Key concepts and words in Hebrew theology

Understanding Key Concepts in Hebrew Theology

Torah: The Torah is the foundational text for Jewish faith, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. This term can also denote the entire Jewish law or theology.
Talmud: Refers to the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend. Composed of two parts: Mishnah (oral law) and Gemara (interpretation and commentary on the Mishnah), it’s a comprehensive study material.
Mitzvah: Derived from the root commandment in Hebrew, Mitzvah is a divine command, encompassing religious duties and good deeds. There are traditionally 613 Mitzvot in Judaism.
Shabbat: The Shabbat, Jewish day of rest and the seventh day of the week, is a central practice in Judaism. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday.

Abundant Hebrew Theological Terms

Elohim: Refers to God, often used in plural form in the Hebrew Bible but grammatically singular, emphasising the oneness of God.
Adonai: Another way to refer God in Hebrew texts, specifically used in prayer or when reading the Torah in public to show reverence.
HaShem: Literally means ‘The Name’ in Hebrew; used as a substitute for the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the most sacred name of God in Jewish tradition which is considered unutterable.
Teshuvah: Translates as ‘return’ and refers to repentance in Jewish theology.

Word Formation and Derivation in Hebrew

Hebrew is a root-based language, with most words being formed from three-letter roots (triconsonantal roots). These roots provide a basic semantic meaning.
By introducing vowels, prefixes, suffixes or letters between these roots, a range of words with related meanings can be created.
For instance, from the root כתב (k-t-b), meaning ‘to write’, we get כתבה (k’tavah, ‘article’), מכתב (Mikhtav, ‘letter’), and כתיבה (ktivah, ‘writing’).

Master these crucial theological concepts and vocabulary, and practice forming words from Hebrew roots for a profound understanding of the language. Revisiting these regularly can significantly enhance comprehension and recall. Remember, language learning is a step-by-step journey, every little effort counts!