← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
These lessons are for the language of the Babylonian Talmud, Targum Onkelos, Midrash and Aggadah and Gaonic Literature ###
2.1 סִפְרָא book דְ of חָכְמְתָא wisdom הֲוָה was יַקִּיר precious לַחֲדָא very much
2.2 בְּרָא son דְ of מַלְכָּא king אֲתָא came לְבֵית to house מִדְרָשָׁא of study
2.3 טַעֲמָא taste דְ of דּוּבְשָׁא honey הֲוָה was חֲלֵי sweet טָבָא good
2.4 שְׁמָא name דְ of אֲבוּךְ your father מָה what הוּא is
2.5 מִלֵּי words דְ of אוֹרַיְתָא Torah נְהִירִין are clear כְּשַׁרְגָּא like a lamp
2.6 בֵּיתָא house דְ of רַבִּי rabbi מְלֵי full סְפָרִים books
2.7 יוֹמָא day דְ of שַׁבְּתָא Sabbath קַדִּישׁ holy הוּא is
2.8 חַמְרָא wine דְ of גַלִילָא Galilee טַב good לְחַדָּא very much
2.9 קָלָא voice דְ of שׁוֹפָרָא shofar עַלִּי rises לִשְׁמַיָּא to heaven
2.10 דַּהֲבָא gold דְ of יְרוּשְׁלֵם Jerusalem סָמֵיק red הֲוָה was
2.11 סוֹפָא end דְ of שַׁתָּא year קָרֵיב near הוּא is
2.12 חֵילָא army דְ of מְדִינְתָּא province תַּקִּיף strong הֲוָה was
2.13 מַיָּא water דְ of נַהֲרָא river צְלִילִין clear אִנּוּן are
2.14 תַּרְעָא gate דְ of מַקְדְּשָׁא Temple רַב great הֲוָה was
2.15 מַפְתְּחָא key דְ of גִּנְתָּא garden אֲבַד lost הֲוָה was
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2.1 סִפְרָא דְחָכְמְתָא הֲוָה יַקִּיר לַחֲדָא The book of wisdom was very precious
2.2 בְּרָא דְמַלְכָּא אֲתָא לְבֵית מִדְרָשָׁא The son of the king came to the house of study
2.3 טַעֲמָא דְדּוּבְשָׁא הֲוָה חֲלֵי טָבָא The taste of honey was sweet and good
2.4 שְׁמָא דְאֲבוּךְ מָה הוּא What is the name of your father?
2.5 מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְתָא נְהִירִין כְּשַׁרְגָּא The words of Torah are clear like a lamp
2.6 בֵּיתָא דְרַבִּי מְלֵי סְפָרִים The house of the rabbi is full of books
2.7 יוֹמָא דְשַׁבְּתָא קַדִּישׁ הוּא The day of Sabbath is holy
2.8 חַמְרָא דְגַלִילָא טַב לְחַדָּא The wine of Galilee is very good
2.9 קָלָא דְשׁוֹפָרָא עַלִּי לִשְׁמַיָּא The voice of the shofar rises to heaven
2.10 דַּהֲבָא דְיְרוּשְׁלֵם סָמֵיק הֲוָה The gold of Jerusalem was red
2.11 סוֹפָא דְשַׁתָּא קָרֵיב הוּא The end of the year is near
2.12 חֵילָא דְמְדִינְתָּא תַּקִּיף הֲוָה The army of the province was strong
2.13 מַיָּא דְנַהֲרָא צְלִילִין אִנּוּן The waters of the river are clear
2.14 תַּרְעָא דְמַקְדְּשָׁא רַב הֲוָה The gate of the Temple was great
2.15 מַפְתְּחָא דְגִּנְתָּא אֲבַד הֲוָה The key of the garden was lost
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2.1 סִפְרָא דְחָכְמְתָא הֲוָה יַקִּיר לַחֲדָא
2.2 בְּרָא דְמַלְכָּא אֲתָא לְבֵית מִדְרָשָׁא
2.3 טַעֲמָא דְדּוּבְשָׁא הֲוָה חֲלֵי טָבָא
2.4 שְׁמָא דְאֲבוּךְ מָה הוּא
2.5 מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְתָא נְהִירִין כְּשַׁרְגָּא
2.6 בֵּיתָא דְרַבִּי מְלֵי סְפָרִים
2.7 יוֹמָא דְשַׁבְּתָא קַדִּישׁ הוּא
2.8 חַמְרָא דְגַלִילָא טַב לְחַדָּא
2.9 קָלָא דְשׁוֹפָרָא עַלִּי לִשְׁמַיָּא
2.10 דַּהֲבָא דְיְרוּשְׁלֵם סָמֵיק הֲוָה
2.11 סוֹפָא דְשַׁתָּא קָרֵיב הוּא
2.12 חֵילָא דְמְדִינְתָּא תַּקִּיף הֲוָה
2.13 מַיָּא דְנַהֲרָא צְלִילִין אִנּוּן
2.14 תַּרְעָא דְמַקְדְּשָׁא רַב הֲוָה
2.15 מַפְתְּחָא דְגִּנְתָּא אֲבַד הֲוָה
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The Aramaic preposition דְ ("of") is one of the most common and important words in the language. Here's what English speakers need to know: -
Basic Formation: -
The basic form is דְ (də-) -
It always attaches to the following word -
The vowel can change depending on what follows -
Never stands alone like English "of" -
Key Uses (compared to English): -
Possession: בֵּיתָא דְרַבִּי "the house of the rabbi" -
Description: יוֹמָא דְשַׁבְּתָא "the day of Sabbath" -
Material: דַּהֲבָא דְיְרוּשְׁלֵם "the gold of Jerusalem" -
Source: חַמְרָא דְגַלִילָא "the wine of Galilee" -
Word Order: -
Unlike English, the main noun comes first -
The דְ and its noun follow -
Example: סִפְרָא דְחָכְמְתָא (literally "book of wisdom") -
English reverses this: "wisdom's book" or "the book of wisdom" -
Special Forms: -
With pronouns: דִּילִי "mine/of mine" -
With places: דְּמִן "from" -
In compounds: דְּלָא "without" -
Common Mistakes to Avoid: -
Don't separate דְ from its noun -
Don't use it where English uses "of" but Aramaic doesn't -
Don't forget it attaches to the following word, not the previous one
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Understanding דְ in Babylonian Aramaic requires awareness of its cultural significance in Jewish texts: -
Religious Usage: -
Extremely common in religious titles: -
סִדְרָא דְצְלוֹתָא "Order of Prayer" -
סִפְרָא דְאַגַּדְתָּא "Book of Legends" -
Used in blessing formulas: -
בְּרִיךְ שְׁמֵהּ דְקוּדְשָׁא "Blessed is the name of the Holy One" -
Essential in legal terminology: -
דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא "law of the kingdom" -
Text Study Context: -
Used to indicate authorship: -
מַתְנִיתָא דְרַבִּי חִיָּיא "teaching of Rabbi Hiyya" -
Shows relationships between texts: -
פֵּירוּשָׁא דְגְמָרָא "commentary of/on the Gemara" -
Marks categories of study: -
מִילֵי דְאַגָּדָה "matters of Aggadah" -
Social and Legal Context: -
Indicates ownership: -
בֵּיתָא דְפְלַנְיָא "house of so-and-so" -
Shows family relationships: -
בְּרֵיהּ דְרַב אַשִׁי "son of Rav Ashi" -
Used in legal documents: -
שְׁטָרָא דְכְתוּבְּתָא "document of marriage contract" -
Historical Significance: -
Key component of Aramaic names: -
יוֹסֵף דְבֵית רַבָּא "Joseph of the Great House" -
Place descriptions: -
שׁוּקָא דְפוּמְבְּדִיתָא "market of Pumbedita" -
Time references: -
זִמְנָא דְגָלוּתָא "time of exile"
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From Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 17a:
תַּלְמִידֵי students דְ of חֲכָמִים sages מַרְבִּים increase שְׁלָמָא peace בְּעָלְמָא in the world
"The students of the sages increase peace in the world" תַּלְמִידֵי דְחֲכָמִים מַרְבִּים שְׁלָמָא בְּעָלְמָא
This famous Talmudic saying uses דְ to show the relationship between students (תַּלְמִידֵי) and sages (חֲכָמִים). The construction תַּלְמִידֵי דְחֲכָמִים is a standard phrase in rabbinic literature, showing how דְ connects related concepts to form technical terms.
-
תַּלְמִידֵי is in construct state before דְ -
דְחֲכָמִים shows דְ attached directly to the noun it modifies -
The phrase functions as a single subject unit in the sentence -
This construction is typical of how דְ forms technical terminology
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2.16 שְׁטָרָא document דְ of מְכִירָה sale שָׁרִיר valid וְקַיָּם and established הוּא is
2.17 נִכְסֵי property דְ of יַתְמֵי orphans תְּחוֹת under אַפּוֹטְרוֹפָּא guardian אִנּוּן are
2.18 דִּינָא law דְ of מַלְכוּתָא kingdom דִּינָא law הוּא is
2.19 בֵּית דִּינָא court דְ of רַב הוּנָא Rav Huna מְזַמְּנִין summons גַּבְרָא man לְדִינָא to judgment
2.20 סַהֲדוּתָא testimony דְ of סָהֲדֵי witnesses מְהֵימְנָא trustworthy הֲוָת was
2.21 גִּיטָּא divorce document דְ of פִּיטּוּרִין release נִכְתַּב was written כְּהִלְכְתָא according to law
2.22 חוֹבָא debt דְ of מָאתָן two hundred זוּזֵי zuz אִית exists עֲלֵיהּ upon him
2.23 שְׁבוּעָה oath דְ of אוֹרַיְתָא Torah חַיָּיב obligated עֲלֵיהּ upon him
2.24 כְּתוּבְּתָא marriage contract דְ of אִתְּתָא woman מָאתָן two hundred זוּזֵי zuz הֲוָת was
2.25 אַחֲרָיוּת responsibility דְ of נִכְסֵי property קַבֵּיל accepted עֲלֵיהּ upon himself
2.26 מוֹדָעָא declaration דְ of אוֹנְסָא duress מְסַר delivered קֳדָם before סָהֲדֵי witnesses
2.27 שְׁטָרָא document דְ of מַתָּנָה gift לִבְרֵיהּ to his son כְּתַב wrote בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ with his will
2.28 רְשׁוּתָא permission דְ of בֵּית דִּינָא court אִצְטְרִיךְ needed לְזַבּוֹנֵי to sell
2.29 עֵדוּת testimony דְ of קִידּוּשִׁין betrothal אִתְקַבַּל was received בְּבֵית דִּינָא in court
2.30 שְׁלִיחוּתָא agency דְ of קַמָּאֵי first ones בָּטֵיל void הֲוָה was
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2.16 שְׁטָרָא דְמְכִירָה שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם הוּא The document of sale is valid and established
2.17 נִכְסֵי דְיַתְמֵי תְּחוֹת אַפּוֹטְרוֹפָּא אִנּוּן The property of orphans is under a guardian
2.18 דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא הוּא The law of the kingdom is law
2.19 בֵּית דִּינָא דְרַב הוּנָא מְזַמְּנִין גַּבְרָא לְדִינָא The court of Rav Huna summons the man to judgment
2.20 סַהֲדוּתָא דְסָהֲדֵי מְהֵימְנָא הֲוָת The testimony of the witnesses was trustworthy
2.21 גִּיטָּא דְפִּיטּוּרִין נִכְתַּב כְּהִלְכְתָא The document of divorce was written according to law
2.22 חוֹבָא דְמָאתָן זוּזֵי אִית עֲלֵיהּ A debt of two hundred zuz exists upon him
2.23 שְׁבוּעָה דְאוֹרַיְתָא חַיָּיב עֲלֵיהּ An oath of the Torah is obligated upon him
2.24 כְּתוּבְּתָא דְאִתְּתָא מָאתָן זוּזֵי הֲוָת The marriage contract of the woman was two hundred zuz
2.25 אַחֲרָיוּת דְנִכְסֵי קַבֵּיל עֲלֵיהּ The responsibility of the property he accepted upon himself
2.26 מוֹדָעָא דְאוֹנְסָא מְסַר קֳדָם סָהֲדֵי A declaration of duress he delivered before witnesses
2.27 שְׁטָרָא דְמַתָּנָה לִבְרֵיהּ כְּתַב בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ A document of gift to his son he wrote with his will
2.28 רְשׁוּתָא דְבֵית דִּינָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְזַבּוֹנֵי Permission of the court was needed to sell
2.29 עֵדוּת דְקִידּוּשִׁין אִתְקַבַּל בְּבֵית דִּינָא Testimony of betrothal was received in court
2.30 שְׁלִיחוּתָא דְקַמָּאֵי בָּטֵיל הֲוָה The agency of the first ones was void
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2.16 שְׁטָרָא דְמְכִירָה שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם הוּא
2.17 נִכְסֵי דְיַתְמֵי תְּחוֹת אַפּוֹטְרוֹפָּא אִנּוּן
2.18 דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא הוּא
2.19 בֵּית דִּינָא דְרַב הוּנָא מְזַמְּנִין גַּבְרָא לְדִינָא
2.20 סַהֲדוּתָא דְסָהֲדֵי מְהֵימְנָא הֲוָת
2.21 גִּיטָּא דְפִּיטּוּרִין נִכְתַּב כְּהִלְכְתָא
2.22 חוֹבָא דְמָאתָן זוּזֵי אִית עֲלֵיהּ
2.23 שְׁבוּעָה דְאוֹרַיְתָא חַיָּיב עֲלֵיהּ
2.24 כְּתוּבְּתָא דְאִתְּתָא מָאתָן זוּזֵי הֲוָת
2.25 אַחֲרָיוּת דְנִכְסֵי קַבֵּיל עֲלֵיהּ
2.26 מוֹדָעָא דְאוֹנְסָא מְסַר קֳדָם סָהֲדֵי
2.27 שְׁטָרָא דְמַתָּנָה לִבְרֵיהּ כְּתַב בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ
2.28 רְשׁוּתָא דְבֵית דִּינָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְזַבּוֹנֵי
2.29 עֵדוּת דְקִידּוּשִׁין אִתְקַבַּל בְּבֵית דִּינָא
2.30 שְׁלִיחוּתָא דְקַמָּאֵי בָּטֵיל הֲוָה
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The use of דְ in legal Aramaic requires special attention due to its precise technical meanings and formulaic uses: -
Document Terminology: -
Standard formulas using דְ: -
שְׁטָרָא דְמְכִירָה "document of sale" -
גִּיטָּא דְפִּיטּוּרִין "document of divorce" -
כְּתוּבְּתָא דְאִתְּתָא "marriage contract of woman" -
These are fixed legal terms that must be used exactly as shown -
Legal Relationships: -
Property relationships: -
נִכְסֵי דְיַתְמֵי "property of orphans" -
אַחֲרָיוּת דְנִכְסֵי "responsibility of property" -
Court relationships: -
בֵּית דִּינָא דְרַב "court of the rabbi" -
רְשׁוּתָא דְבֵית דִּינָא "permission of the court" -
Legal Principles: -
Famous legal maxims using דְ: -
דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא "the law of the kingdom is law" -
שְׁבוּעָה דְאוֹרַיְתָא "oath of the Torah" -
These express fundamental legal concepts -
Special Legal Constructions: -
Double use of דְ: -
שְׁטָרָא דְמַתָּנָה דְקַמָּאֵי "document of gift of the first ones" -
Chains of possession: -
נִכְסֵי דְיַתְמֵי דְבֵי פְלוֹנִי "property of orphans of the house of so-and-so" -
Document Validation: -
Standard phrases: -
שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם "valid and established" -
כְּהִלְכְתָא "according to law" -
These often follow constructions with דְ -
Common Mistakes to Avoid: -
Don't omit דְ in legal formulas -
Don't change the order of terms in legal phrases -
Always maintain the exact technical terminology -
Keep fixed phrases intact -
Legal Time References: -
מִזְּמַן דְּנָן "from this time" -
עַד זְמַן דְאָתֵי "until the time that comes" -
These are precise legal time markers -
Court Procedure Terms: -
עֵדוּת דְסָהֲדֵי "testimony of witnesses" -
מוֹדָעָא דְאוֹנְסָא "declaration of duress" -
These must be used exactly as shown in court documents
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