Blog | Biblical Hebrew Etymology

Vayeitzei: Like a Rock ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

rabbircklein

Jun 29, 20216 min read

Vayeitzei: Like a Rock ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

I’m not a geologist, nor do I pretend to be one. But I do think that we can draw some fascinating insights into the Holy Language by...

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Vayeitzei: All Along The Watchtower ~ Tzvi Abrahams

yehoshua steinberg

Jun 28, 202110 min read

Vayeitzei: All Along The Watchtower ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas וַיֵצֵא All along the Watchtower מִצְפֶּה: watchtower צָפוּי: foreseen צָפוּן: hidden צָפוֹן: north מְצַפֶּה: expect צַףְ: float...

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yehoshua steinberg

May 31, 202110 min read

Vayishlach: Quiet, Deaf Men Planning to Plow! ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract: The Torah in Parashat Vayishlach recounts the violation of Dinah Bat Yaakov by Shechem Ben Hamor. Then, Scripture...

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Vayishlach: The Gift of Giving ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

May 31, 20215 min read

Vayishlach: The Gift of Giving ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Gift of Giving Ahead of the epic meeting of brothers, Jacob sent his older brother Esau quite a generous tribute, consisting of 550...

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Vayishlach: Angels and Agents ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

May 29, 20214 min read

Vayishlach: Angels and Agents ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

A “messenger of G-d” refers to either an angel or a prophet, but what about a “messenger of Jacob”? When Jacob sent a message of peace to...

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Vayishlach: Sweet Harmony ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Rabbi Tzvi Abrahams

May 29, 20217 min read

Vayishlach: Sweet Harmony ~ Tzvi Abrahams

For the illui neshamah of my father, Dovid Yitzchak ben Tzvi Moshe, on his yahrtzeit, the thirteenth of Kislev. Parshas וַיִשְׁלַח Sweet...

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yehoshua steinberg

Apr 30, 202112 min read

Vayeishev: A Compromised Article ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

בר’ מ:ח-וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים סַפְּרוּ נָא לִי....

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Vayeishev/Chanuka: Olives and Oil ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

Apr 29, 20214 min read

Vayeishev/Chanuka: Olives and Oil ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Olives and Oil During these days of Chanuka, everybody is talking about the miracle of the Menorah and the jug of shemen zayit zach (pure...

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Vayeishev: Words for Nations ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

Apr 28, 20214 min read

Vayeishev: Words for Nations ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

When a very pregnant Rivka consulted with the prophets Shem and Ever to find out what is in store for her unborn child, she was informed...

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Vayeishev: Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side ~ Tzvi Abrahams

yehoshua steinberg

Apr 28, 20216 min read

Vayeishev: Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshasוַיֵשֵׁב Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side פָּרְחָה: fly פֶּרַח: flower פִּרְחֵי כְּהוּנָה: young kohanim אֶפְרוֹח:...

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Mikeitz: Chanukah wisdom ~ Wonders of The Holy Tongue

yehoshua steinberg

Mar 31, 20215 min read

Mikeitz: Chanukah wisdom ~ Wonders of The Holy Tongue

Article abstract: In the Torah portion Miketz, the word "חכם" (wise) appears for the first time in Scripture - used by Pharaoh to...

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Mikeitz/Chanukah: Playing with Fire ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

Mar 30, 20215 min read

Mikeitz/Chanukah: Playing with Fire ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Playing with Fire When telling of the future downfall of the descendants of Esau, the prophet Ovadiah (Obadiah 1:18) refers to the House...

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Mikeitz: How to Charm The Snake ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Rabbi Tzvi Abrahams

Mar 29, 20219 min read

Mikeitz: How to Charm The Snake ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas מִקֵץ How to Charm the Snake נִיחוּש: divination נַחְשׁוֹן: Nachshon נָחָשׁ: snake נְחוֹשֶׁת: copper נִיחוּשׁ: Divination...

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Vayigash: Confused About Crying ~ The Wonders of the Holy Tongue

yehoshua steinberg

Feb 28, 202113 min read

Vayigash: Confused About Crying ~ The Wonders of the Holy Tongue

Article abstract: Parashat Vayigash relates the emotional scene of Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. With emotions often...

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Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

rabbircklein

Feb 27, 20214 min read

Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Speaking in Tongues In the Hebrew language, there are two different words for “language”—safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally these...

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Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

yehoshua steinberg

Feb 27, 20214 min read

Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

In the Hebrew language there are two different words for “language” — safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally, these two words actually...

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Vayigash: Pharaoh Exposed ~ Tzvi Abrahams

yehoshua steinberg

Feb 26, 20218 min read

Vayigash: Pharaoh Exposed ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshasוַיִגַשׁ Pharaoh Exposed פַּרְעֹה: Pharaoh פָּרוּעַ: exposed פֹּטִי פֶרַע: Potiphar לְמַפְרֵעַ: retroactive, to nullify פֹּרֵעַ:...

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yehoshua steinberg

Jan 31, 202111 min read

Vayechi: Relative Kindness? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Vayechi: On his deathbed, Jacob asks his beloved son Joseph to swear that he will bury him in the land of...

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Vayechi: Say Your Prayers ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

rabbircklein

Jan 30, 20213 min read

Vayechi: Say Your Prayers ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Upon his deathbed, Yaakov bequeaths to his favorite son Joseph the city of Shechem “which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my...

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Vayechi: Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed ~ Tzvi Abrahams

yehoshua steinberg

Jan 29, 20215 min read

Vayechi: Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas וַיְחִי Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed לְוָיָה: funeral לֵוִי: Levi לִוְיָתָן: Livyasan לֹוֶה\מַלְוֶה: loan לְוָיָה:...

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