁴ The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: ²⁵ And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: ²⁶ And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 35:22b-26::

(biblical) The eighth son of Jacob, by his wife's handmaid Zilpah.

And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 21:30:

(biblical) One of the Israelite tribes, descended from Asher.


Issachar

/ˈɪ.səˌkɑː(ɹ)/

From Biblical Hebrew יִשָּׂשׁכָר (“Issachar”), a son of Jacob.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 35:22b-26:

And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 21:28:

(biblical) Ninth son of Jacob, by his wife Leah.

(biblical) One of the Israelite tribes, descended from Issachar.


Zebulun

Old Testament Hebrew זְבֻלוּן (zebulun), a son of Jacob.

(biblical) Tenth son of Jacob, by his wife Leah.

(biblical) One of the Israelite tribes, descended from Zebulun.


Zilpah

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 35:22-26:

(biblical) Handmaid of Leah and mother of Gad and Asher.


Bilhah

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.

1611, King James Version of the Bible, Genesis 35:22b-26:

(biblical) A handmaid of Rachel and mother of Dan and Naphtali.


Gilead

Is there no balme in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recouered?

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 8:22:

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!

1845 February, — Quarles [pseudonym; Edgar Allan Poe], “The Raven”, in The American Review, volume I, number II, New York, N.Y., London: Wiley & Putnam, […], →OCLC:

(biblical) A region east of the Jordan river.


mercy seat

From mercy + seat, after German Gnadenstuhl, translating Hebrew כַּפֹּרֶת (kappóreth) (= Hellenistic Greek ἱλαστήριον (hilastḗrion) (Septuagint)/Latin propitiatorium (Vulgate)).

And thou shalt make a Mercieseat of pure gold: two cubites and a halfe shalbe the length thereof, and a cubite and a halfe the breadth thereof.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 25:17:

The greatest mystery of Religion is expressed by adumbration, and in the noblest part of Jewish Types, we finde the Cherubims shadowing the Mercy-seat.

1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, Folio Society, published 2007, page 206:

(Judaism, Christianity) The lid of the Ark of the Covenant, on which God is said to have been enthroned; taken to represent the throne in heaven.


Sabbatianism

Sabbateanism is the matrix of every significant movement to have emerged in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, from Hasidism, to Reform Judaism, to the earliest Masonic circles and revolutionary idealism.

1971, Gershom Scholem, translated by unknown, The Messianic Idea in Judaism and other Essays on Jewish Spirituality:

(Judaism) A Jewish messianic movement of the 17th century, centred around Sabbatai Zevi (1626–1676).


Sermon on the Mount

A well-known public discourse given by Jesus in the first year of his ministry, around 30 C.E..


cholent

en-noun

cholent (countable and uncountable, plural cholents)

cholents (plural)
chulent (alternative)
schalet (alternative)

From Yiddish טשאָלנט (tsholnt), of unknown origin, but may be from an Old French reflex of Latin calēns.

As Mr. Schonfeld climbed the stairs, he was carrying a steaming 18-quart pot containing the traditional Sabbath stew known as chulent.

2007 March 18, Jennifer Bleyer, “‘City of Refuge’”, in New York Times:

Food was prepared with a far defter hand; I had matzo ball soup and boiled beef with horseradish, which sounds terrible but was excellent; Eliza ordered cholent, a thick bean stew, topped with a slice of meat loaf — our Jewish-mom-like server basically forced her.

2014 January 30, Seth Kugel, “Wintertime Bargains in Budapest”, in The New York Times:

A meat stew traditionally served on the Sabbath by Jews.


NWT

N.W.T. (alternative)
N. W. T. (alternative)

w:New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

(biblical) Initialism of New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.


Caspar

A name given to one of the Magi in Western church tradition, from Biblical Hebrew גִּזְבָּר (gizbar), ultimately from Old Median *ganǰabarah; see it for more. Compare Hatran Aramaic 𐣢𐣦𐣡𐣣𐣩 (gzbry /Gazzabray/, “a given name”), also from Iranian.

cog

Jasper (alternative)
Gaspar (alternative)
Casper (alternative)
Kaspar (alternative)
Kasper (alternative)
Kosper (alternative)
Cosper (alternative)
Gosper (alternative)


particularity

en-noun

particularity (countable and uncountable, plural particularities)

From Middle French particularité (“part of a whole; something particular, particularity”) (modern French particularité), and from its etymon Late Latin particularitas (“fact or quality of being particular; something particular, particularity”), from Latin particulāris (“particular; partial”) + -tās (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns indicating a state of being). Particulāris is derived from particula (“particle, small part”) (from pars (“a part, piece, portion, share”) (probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to sell; to go through; to carry forth, fare”)) + -cula (diminutive suffix)) + -āris (suffix denoting a relationship, forming adjectives). The English word is analysable as particular + -ity (suffix forming nouns from adjectives, referring to the properties, qualities, or states of what is denoted by the adjectives).

suffix

The condition of being particular rather than general or universal; specificity.

(Christianity, Judaism, theology, obsolete) Synonym of particularism (“the principle that only certain people are chosen by God for salvation”)


Job's comforter

en-noun

Job's comforter (plural Job's comforters)

From the Bible Job 16.2 where Job's supposed friends offered advice that was not helpful.

Only a Job's comforter would try to argue that yesterday's stock fall announcement could bring anything good.

A person who, in trying to offer help or advice, says something that aggravates the distress.

pocieszyciel Hioba

person who aggravates someone's distress under the guise of consoling them


cast the first stone

en-verb

cast the first stone (third-person singular simple present casts the first stone, present participle casting the first stone, simple past and past participle cast the first stone)

casts the first stone (present singular third-person)
casting the first stone (participle present)
cast the first stone (participle past)
cast the first stone (past)

From the Bible John 8.7 where Jesus tells the accusers of a woman of adultery, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

2007, March 10, Mr Gingrich, on the impeachment proceedings in 1999. Reported in The Guardian
I knew I couldn't cast the first stone as I knew I had weaknesses. ... (But) as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law I have no choice but to move forward and say you cannot accept perjury in your highest officials.

(idiomatic) To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones


Jada

(biblical) A male given name, David's second cousin five times removed according to 1 Chronicles 2.


Asa

en-proper noun

Asa (countable and uncountable, plural Asas)

Via Late Latin Asa from Koine Greek Ἀσά (Asá) from Biblical Hebrew אָסָא (ʾĀsāʾ), from Aramaic אָסְיָא (ʾāsyā, “physician, doctor, healer”), from Akkadian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /asû/) from Sumerian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /azu/, “physician, healer”); compare Classical Syriac ܐܵܣܝܵܐ (ʾāsyā, “healer, physician, medical doctor”) whence Arabic آسٍ (ʔāsin).

cog

And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 15:9-11:

(biblical) The third king of Judah mentioned in the Books of Kings who succeeded his father Abijah; the father of King Jehoshaphat. (Matthew calls him "Asaph" in Matthew 1:7.)


Ebenezer

From Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר (éven ha`ézer, “stone of help”).

der

אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר

Then Samuel tooke a ſtone, and ſet it betweene Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-Ezer, ſaying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped vs.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 7:12:

Here I raiſe my Eben-ezer,
Hither by thy Grace I'm come;
So I hope by thy good Pleaſure,
Shortly to arrive at Home:

1759, Robert Robinson, “Hymn I”, in A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Church of Christ: Meeting in Angel-Alley, page 3:

(biblical) The stone memorial in Israel erected by Samuel.


Moab

From Ancient Greek Μωάβ (Mōáb), from Biblical Hebrew מוֹאָב (môʾāḇ). Attested to as Moabite 𐤌𐤀𐤁 (mʾb) and Ancient Egyptian mwjbw N35A-M17-D58-G43-N25

(biblical) The son of Lot through his eldest daughter, in the Hebrew Bible.


Amalec

Via Late Latin Amālēc from Koine Greek Ἀμᾱλήκ (Amālḗk) from Biblical Hebrew עֲמָלֵק (ʾĂmālēq).

(biblical) The grandson of Esau through his eldest son, in the Hebrew Bible.


Gog

Gog and Magog, a figure (or two figures) mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Ezekiel 38 and 39, and variously identified by later writers with Satan or certain hostile nations. (See Revelation 20:8.)


Balthazar

/ˈbælθəˌzɔɹ/

From Middle English Balthasar, from Latin Baltassar, from Ancient Greek Βαλτασαρ (Baltasar), from Hebrew בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (bēlšaṣṣar), attested in the Tanakh and the Old Testament (Daniel 5:1), from Akkadian 𒂗𒈗𒋀 (bēl-šarra-uṣṣur, literally “May Bel protect the king”). Doublet of Belshazzar.

בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר

Hebrew בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (bēlšaṣṣar)

Baltasar (alternative)
Baltassar (alternative)
Balthasar (alternative)
Belshazzar (alternative)
Beltshatsar (alternative)

(biblical, historical) a Babylonian king mentioned in the Book of Daniel.


teraphim

From ecclesiastical Latin theraphim, from Ancient Greek θεραφίν (theraphín), from Hebrew תְּרָפִים (t'rafím, “household gods”).

uder

And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 18:20:

1658, And … the Statuæ Isiacæ, Teraphims, and little Idols, found about the Mummies, do make a decussation or Jacobs Crosse with their armes — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 191)

Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.

2000, World English Bible, Genesis 31:19:

Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.

2000, World English Bible, 1 Samuel 19:13

An idol or other image of reverence and divination among the ancient Hebrews; apparently especially a kind of household god.


ephah

ephahs (plural)
epha (alternative)
ephi (alternative)

From Hebrew אֵיפָה (eifá), from Egyptian jpt (“oipe, a dry measure of volume about 19.2 liters”). Doublet of oipe.

der

Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 45:10–11:

(historical units of measure) A former Hebrew unit of dry volume (about 23 L).


Baraita

Aramaic baraita, an extraneous teaching. The word appears in the feminine (baraita rather than bara'ah), because it is actually short for matnita baraita, external Mishnah or teaching (and matnita is feminine).

(Judaism) Any of various Jewish traditions that are not included in the Mishnah.


chesed

From Hebrew חסד (ḥeseḏ, “grace, kindness, love”).

Through ḥesed one deals faithfully or keeps faith with another.

2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 66:

The Jewish attribute of grace, kindness or love; one of the sephiroth


Judean

(biblical) A member of the tribe of Judah.


Acts of the Apostles

Calque of Latin Āctūs Apostolōrum, itself a calque of Ancient Greek Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων (Práxeis Apostólōn).

Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων

(biblical) The fifth book in the New Testament of the Bible.

ܣܘܼܪ̈ܵܢܹܐ ܕܫܠܝܼܚܹ̈ܐ

suʿrānē d-šlīḥē


Bel and the Dragon

(biblical) A deuterocanonical, apocryphal book of the Bible.


deuterocanonical

(biblical) Being of the second canon of the Old Testament of the Bible, and not accepted by some Christians. Part of the Apocrypha.

Baruch

Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament include


Canticle of Canticles

A calque of Latin Canticum Canticorum (“Song of Songs”).

(biblical) Synonym of Song of Songs, a canonical book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament.


Song of Songs

A calque of Latin Canticum Canticorum (“Song of Songs”), variant of earlier Canticle of Canticles.

(biblical) The twenty-second book of the Christian Old Testament and the seventeenth book of the Hebrew Bible.


1 Chronicles

(biblical) The first of the two Books of Chronicles and the thirteenth book of the Old Testament of the Bible.


2 Chronicles

(biblical) The second of the two Books of Chronicles and the fourteenth book of the Old Testament of the Bible.


1 Corinthians

(biblical) The first book of Corinthians and the seventh book in the New Testament of the Bible, an epistle to the people of Corinth attributed to Paul the Apostle and Sosthenes.

risāla(t) būlus al-ʔūlā ʔilā ʔahli kūrinṯūs

رِسَالَة بُولُس الأُولَى إِلَى أَهْلِ كُورِنْثُوس

Céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Corantaigh


2 Corinthians

(biblical) The second book of Corinthians and the eighth book in the New Testament of the Bible, an epistle to the people of Corinth attributed to Paul the Apostle and Timothy.


Ecclesiasticus

A book of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canon of the Old Testament, considered apocryphal by Protestants.


Ben Sira

(biblical) Ecclesiasticus, a book of the Bible.


Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach

the Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach (canonical)


antinomianism

en-noun

antinomianism (countable and uncountable, plural antinomianisms)

From antinomian + -ism, coined by Martin Luther, notably used in his Against the Antinomians (1539).


Judg.

Iūd.

abbreviation of the equivalent of Judges


1 Samuel

(biblical) The ninth book of the Old Testament of the Bible, and of the Tanakh.

撒母耳記上卷 /撒母耳记上卷

Sat-bó͘-ní Kì Siōng-koàn, Sat-bó͘-jí Kì Siōng-koàn

撒母耳記上 /撒母耳记上

Sat-bó͘-ní Kì Siōng, Sat-bó͘-jí Kì Siōng


2 Samuel

(biblical) The tenth book of the Old Testament of Bible, and of the Tanakh.

撒母耳記下卷 /撒母耳记下卷

Sat-bó͘-ní Kì Hā-koàn, Sat-bó͘-jí Kì Hā-koàn


1 Kings

(biblical) The eleventh book of the Old Testament of Bible, and of the Tanakh.


2 Kings

(biblical) The twelfth book of the Old Testament of Bible, and of the Tanakh.


3 Kings

(biblical) A book of the Old Testament of Bible, and of the Tanakh.


Maccabees

(biblical) One of two books of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canon of the Old Testament, considered apocryphal by Protestants.


Prayer of Manasseh

(biblical) A book of the Apocrypha of the Bible.


Song of the Three Holy Children

(biblical) A book of the Apocrypha, now included in the passage Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children.


2 Peter

(biblical) The second epistle of Peter, the twenty-second book of the New Testament of the Bible.


1 Peter

(biblical) The first epistle of Peter, the twenty-first book of the New Testament of the Bible.


for ever and ever

Arising in the King James Bible, an approximate translation from Ancient Greek εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων (eis toùs aiônas tôn aiṓnōn, “to the aeons of the aeons”) and Hebrew לעולם ועד (“forever and until”), as well as Latin in saecula saeculorum and per omnia saecula saeculorum (themselves from the Greek).

der

εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων

(biblical, Christian liturgy) Eternally; timelessly; with no beginning and no end.


1 Thessalonians

(biblical) The thirteenth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the first epistle to the Thessalonians.


2 Thessalonians

(biblical) The fourteenth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the second epistle to the Thessalonians.


Obed

From Hebrew אובד or עוֹבֵד (Oved, “servant”).

And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The son of Ruth and Boaz, father of Jesse and grandfather of David, grandson of Naomi.

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


1 Timothy

(biblical) The fifteenth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the first epistle to Timothy.

رِسَالَة بُولُس الأُولَى إِلَى تِمُوثَاوْس


2 Timothy

(biblical) The sixteenth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the second epistle to Timothy.


Wisdom of Solomon

A book of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canon of the Old Testament, considered apocryphal by Protestants.


1 John

(biblical) The twenty-third book of the New Testament of the Bible, the first epistle of John.


2 John

(biblical) The twenty-fourth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the second epistle of John.


3 John

(biblical) The antepenultimate book of the New Testament of the Bible, the third epistle of John.


apikoros

apikorsim (plural)
apikores (alternative)
Apikoros (alternative)
apikoyres (alternative)
epikoros (alternative)

From Hebrew אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס ('epikóros, “heretic”), from Ancient Greek Ἐπίκουρος (Epíkouros, “Epicurus”), but later associated with Aramaic אַפְקֵר (ʾap̄ḳēr, “to abandon”).

bor

אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס

der

And these are they that have no portion in the world to come: He who says that the revivification of the dead cannot be proved from the Law, and that the Law is not from heaven, and an Apikoros (that is, one that does not fully believe in the Law).

1882, Paul Isaac Hershon (tr.), Treasures of the Talmud, page 48:

A persistent fear worried the Jews of the early Diasporas and of Hellenistic times: the fear that a child of theirs might grow up to be an am-haaretz—a peasant, ignorant of Torah; or, even worse, an apikoros—a sophisticated unbeliever who abandons Jewish faith to indulge in rationalistic speculation about the meaning of existence.

1961, Daniel Bell, “Reflections on Jewish Identity”, in Commentary Magazine:

“How can you do that if you don't believe in God?” “I believe in God. I never said I didn't believe in God.” “You don't sound like a Hasid, though,” I told him. “What do I sound like?” “Like a—an apikoros.”

Others prefer cherry, apricot, or apple, but even these innovations are rejected by the modern apikoros, the child raised in America who sees chocolate as the only possible substance that should be stuffed inside the hamantash.

2005, Ruth Fredman Cernea, editor, The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate, page 203:


Timotheus

Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.

Timothy, a companion of Paul. (biblical character)


tzitzit

en-noun

tzitzit (plural tzitziot or tzitzis or tzitzith)

tzitziot (plural)
tzitzis (plural)
tzitzith (plural)
tsitsith (alternative)
zizit (alternative)

uder

Hebrew צִיצִית


Apollyon

From Ancient Greek Ἀπολλύων (Apollúōn, “Apollyon, the destroyer”), from ἀπόλλυμι (apóllumi, “utterly destroy”) via phono-semantic matching with Biblical Hebrew אֲבַדּוֹן (ʾaḇaddôn, “destruction, ruin”).

der

A great black bird, Apollyon's bosom-friend, / Sailed past, nor beat his wide wing dragon-penned / That brushed my cap—perchance the guide I sought.

1855, Robert Browning, chapter 27, in “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”:

(Christianity) The destroying angel of the abyss, the undoer or disintegrator.


Gideon

Borrowed from Hebrew גִּדְעוֹן (gid'ón, “Gideon”) ("feller", "hewer", "mighty warrior").

bor+

And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 7:7:

(biblical) A warrior judge of Israel mentioned in the book of Judges.


bottomless pit

1769, The Bible, King James Version, Oxford Standard Text, Revelation, 9:11,
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.


Zacharias

From Ancient Greek Ζαχαρίας (Zakharías), the New Testament form of the figure's name in the Old Testament, Hebrew זְכַרְיָה (Zəḵaryā, “Yahweh has remembered”). Compare Zachariah and Zechariah.


haroseth

From Hebrew חֲרֽוֹסֶת, from חרס (cheres, “clay”).

bor

Hebrew חֲרֽוֹסֶת

charoses (alternative)
charoset (alternative)
charoseth (alternative)
haroset (alternative)

Then the chief rabbi again took bread and brake it and gave it to all that were withhim, and dipped it into the dish with the haroseth and the lettuce.

1887, The Living Age, volume 173, page 320:

She had never heard of matzo, never tasted the bitter herb, never waited, impatiently, for the moment when she could eat the charoset.

1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 235:

Unleavened bread and a fruit spread called haroseth are still served today at Passover feasts to remind God's people to be ready to go for God when he calls!

2001, Susan Lingo, A to Z Object Talks That Teach about the Old Testament, page 40:

On each table was a platter containing the symbols of Passover—matzoh (unleavened bread), marror (bitter herbs), haroseth (a paste made of chopped apples, nuts, cinnamon, and wine), the shank bone of a lamb, a roasted egg, and parsley.

2005, Marilyn Sachs, A Pocket Full of Seeds, page 91:

(Judaism) A paste made of fruits and nuts eaten at Passover, representing the mortar mixed by the Israelites during their slavery in Egypt.


Temple in Jerusalem

(Judaism) A particular building complex once in Jerusalem, then a center of Jewish religious life.


milchig

From Yiddish מילכיק (milkhik) with the spelling influenced by German, or else borrowed directly from German milchig (“milky”). Doublet of milky.

(Judaism, of food) Dairy, containing anything derived from milk.

(Judaism, of kitchenware) Designated for use with dairy products or having been contaminated by dairy products.


milchig

en-noun

milchig (countable and uncountable, plural milchigs)

(Judaism) Food containing anything derived from milk.


fleischig

From Yiddish פֿליישיק (fleyshik, “meaty”). Spelling influenced by German fleischig (“meaty”). Doublet of fleshy.

fleishig (alternative)
fleishik (alternative)
fleyshik (alternative)

(Judaism, of food) Meaty, containing meat.

(Judaism, of kitchenware) Designated for use with meat or having been contaminated by meat.

(Judaism, of a person) Having recently eaten meat and therefore unable to eat milchig food.


fleischig

fleischig (countable and uncountable, plural fleischigs)

fleischigs (plural)
fleishig (alternative)
fleishik (alternative)
fleyshik (alternative)


kolpik

From Turkish kalpak. Doublet of calpack.

A type of traditional headgear worn in families of many Hasidic rabbis, by unmarried children on Shabbat and by rabbis on special occasions. It is a made from brown fur (as opposed to a spodik, worn by Polish Hasidic dynasties, which is fashioned out of black fur).


Lemuel

From Hebrew לְמוּאֵל (lemu'él, ləmūʔel, literally “devoted to God”).

uder

(Mormonism) A character in the Book of Mormon, the younger brother of Laman and the elder brother of Nephi, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph.


Perez

(biblical) The father of Hezron and the son of Judah; the grandson of Jacob.


Silvanus

From Latin Silvanus, a Latin cognomen, from silva (“forest”). The name Silas, from the early Christian apostle, was Latinised as Silvanus by Paul.

(biblical) A companion of Paul, also called Silas.


cabalist

(Judaism) A student of the Jewish Kabballah.


Tabernacles

A particular Christian holiday based on the Jewish one.


ephod

1769, Oxford Standard text, Bible (King James): Exodus, 28, vi-viii,
And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.
And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

1769, Oxford Standard text, Bible (King James): Hosea, 3, iv,
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

From this it appears that at least towards the close of the Exile, the Urim and Thummim were considered as something distinct from the ephod of the high priest and the gems with which it was adorned.

1913, “Urim and Thummim”, in Catholic Encyclopedia:

(biblical, Judaism) A priestly apron, or breastplate, described in the Bible in Exodus 28: vi–xxx, which only the chief priest of ancient Israel was allowed to wear.

éphod

apron worn by chief priest of ancient Israel


Elisheba

Borrowed from Hebrew אלישבע (“the Lord is her oath”). Doublet of Elizabeth.

bor+

(biblical) The wife of Aaron, mentioned in Exodus 6:23.


Gomorrah

From Ancient Greek Γόμορρᾰ (Gómorrhă), from Biblical Hebrew עֲמֹרָה (ʿămōrā).

(biblical, Quranic) A city in the Middle East which, according to the Hebrew Bible and to Islamic tradition, was destroyed by God (along with Sodom) for the sins of its inhabitants.


King James Version

/ˌkɪŋ ˈdʒeɪmz ˌvɜː.ʃən/

/ˌkɪŋ ˈdʒeɪmz ˌvɜː.ʒən/

/ˌkɪŋ ˈdʒeɪmz ˌvɝː.ʒən/

/ˌkɪŋ ˈdʒeɪmz ˌvɝː.ʃən/

Named for James I of England (James VI of Scotland), who authorized the production of a new English translation of the Bible.

[...], and of course the Bible, the men who wrote it and especially the men who made the King James version, for it was the language of the Bible rather than its "message" which I got first and which I will never shake off.

a. 1964, Henry Miller, “The Books in My Life”, in Henry Miller on Writing, page 125:

a. 1998, Jeffrey M. Perl, Common Knowledge, quoted in front material, Homer, Robert Fagles (translator), The Iliad, page i
"Fagles' Homer, Sophocles, and especially Aeschylus may one day stand relation to their originals as the King James Version to Greek and Hebrew Scripture."

The Catholic priest would have been surprised that the old shaman had memorized the King James version of this song.

1999, James D. Doss, The Shaman's Game, page 119:

She thought for a moment, trying to remember; then she told him, "twenty-third Psalm, King James version," as best she recalled.

2004, R. Garcia y Robertson, Lady Robyn, page 320:

It pained him to tell the story, yet tell it he did, over and over, in the unabridged, King James version.

2005, Michael Kun, You Poor Monster, page 19:

A Bible, King James Version. (This he stuck in his bag, because anybody who knows anything about English literature knows you can't ger away from the Bible.)

2005, Catherine Landis, Harvest, page 54:

(biblical, Christianity) An English translation, published in 1611, of the Bible from the original Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) commissioned for the Church of England, which is the version most quoted and influential in English literature and English Protestant religious culture.


Ahasuerus

From Hebrew אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ (Akhashverósh) from Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (x-š-y-a-r-š-a /xšayāršā/, “ruler among kings”). Cognates include Xerxes from Ancient Greek Ξέρξης (Xérxēs), from the same Old Persian name.

bor

אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ


Adah

From Hebrew עָדָה (adá, “Adah”, literally “ornament, dawn”).


cheder

en-noun

cheder (plural cheders or chederim or chedarim or chadarim or chadorim)

cheders (plural)
chederim (plural)
chedarim (plural)
chadarim (plural)
chadorim (plural)
cheider (alternative)
cheyder (alternative)
kheder (alternative)
kheyder (alternative)

From Yiddish חדר (kheyder), from Hebrew חֶדֶר (khéder, “room”).

A businessman in New York who happened to be in the Midlands at the time was so impressed by Asher's methods that he was funding him to set up a string of chederim – Sunday schools for Jews – all over the United States.

2006, Howard Jacobson, Kalooki Nights, Vintage, published 2007, page 51:

(education, Judaism) An elementary school for Jewish children, teaching basic Judaism and Hebrew.


sheitel

From Yiddish שייטל (sheytl), cognate to German Scheitel (“parting”).

I keep wanting to put her in a sheitel, the wig that every Orthodox Jewish wife is supposed to wear in order to prevent a man not her husband from lusting after her in his heart.

2006, Howard Jacobson, Kalooki Nights, Vintage, published 2007, page 196:

Many even have their sheitel professionally styled: according to the New York Times, a Madison Avenue salon that specializes in sheitel grooming charges at least $600 for the service: […]

2022, Richard Thompson Ford, Dress Codes […] , Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 288:

(Judaism) A wig worn by married Orthodox Jewish women.

פֵּאָה

wig worn by married orthodox Jewish women


mikveh

mikveh (plural mikvehs or mikveot or mikvos or mikvot or mikvoth)

mikvehs (plural)
mikveot (plural)
mikvos (plural)
mikvot (plural)
mikvoth (plural)
mikvah (alternative)
mikva (alternative)
mikve (alternative)
mikweh (alternative)
miqveh (alternative)
miqweh (alternative)

Borrowed from Hebrew מִקְוֶה (mikvé, “collection [of water]”).

bor+

On the night before her wedding Channa Washinsky would certainly have immersed herself in the ritually cleansing waters of the mikveh.

2006, Howard Jacobson, Kalooki Nights, Vintage, published 2007, page 197:

Adjacent were the remains of a mikvah bath for the ritual purification of women, and a kosher abattoir for the ritual slaughter of beasts [...].

2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 365:

(Judaism) A ritual bath in which various Jewish purifications are performed.


Japhetite

Japhetites (plural)
Japhethite (alternative)

(biblical) A supposed descendant of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah.


ecclesia

From Latin ecclēsia, from Ancient Greek ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía). Doublet of Eccles.

(biblical) The congregation, the group of believers, symbolic body or building.


posken

en-verb

posken (third-person singular simple present poskens, present participle poskening, simple past and past participle poskened)

poskens (present singular third-person)
poskening (participle present)
poskened (participle past)
poskened (past)

In no way are we poskening; rather, we simply hope to give readers a sense of the issues.

1991, From Our Sealed Rooms: A Most Unusual War : a Gulf War Retrospective, Feldheim Pub:

The Rosh Yeshivah listened to both sides, and then poskened in favor of the young man. The woman was not happy, but after all, this was the decision of the Rosh Yeshivah. So she agreed to abide by his decision and the two of them went home.

1992 September 8, Michael Allen, “Not a Charm?”, in soc.culture.jewish (Usenet):

(Judaism) To make an official ruling or decision.


Kezia

From Hebrew קְצִיעָה (“cassia tree”). Compare cassia.

The second of the three daughters of Job.


Tophet

Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew תוֹפֶת (tôp̄eṯ).

And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 7:31:

(biblical) A location near Jerusalem in the valley of Gehenna where children were burned alive as sacrifice.


Mary Magdalene

From Mary + Magdalene; from Middle English Marie Magdaleyn, Marie Magdeleyne, Marye Maudelen, Marye Maudeleyne, Marie Mawdeleyn, Mary Maudelen, Mary Mawdelayn, from Old French Marie Madelaine and Latin Marīa Magdalēna.

The firſt day of the weeke, commeth Mary Magdalene earely when it was yet darke, vnto the Sepulchre, and ſeeth the ſtone taken away from the Sepulchre.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 20:1, column 2:

I tried to explain to the large and emotional congregation how Jesus would address the problem of illicit sex, contagion, and suffering. I quoted texts about his attitude toward Mary Magdalene (who was cured of seven sins), the Samaritan woman at the well (with five lovers), and the woman caught in adultery and sentenced to be stoned to death. I said that all these actions showed his love and forgiveness and that Matthew 25’s “unto the least of these” put the responsibility on all of us to reach out to the afflicted with forgiveness and love.

2014, Jimmy Carter, “Slavery and Prostitution”, in A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 139:


Mara

From Hebrew מָרָא (mara, “bitterness”), derived from Hebrew מַר (mar, “bitter”). The modern given name may also be shortened from Maria or Tamara.

Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ruth 1:20:


Nathanael

From Ancient Greek Ναθαναήλ (Nathanaḗl), from Biblical Hebrew נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el, literally “God has given”).

der

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

An Apostle in the Gospel of John; usually identified with Bartholomew.

A male given name from Hebrew; more common in the form Nathaniel.


Ananias

From Ancient Greek Ἀνανίας (Ananías), from Hebrew חֲנַנְיָה (khananyá).

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

In the New Testament, any of certain members of the early Christian church.

Bunter entertained a hope of convincing Quelch that he hadn't been in the study at all. He had great faith in his powers as an Ananias!

1934, Frank Richards, The Magnet: Kidnapped from the Air:

(type) (with reference to Acts 5.3) A liar.


swear on a stack of Bibles

en-verb

swear<,,swore,sworn> on a stack of Bibles

swear on a stack of Bibles (third-person singular simple present swears on a stack of Bibles, present participle swearing on a stack of Bibles, simple past swore on a stack of Bibles, past participle sworn on a stack of Bibles)

swears on a stack of Bibles (present singular third-person)
swearing on a stack of Bibles (participle present)
swore on a stack of Bibles (past)
sworn on a stack of Bibles (participle past)
swear on a stack (alternative)
swear on stacks of Bibles (alternative)
promise on a stack of Bibles (alternative)

From the practice of some people making an oath on a Bible to tell the truth when testifying in court.

Why not check me into a sanatorium, let them watch me, examine me, give me the tests? In twelve hours they can tell whether I'm lying or not. If I'm clean, I'll be all right. If I'm not, I'll get sick as a dog, start throwing up at both ends, and this would prove I'm a damn liar. It would be better than all the affidavits in the world. I could swear on a stack of Bibles, but who would believe me? […] So I did it. It cost me almost a thousand dollars to pay the doctors to watch me and supervise me down to the last minute so they could go to court and make a statement. I stayed there four days; and when I left, everyone in the place was ready to swear on a stack of Bibles that I was clean.

1956, Billie Holiday with William Dufty, Lady Sings the Blues, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, →OCLC:

Says L.A. Times Managing Editor Frank McCulloch: "I know it looks bad, but I'll swear on a stack of Bibles it's a sheer coincidence."

1962 July 13, “Sheer Coincidence”, in Time, archived from the original on 2013-08-23:

“Sissy, promised you won’t tell Daddy. Swear on a stack of Bibles.” He leaned into his sister and sniffled against her chest. / “I promise,” she answered. “Now what is it?” / “Swear, Sissy. Swear on a stack of Bibles!” / Copper yawned mightily, wishing to sink back under the bedclothes. “Oh, Willy, we don’t have a stack of Bibles. Besides, it’s a sin to swear. Just tell me.”

2005, Jan Watson, edited by Jerry B. Jenkins, Troublesome Creek, Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., →ISBN:

‘Swear it! C’mon, swear it on a stack of Bibles!’ / ‘I swear on a stack of Bibles I’ll never tell, cross my heart and hope to die,’ I say, adding the extra bit for good measure.

2001, Bryce Courtenay, Four Fires, Middlesex: Penguin Books, →ISBN:

Already most of us feel somewhat softer toward Japan than we swore on a stack of Bibles we ever would feel.

2003, Kazuko Hirose Kawaguchi, A Social Theory of International Law: International Relations as a Complex System, Leiden, Boston, Mass.: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, →ISBN, page 176:

From what has been said so far, […] and their many perjuries in front of the judges during interrogation (because don't care about perjuring themselves and drawing down curses upon themselves and swearing on a stack of Bibles), it is clear that, because of their essential nature and formal profession of belief and reception into their congregation, these Waldensians are apostates from the faith, idolaters and guilty of the crime of treason against God; […]

2011, P. G. Maxwell-Stuart, Witch Beliefs and Witch Trials in the Middle Ages: Documents and Readings, London, New York, N.Y.: Continuum International Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 95:

To make a promise or give an assurance with great conviction.


Bava Metzi'a

From Aramaic בבא מציעא (literally “the middle chapter”).

der

A tractate (book) of the Talmud which deals with the laws of property.


Thaddaeus

en-proper noun

Thaddaeus (countable and uncountable, plural Thaddaeuses)

Thaddaeuses (plural)
Thaddæus (alternative)

From Latin Thaddaeus, from Ancient Greek Θαδδαῖος (Thaddaîos).

Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the Publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

(rare) A male given name from Ancient Greek; usually spelled Thaddeus.


Nicodemus

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Νῑκόδημος (Nīkódēmos), from νῑ́κη (nī́kē, “victory”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”).

(rare) A male given name from Ancient Greek.


Theophilus

/θiːˈɒfɪləs/

Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos), meaning "love of God" or "friend of God".

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.

Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles

(biblical) The addressee of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.


Essene

From Ancient Greek Ἐσσηνοι (Essēnoi); earlier etymology unknown

(historical) A member of a first-century ascetic Jewish sect in ancient Palestine from the second century BCE to the second century CE. The Essenes are believed to have been the authors of the Dead Sea scrolls.


Sampson

And Sampson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in to her.

1844, Lancelot C. L. Brenton, The Septuagint version of the Old Testament, Judges 16, i:

2007, Travis Mashburn, Living Christianity, Xulon Press (publ.), page 82.
She agreed and then went to Sampson, asking for the secret of his great strength.

2016, William E. Blanchard, Preparing You for the Return of Jesus, RoseDog Books (publ.), page 21.
And Sampson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, one in his right hand and the other in his left.

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.

An unincorporated community in Webster County, Missouri.

A place in the United States:
A town in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.

An unincorporated community in Oconto County, Wisconsin


Prisca

Latin feminine form of the cognomen Priscus, from priscus (“old”).

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Timothy 4:19:

An alternative name for Priscilla, an early Christian.


Huldah

And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

(biblical) A prophetess in the Old Testament.


Jedidiah

/ˌd͡ʒɛdɪˈdaɪə/

Borrowed from Hebrew יְדִידְיָה (“beloved of Yahweh”).


Syntyche

From Ancient Greek Συντύχη (Suntúkhē, “fortunate”), from συν- (sun-, “with”) + τύχη (túkhē, “fate”).

prefix

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Philippians 4:2:

(very rare, outside the Bible) A female given name from Ancient Greek.


Persis

Ancient Greek Περσίς (Persís, “a Persian woman”).

uder

Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

An early Christian, mentioned in the epistle to the Romans.


bar mitzvah

en-noun

bar mitzvah (plural bar mitzvahs or b'nai mitzvah)

bar mitzvahs (plural)
b'nai mitzvah (plural)
bar-mitzvah (alternative)

From Hebrew בר מצווה / בַּר מִצְוָה (literally “of the age of mitzvah”).

he-m

בַּר מִצְוָה

(Judaism) A Jewish coming of age ceremony for boys.


shidduch

en-noun

shidduch (plural shidduchs or shidduchim)

Borrowed from Yiddish שידוך (shídekh), deriving from Hebrew שִׁידּוּךְ (shidúkh, “matchmaking”).

der

(Judaism) A system of matchmaking in which Jewish singles are introduced to each other.


frum

en-adj

frum (comparative frummer, superlative frummest)

frummer (comparative)
frummest (superlative)

From Yiddish פֿרום (frum, “pious”). Related to German fromm and Dutch vroom.

I learned all about the role of the kibbutz in Israeli life. Not to mention the role of the Arab, the artist, the woman, the socialist and the frum Jew.

1979, Clive Sinclair, Hearts of Gold, Penguin, published 1983, page 45:

(Judaism) Pious, observant; committed to obeying all the laws of Judaism


Anthropos

From Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos).

(Gnosticism) The primordial man/humanity.


Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (canonical)
Four Horsemen (alternative)
Horsemen of the Apocalypse (alternative)

en-au-Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.ogg

"This is a graph of the death rate from infectious disease in this country. The heroes of my field have slain one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the heroes of your field gathered in the desert to create a new one."

2015 May 4, Randall Munroe, xkcd (webcomic), Degree-Off:

(biblical) Four beings in Revelation 6:1–8 that bring about the Apocalypse, each embodied as a horseman riding a different-colored horse that represents a different aspect of the Apocalypse.

אַרְבַּעַת פָּרָשֵׁי הָאָפּוֹקָלִיפְּסָה

náhodeesdzáago dįltʼéego łį́į́ʼ bił níjééʼ


Yekke

From Yiddish יעקע (yeke). See Wikipedia.

(sometimes mildly derogatory) A Jew of German-speaking origin.


dayan

A medieval hymn composed by the Dayyan ("Judge") Daniel b. Yehudah of fourteenth-century Rome, recited in the daily morning Preliminary Service, and by some, at the close of the Arvit and Musaf services on Shabbat and festivals.

1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 375:


Conservative

Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism

(Judaism) pertaining to Conservative Judaism


sukkah

en-noun

sukkah (plural sukkahs or sukkot or sukkoth or sukkos)

sukkahs (plural)
sukkot (plural)
sukkoth (plural)
sukkos (plural)
succah (alternative)

But on his return to Atil from the summer hordes, the usurper Buljan ordered that his sukkah be erected on the donjon's roof [...].

2007, Michael Chabon, Gentlemen of the Road, Sceptre, published 2008, page 132:

(Judaism) A temporary dwelling or booth used by practising Jews during Tabernacles (Sukkot).


tish

Borrowed from Yiddish טיש (tish, “table”). Doublet of desk, dais, disc, dish, and discus.

doublet

YPC's most popular activity has been the monthly Shabbat tish, which turns a Friday evening dinner into a Shabbat experience.

1974, Conservative Judaism, Vol. 28, issues 3-29, p. 78

(Judaism) A festive meal for a religious event, especially Shabbat.


like unto

In the Heavens, in the Earth, in the Waters, under the Earth, is none like unto thee.

1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, Book 1, chapter 6, Aristocracy of Talent:

Truly, the first condition is indispensable, That Wisdom be there: but the second is like unto it, is properly one with it.

1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, Book 3, chapter 12, Reward:

(archaic, chiefly biblical, in adjective or adverb phrases that express resemblance) like, similar to


Adullamite

From Adullam + -ite, in the political sense from a speech by John Bright in Parliament on 13 March 1866 deriding the anti-reformist faction of Edward Horsman as a “Cave of Adullam”, i.e. a group of malcontents.

(biblical) An inhabitant of Adullam. Near this town there was a cave where David and his allies sought refuge from Saul.


cohen

cohens (plural)
cohanim (plural)
kohen (alternative)
kohein (alternative)

From Hebrew כוהן \ כֹּהֵן (kohén, “cohen”).

bor

כוהן \ כֹּהֵן

Is anyone here a cohen or a levi?

A Jewish priest: direct male descendant of the Biblical high priest Aaron, brother of Moses.


tetrapla

From Ancient Greek τετραπλᾶ (tetraplâ), neuter plural of τετραπλοῦς (tetraploûs, “fourfold”), from τετρα- (tetra-, “tetra-: four”) + -πλόος (-plóos, “-fold”).

A text presented in four parallel versions, especially (historical) the version of the Bible presented in such a fashion by Origen.


Jehoshaphat

/d͡ʒəˈhoʊ.ʃəˌfæt/

/d͡ʒəˈhɒʃ.ə.fæt/

/d͡ʒɪˈhɒʃ.ə.fæt/

From Hebrew יְהוֹשָׁפָט, from יהוה (“Yahweh”) + שָׁפַט (shafát, “to judge”), meaning "Yahweh has judged".

der

Hebrew יְהוֹשָׁפָט

compound

Jehosaphat (alternative)
Josaphat (alternative)
Jehosophat (alternative)

(biblical) A male given name from Hebrew.


Abednego

/əˈbɛd.nɪˌɡoʊ/

From Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא, itself derived from a reconstructed Aramaic name meaning likely "servant of Nabu" or "servant of Nergal".

bor

עֲבֵד נְגוֹא

Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא

Abdenago (alternative)
Abed-nego (alternative)
Abed-Nego (alternative)

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 3:23:

(biblical) Azariah, one of the captives in the Bible who came out of the fiery furnace unharmed.

Αβδεναγω

one of the captives who escaped the fiery furnace

Meshach

one of the captives who came out of the fiery furnace unharmed


hanukkiah

en-noun

hanukkiah (plural hanukkiahs or hanukkiot or hanukkioth)

hanukkiahs (plural)
hanukkiot (plural)
hanukkioth (plural)

Borrowed from Hebrew חֲנֻכִּיָּה (khanukiyá).

Some might say that the hanukkiah is decorations, but it isn't; the hanukkiah is a ceremonial object, with specific, non-decorative purposes. Perhaps the Stars of David that many string about are appropriate Jewish decoration?

2005 December 23, Jonathan Safran Foer, “A Beginner's Guide to Hanukkah”, in The New York Times:

As a child of Holocaust survivors, there was nothing, no family relics. The celebration was very modest, with a very small hanukkiah, and my mother was a great maker of latkes. I now luckily have many different kinds of hanukkiahs.

2010 November 17, Rima Suqi, quoting Daniel Libeskind, “Daniel Libeskind on a New Show of Menorahs”, in The New York Times:

The candelabras lit on Hanukkah are technically called hanukkiahs. They have eight candles plus one more, a shamash, that is used for lighting the others.

[2023 December 7, Jacey Fortin, “For Some, the Symbols of Hanukkah Bring Extra Concern This Year”, in The New York Times:

(Judaism) A nine-branched menorah used during Hanukkah.


Promised Land

the Promised Land (canonical)
promised land (alternative)

At last, after years of patient waiting, he stood like Moses on the mountain, looking down into the Promised Land.

1910, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 3, in The Intrusion of Jimmy:

(Judaism, Christianity) The area historically known as Judea, which was promised to the Israelites by God according to oral tradition recorded in the Book of Genesis.


Ma Nishtana

From Hebrew מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה (“Why is it different?”).

bor

מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה

(Judaism) The four questions sung during Passover seder.


Maccabee

From the Latin Maccabaeus, from the Ancient Greek Μᾰκκᾰβαῖος (Măkkăbaîos), from the Biblical Hebrew מַכַּבִּי (makkabbī).

(biblical) A member of the Maccabees (a liberation movement in Israel who established Jewish independence in the Land of Israel in the second and first centuries BC).


Land of Israel

(Judaism, Christianity) A region in the Middle East promised by God to the descendants of Abraham.

أَرْض إِسْرَائِيل

ʔarḍ ʔisrāʔīl


machzor

machzors (plural)
machzorim (plural)
mahzor (alternative)
Mahzor (alternative)
Machzor (alternative)

(Judaism) A prayerbook for a Jewish holiday.


Meshach

From Biblical Hebrew מישך (myšk /mēšak/), from Iranian, ultimately from Proto-Iranian *mayšáh (“sheep, ram”) with the hypocoristic suffix *-akah.

Misac (alternative)
Misach (alternative)
Mishak (alternative)

(biblical) Mishael, one of the captives in the biblical Book of Daniel who came out of the fiery furnace unharmed.

Միսաք

one of the captives in the Book of Daniel


Shadrach

From Biblical Hebrew שדרך (šdrk /šadrak/), from Iranian, ultimately from Proto-Iranian *čiθráh with the hypocoristic suffix *-akah.

Sedrach (alternative)
Shedrack (alternative)
Shadrak (alternative)
Sidrach (alternative)
Sydrac (alternative)

(biblical) Hananiah, one of the captives in the biblical Book of Daniel who came out of the fiery furnace unharmed.

Abednego

one of the captives that came out of the fiery furnace unharmed


Vashti

Hebrew וַשְׁתִּי (vaštī)

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Esther 1:9:


kashruth

The Reform and the others dropped all the things a woman has to do like the kashruth and the mikvah.

1988 September 2, Florence Hamlish Levinsohn, “A Special Connection With God”, in Chicago Reader:


Ezekias

And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 1:9-10:

King Hezekiah, in the New Testament form.


moser

en-noun

moser (plural mosers or moserim or mosrim)

mosers (plural)
moserim (plural)
mosrim (plural)
moiser (alternative)

(Judaism) An informer or grass; one who tells on another.


Our Lady of Sorrows

Calque of Latin Māter Dolōrōsa (“Sorrowful Mother”) under influence from Domina Nostra (“Our Lady”) and their descendants in other languages.

calque

(Christianity, chiefly Catholicism) Synonym of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her grief at the Christ's crucifixion.

Mare de Déu dels Dolors

the grieving Mary — see also Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady, Queen of Heaven


particularism

en-noun

particularism (countable and uncountable, plural particularisms)

From particular + -ism, after French particularisme.

(Christianity, Judaism, theology) The principle that only certain people are chosen by God for salvation.


unkosher

There are, according to Penansky, 4,000 ways a mezuzah can be "unkosher" (illegitimate): the parchment may tear or curl, a letter may have weakened.

(somewhat informal, chiefly Judaism) Not kosher


trayf

To the preparation, then: vegetables softened in butter, lots of Guinness, thick chunks of second-cut brisket — breast deckle, as it’s called in some of New York’s better precincts (where trotter gear, by the by, is known as trayf city).

2009 February 22, Sam Sifton, “Put a Lid on It”, in New York Times:


traif

Recently my wife caught me using the pot for my traif soup.

2007 March 18, Randy Cohen, “Tuition Trick”, in New York Times: