Glossary

רוח

ruach- The Hebrew word for "spirit". It can also mean "breath", "spirit", or "wind".  Strong's #7307.  Pronounced ROO akh. 

ראש השנה

Rosh Hashanah- A Hebrew term which refers to "the new year" [literally "the head of the year"].  It is a moed described in Leviticus 23:24-25 as a festival for the "blowing of trumpets" (Yom Teruah- a day of trumpet blasts) but it also begins the civil Biblical calendar.  Strong's #7218 and 8141. 

רבקה

Rivka- (sometimes Rivqah) The literal Hebrew name of Rebekah.  This Hebrew name means "ensnarer" (as by her beauty?)  Strongs #7259.  Pronounced RIV kah.

רש"י

Rashi- [Shlomo Yitzhaki] An 11th-century Jewish Scholar noted for his commentaries on the Torah and the Tanakh.  Rashi comes from an acronym of his name: the Rabbi Shlomo Itzhaki.

רחל

Rachel- The literal Hebrew name of Rachel.  This Hebrew name means "Ewe (lamb) of G-d (El)".  Strongs #7353.  Pronounced rakh EL.

קרבן

qorban- Commonly translated as "offering" or "sacrifice", this Hebrew word means "that which is brought near". The animal sacrifice commanded in Scripture is a mechanism to bring the person offering it near to G-d.  Strongs #7133.  Pronounced kor BAHN.  Plural "qorbanot".

פורים

Purim- A plural Hebrew word for "lots" referring to the casting of lots that occurred in deciding the date for the fate of the Jews by Mordechai as recorded in the book of Ester.  It also refers to the festival of Purim that is the annual remembrance of those events.  Strongs #6332.  Pronounced poo REEM.

פסח

Pesach- The Hebrew word for "Passover".  It refers to the event when the people of Israel were brought out of Egypt or the yearly festival [moed] commemorating the anniversary of that exodus.  Strongs #6453.  Pronounced PAY sock.

אברהם

parashah- A Hebrew word meaning "exact statement".  It is the term used to describe the portion of the Torah that is studied each week during the yearly synagogue cycle.  The name of each portion is usually based on the first word(s) of that portion.  Pronounced par uh SHAH.  Plural parashyot.

עלה

olah- The Hebrew word for "burnt offering".  This word comes from a Hebrew root that means "to go up" as in "to go up in smoke".  It is something that is wholly devoted to G-d.  Strongs #5930.  Pronounced oh LAH.  Plural "olim".

נח

Noach- The literal Hebrew name of Noah. The name means "rest".  It is the name given to him by his father Lemekh when he said "this one will give us rest from our work..." (Genesis 5:29).  Strongs #5146.  Pronounced NO akh.

נביאים

Nevi'im- A plural Hebrew word meaning "prophets" usually in reference to the writings of the Prophets in Scripture.  It is one of the words that forms the acronym "TaNaKh" used to describe the Hebrew Bible.  Strongs #5030.  Pronounced nevee EEM.  Singular "nevi".

משה‎

Moshe- The literal Hebrew name of Moses. The name comes from a word which means "to draw" since Moshe was "drawn out" of the Nile. (Exodus 2:10)  Strongs #4872.  Pronounced MOH shay.

מוּאדם

moedim- A plural Hebrew word meaning "appointments" or "appointed times".  Leviticus 23 contains significant references to G-d's appointed times.  This word is sometimes translated as "holidays" or "festivals" but is better understood as Divinely commanded appointments.  Strongs #4150.  Pronounced MO eh DEEM.  Plural "moedim".

מועד

moed- A Hebrew word meaning "appointment" or "appointed time".  Leviticus 23 contains significant references to G-d''s appointed times.  This word is sometimes translated as "holiday" or "festival" but is better understood as a Divinely commanded appointment.  Strongs #4150.  Pronounced MO ed.  Plural "moedim".

מצווה‎‎

mitzvot- A Hebrew word meaning "commands" or "good deeds".  These are one of three types of "commandments" given in Scripture: mitzvot, mishpatim, and chuqqim.  When G-d delivers orders that have an apparent rational basis they are considered mitzvot.  Strongs #4687.  Pronounced mitz VOHT.  Singular "mitzvah".

מצוה‎‎

mitzvah- A Hebrew word meaning "command" or "good deed".  These are one of three types of "commandments" given in Scripture: mitzvah, mishpat, and choq.  When G-d delivers an order that has an apparent rational basis it is considered a mitzvah.  Strongs #4687.  Pronounced MITZ vah.  Plural "mitzvot".

משפט

mishpat- A Hebrew word meaning "judgment" or "ruling".  These are one of three types of "commandments" given in Scripture: mitzvah, mishpat, and choq.  When G-d declares something clean or unclean (certain animals for example) that is G-d''s mishpat, His "judgment" or ruling on the subject .  G-d has judged that thing to be clean or unclean.  Strongs #4941.  Pronounced MEESH pot.  Plural "mishpatim".

משנה

Mishnah- a Hebrew word meaning "repetition".  The Mishnah is one of two major divisions of the Jewish Talmud.  The Mishnah contains the first written redaction of Jewish case-law and commentary about the Law of Moses.  This "Oral Law" provided the rulings of Jewish judges and rabbis regarding the "Written Law" given by Moses at Mt. Sinai.  Pronounced MEESH nah.

מרים

Miryam- The literal Hebrew name of Mary. This Hebrew name means "their rebellion".  Pronounced MEER yahm. Strong's #4813.

Also the name of Moses' sister: Miriam.

מדרש‎

midrash- A Hebrew word meaning "searched out".  When "midrashing" or "searching out" a matter in Scripture two or more individuals are "drashing" (searching out) the matter.  "The Midrash" refers to Rabbinic literature dealing with matters that have been "searched out" and recorded. From Strongs #1875.  Pronounced MEE drah sh.  Plural "midrashim".

מדות‎

middos- A plural Hebrew word meaning "measures" often used in reference to the "attributes" or character traits of G-d or men.  The 13 Middos are attributed to Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin also known as Reb Yisrael Salanter (1810-1883). The 13 Middos are: truth, fastidiousness, diligence, honor, peace of mind, gentleness, cleanliness, patience, order, humility, righeousness, thrift, and silence.  Also transliterated as middot.  Pronounced mee DOHS.  Singular madad.

מתתיהו

Matityahu- The literal Hebrew name of Matthew. This Hebrew name means "gift of Yah". The Greek transliteration is Matthaios or Maththaios.  Pronounced mah teet YAH hoo.

משיח

mashiach- A Hebrew noun meaning "anointed one".  "Messiah" is the Anglicized version of this word. It is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word kristos and the English word Christ.  HaMashiach means "THE Anointed One"... Yeshua.  Strongs #4899.  Pronounced mah SHEE akh.  Sometimes transliterated moshiach.

משה בן מימון

Maimonides- [Moshe ben Maimon in the Hebrew above] A mid-12th to early-13th century Jewish scholar also known as the Rambam.  Pronounced mai MAHN uh deez.  He was the preeminent medieval scholar of Judaism during his life and his teachings have been revered and followed for the past 700 years.