Hebraism

Hebraism

Hebraism is the identification of a usage, trait, or characteristic of the Hebrew language. By successive extension it is sometimes applied to the Jewish people, their faith, national ideology, or culture.

Idiomatic Hebrew

There exist in the Hebrew language numerous idiomatic terms that don't translate easily to more widely used languages. To the extent those broader cultures rely for cultural meaning on Hebrew-language-based scriptures, those idioms sometimes prove puzzling.

Writer David Bivin gives examples of some difficult Hebrew idioms: "be'arba enayim", literally 'with four eyes,' means face to face without the presence of a third person, as in, 'The two men met with four eyes.' [The term] "lo dubim ve lo ya'ar" is literally ' [There are] neither bears nor forest,' but means that something is completely false. And "taman et yado batsalahat", 'buried his hand in the dish,' means that someone idles away his time." [ [http://jerusalemperspective.com/Default.aspx?tabid=27&ArticleID=1551 Bivin, David. "Hebrew Idioms in the Gospels," "Jerusalem Perspective Online".] ]

Hebrew etymologies

The word Hebraism may also describe a word in another language that has Hebrew etymology [ [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hebraism "Hebraism," Merriam-Webster online.] ] . The word "Carob" is an English-language example of this etymology [ [http://www.balashon.com/2006/07/carob.html Balashon - Hebrew Language Detective] ] .

Several common-place phrases in English have Hebrew origins. [ [http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/24_idioms.html Leman, Wayne. "Ancient Hebrew Idioms," Ancient Hebrew Research Center.] ] Some examples are "The way of women," "Flowing with milk and honey," and "stiff-necked."

Distinctive language

Beyond simple etymology, both spoken and written Hebrew is marked by peculiar linguistic elements that distinguish its semitic roots. These Hebraisms include: Word order, chiasmus, compound prepositions, and numerous other distinctive features.

At least one writer finds Hebraisms in the New Testament, suggesting that the work was originally written in Hebrew, rather than Greek, as others argue. [ [http://www.bible-researcher.com/hebraisms.html Marlowe, Michael D. "The Semitic Style of the New Testament", "Bible Research".] ]

ystematic Hebraisms

Finally, the word Hebraism describes a quality, character, nature, or method of thought, or system of religion attributed to the Hebrew people. It is in this sense that Mathew Arnold (1869) contrasts Hebraism with Hellenism [ [http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/arnold/writings/4.html Arnold, Matthew. "Hebraism and Hellenism". From "Culture and Anarchy: An Essay in Political and Social Criticism".] ] . Feldman's response to Arnold expands on this usage. [ [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-15524303.html Feldman, Louis H., "Hebraism and Hellenism reconsidered," "Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life and Thought", March 1994.] ]

ee also

*List of English words of Hebrew origin

Notes

Further reading

*cite book | author=Hartz, Louis | title=The Liberal Tradition in America | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=2001 | id=ISBN 069107447X


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  • Hebraism — He bra*ism, n. [Cf. F. h[ e]bra[ i]sme.] [1913 Webster] 1. A Hebrew idiom or custom; a peculiar expression or manner of speaking in the Hebrew language. Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. The type of character of the Hebrews. [1913 Webster] The governing …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hebraism — 1560s, phrase or construction characteristic of the Hebrew language; see HEBRAIC (Cf. Hebraic) + ISM (Cf. ism). Meaning a quality or characteristic of the (biblical) Hebrew people is from 1847 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Hebraism — [hē′brā iz΄əm, hē′bri iz΄əm] n. [ModL Hebraismus < LGr Hebraismos < Gr Hebraizein: see HEBRAIZE] 1. a word, phrase, grammatical construction, etc. originating in or peculiar to Hebrew 2. the characteristic ethical system, moral attitude,… …   English World dictionary

  • Hebraism — noun Date: 1570 1. a characteristic feature of Hebrew occurring in another language 2. the thought, spirit, or practice characteristic of the Hebrews 3. a moral theory or emphasis attributed to the Hebrews …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Hebraism — /hee bray iz euhm, bree /, n. 1. an expression or construction distinctive of the Hebrew language. 2. the character, spirit, principles, or practices distinctive of the Hebrew people. [1560 70; < LGk Hebraïsmós, equiv. to Hebra (see HEBRAIZE) +… …   Universalium

  • Hebraism — noun a) the identification of a usage, trait, or characteristic of the Hebrew language. By successive extension it is sometimes applied to the Jewish people, their faith, national ideology, or culture. b) Excessive use of expressions derived from …   Wiktionary

  • Hebraism — He·bra·ism || hiːbreɪɪzÉ™m n. idiom or phrase found in the Hebrew language; something characteristic to the Hebrew people …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Hebraism — [ hi:breɪɪz(ə)m] noun 1》 a Hebrew idiom or expression. 2》 the Jewish religion, culture, or character. Derivatives Hebraistic adjective Hebraize or Hebraise verb …   English new terms dictionary

  • hebraism — he·bra·ism …   English syllables

  • Hebraism — He•bra•ism [[t]ˈhi breɪˌɪz əm, bri [/t]] n. 1) ling. an expression or construction distinctive of the Hebrew language 2) the character, spirit, principles, or practices of the Hebrews • Etymology: 1560–70; < LGk …   From formal English to slang

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