← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
The word דִּילָךְ (dilakh) is a possessive pronoun meaning "your" (masculine singular) in Babylonian Aramaic. This essential word appears frequently throughout Talmudic literature, Targumim, and other Aramaic texts. Unlike Biblical Hebrew, which uses suffix pronouns attached directly to nouns, Babylonian Aramaic often employs this independent possessive form, making it a crucial element for English speakers to master when learning to read classical Jewish texts.
Q: What does דִּילָךְ mean in Babylonian Aramaic? A: דִּילָךְ (dilakh) means "your" when addressing a male individual. It functions as an independent possessive pronoun that can modify nouns to indicate possession or relationship.
In this lesson, דִּילָךְ will appear in various syntactic positions - before nouns, in construct phrases, and in different semantic contexts. You'll encounter it in questions and answers, commands, and statements, helping you recognize its flexible usage in authentic Aramaic texts.
Subject: Language Learning - Babylonian Aramaic Level: Beginner to Intermediate Focus: Possessive Pronouns Method: Interlinear glossing with progressive difficulty
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דִּילָךְ is the masculine singular form of "your" -
It functions independently, unlike Hebrew suffix pronouns -
The feminine form is דִּילִיךְ (dilikh) -
It can appear before or after the noun it modifies -
Essential for understanding Talmudic dialogue and narrative
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27.1 מַאן who שְׁמָא name דִּילָךְ your?
27.2 סִפְרָא book דִּילָךְ your הָכָא here הוּא is
27.3 אֵימַר say לִי to-me מִלְּתָא word דִּילָךְ your
27.4 בֵּיתָא house דִּילָךְ your רַחִיק far מִכָּאן from-here
27.5 לָא not יָדַעְנָא I-know רַעְיוֹנָא thought דִּילָךְ your
27.6 אַיְתִי bring לִי to-me כַּסָּא cup דִּילָךְ your
27.7 חַבְרָא friend דִּילָךְ your אָתָא came לְגַבַּן to-us
27.8 מָה what עֲבִידְתָּא work דִּילָךְ your יוֹמָא today דֵין this?
27.9 שְׁמַע hear קָלָא voice דִּילָךְ your מֵרָחוֹק from-afar
27.10 טָב good לִבָּא heart דִּילָךְ your קֳדָם before מָרֵיהּ its-master
27.11 זִיל go בָּתַר after אוֹרְחָא way דִּילָךְ your
27.12 צְלוֹתָא prayer דִּילָךְ your סַלְּקָא ascends לִשְׁמַיָּא to-heaven
27.13 מִלִּין words דִּילָךְ your מְתַקְּנָן correct הֵן are
27.14 אֲנָא I צָרִיךְ need עֵיצָא counsel דִּילָךְ your
27.15 כָּל all עוֹבָדִין deeds דִּילָךְ your כְּשֵׁרִין proper אִינּוּן they
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27.1 מַאן שְׁמָא דִּילָךְ? What is your name?
27.2 סִפְרָא דִּילָךְ הָכָא הוּא. Your book is here.
27.3 אֵימַר לִי מִלְּתָא דִּילָךְ. Tell me your word.
27.4 בֵּיתָא דִּילָךְ רַחִיק מִכָּאן. Your house is far from here.
27.5 לָא יָדַעְנָא רַעְיוֹנָא דִּילָךְ. I don't know your thought.
27.6 אַיְתִי לִי כַּסָּא דִּילָךְ. Bring me your cup.
27.7 חַבְרָא דִּילָךְ אָתָא לְגַבַּן. Your friend came to us.
27.8 מָה עֲבִידְתָּא דִּילָךְ יוֹמָא דֵין? What is your work today?
27.9 שְׁמַע קָלָא דִּילָךְ מֵרָחוֹק. I heard your voice from afar.
27.10 טָב לִבָּא דִּילָךְ קֳדָם מָרֵיהּ. Your heart is good before its Master.
27.11 זִיל בָּתַר אוֹרְחָא דִּילָךְ. Go according to your way.
27.12 צְלוֹתָא דִּילָךְ סַלְּקָא לִשְׁמַיָּא. Your prayer ascends to heaven.
27.13 מִלִּין דִּילָךְ מְתַקְּנָן הֵן. Your words are correct.
27.14 אֲנָא צָרִיךְ עֵיצָא דִּילָךְ. I need your counsel.
27.15 כָּל עוֹבָדִין דִּילָךְ כְּשֵׁרִין אִינּוּן. All your deeds are proper.
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27.1 מַאן שְׁמָא דִּילָךְ?
27.2 סִפְרָא דִּילָךְ הָכָא הוּא.
27.3 אֵימַר לִי מִלְּתָא דִּילָךְ.
27.4 בֵּיתָא דִּילָךְ רַחִיק מִכָּאן.
27.5 לָא יָדַעְנָא רַעְיוֹנָא דִּילָךְ.
27.6 אַיְתִי לִי כַּסָּא דִּילָךְ.
27.7 חַבְרָא דִּילָךְ אָתָא לְגַבַּן.
27.8 מָה עֲבִידְתָּא דִּילָךְ יוֹמָא דֵין?
27.9 שְׁמַע קָלָא דִּילָךְ מֵרָחוֹק.
27.10 טָב לִבָּא דִּילָךְ קֳדָם מָרֵיהּ.
27.11 זִיל בָּתַר אוֹרְחָא דִּילָךְ.
27.12 צְלוֹתָא דִּילָךְ סַלְּקָא לִשְׁמַיָּא.
27.13 מִלִּין דִּילָךְ מְתַקְּנָן הֵן.
27.14 אֲנָא צָרִיךְ עֵיצָא דִּילָךְ.
27.15 כָּל עוֹבָדִין דִּילָךְ כְּשֵׁרִין אִינּוּן.
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The possessive pronoun דִּילָךְ follows specific grammatical patterns that differ significantly from English possessive structures:
Basic Form and Variations: -
דִּילָךְ (dilakh) - your (masculine singular addressee) -
דִּילִיךְ (dilikh) - your (feminine singular addressee) -
דִּילֵיהּ (dileih) - his -
דִּילָהּ (dilah) - her -
דִּילִי (dili) - my -
דִּילַן (dilan) - our -
דִּילְכוֹן (dilkhon) - your (masculine plural) -
דִּילְהוֹן (dilhon) - their
Syntactic Position: Unlike English, where possessives always precede the noun, דִּילָךְ typically follows the noun it modifies: -
סִפְרָא דִּילָךְ = "book your" = "your book" -
בֵּיתָא דִּילָךְ = "house your" = "your house"
Construction with Definite Nouns: The noun preceding דִּילָךְ usually takes the emphatic state (equivalent to definiteness): -
Not: סֵפֶר דִּילָךְ -
But: סִפְרָא דִּילָךְ (the book that is yours)
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Word Order Error: English speakers often place דִּילָךְ before the noun, following English syntax. Remember: noun first, then דִּילָךְ. -
Gender Confusion: Using דִּילָךְ when addressing women. Use דִּילִיךְ for feminine addressees. -
Overuse: Not every possessive requires דִּילָךְ. Sometimes suffix pronouns are used, especially with certain nouns like family terms. -
Construct State Confusion: Mixing דִּילָךְ constructions with construct state forms. These are two different systems.
English: The possessive "your" is invariable and always precedes the noun. -
Your book, your house, your friend
Aramaic: The possessive follows the noun and varies by gender of addressee: -
סִפְרָא דִּילָךְ (to a man) -
סִפְרָא דִּילִיךְ (to a woman)
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Identify the possessed noun - This comes first and should be in emphatic state -
Add דִּילָךְ after the noun -
Check addressee gender - Use דִּילָךְ for masculine, דִּילִיךְ for feminine -
Verify word order - The structure should be [NOUN + דִּילָךְ]
Form: דִּילָךְ Function: Independent possessive pronoun Gender: Masculine singular addressee Position: Post-nominal (after the noun) State of noun: Emphatic/Determined Etymology: From דִּי (relative pronoun) + לָךְ (to you)
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For English speakers learning Babylonian Aramaic, understanding דִּילָךְ requires grasping the cultural framework of Talmudic discourse. The Talmud records numerous dialogues between rabbis, and the proper use of possessive pronouns reflects the hierarchical yet intimate nature of these scholarly relationships.
In Talmudic academies, students would address their teachers using formal language, and the distinction between דִּילָךְ and דִּילִיךְ was crucial for proper etiquette. The phrase רַבִּי, מִלְּתָא דִּילָךְ ("Rabbi, your word") appears frequently, showing deference while seeking clarification.
The possessive construction also appears in legal contexts. When discussing property rights, the phrase מִידִי דִּילָךְ ("something of yours") establishes ownership claims. This differs from Biblical Hebrew's suffix system and reflects the evolution of Aramaic as the vernacular of Babylonian Jews.
Prayer formulations often use these possessives when addressing God indirectly. The phrase רַחֲמֵי דִּילָךְ ("Your mercy") in liturgical texts demonstrates how Aramaic maintained reverent discourse patterns even as it served as the everyday language.
Understanding דִּילָךְ also illuminates the bilingual nature of Jewish learning. Rabbis seamlessly switched between Hebrew and Aramaic, and possessive constructions often mark these transitions. When a Hebrew biblical verse is explained in Aramaic, possessives help maintain clarity about whose actions or possessions are being discussed.
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Source: Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 5b
אָמַר said לֵיהּ to-him רַבִּי Rabbi יוֹחָנָן Yohanan: יִסּוּרִין sufferings חֲבִיבִין beloved עָלָךְ upon-you? אָמַר said לֵיהּ to-him: לָא not הֵן they וְלָא and-not שְׂכָרָן their-reward. אָמַר said לֵיהּ to-him: הַב give לִי to-me יְדָךְ hand-your. יָהַב gave לֵיהּ to-him יְדֵיהּ his-hand וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ and-raised-him.
אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: יִסּוּרִין חֲבִיבִין עָלָךְ? אָמַר לֵיהּ: לָא הֵן וְלָא שְׂכָרָן. אָמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ. יָהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ.
Rabbi Yohanan said to him: Are sufferings beloved to you? He said to him: Neither they nor their reward. He said to him: Give me your hand. He gave him his hand and raised him up.
אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: יִסּוּרִין חֲבִיבִין עָלָךְ? אָמַר לֵיהּ: לָא הֵן וְלָא שְׂכָרָן. אָמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ. יָהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ.
This passage demonstrates the use of possessive pronouns in emotional dialogue. Note that יְדָךְ ("your hand") uses a suffix pronoun rather than דִּילָךְ, showing that body parts often retain the older possessive system. The phrase עָלָךְ ("upon you") also uses a suffix form.
The progression from formal theological discussion (יִסּוּרִין חֲבִיבִין) to intimate physical contact (הַב לִי יְדָךְ) shows how Aramaic possessives convey relationship dynamics. The shift from questioning about abstract concepts to requesting physical assistance demonstrates the Talmudic value of practical compassion over theological debate.
The response יָהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ uses the third person possessive suffix, maintaining narrative distance while describing an intimate gesture of healing and support between colleagues.
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27.16 הַאי this מָאנָא vessel דִּילָךְ your הוּא is אוֹ or דִּילֵיהּ his?
27.17 סָהֲדֵי witnesses אָמְרִין say דְּחַקְלָא that-field דִּילָךְ your הֲוָה was מֵעִיקָּרָא originally
27.18 אִי if פִּקְדוֹנָא deposit דִּילָךְ your אִיתַּזַּק was-damaged בִּידִי in-my-hand מַאי what דִּינָא law?
27.19 שְׁטָרָא document דִּילָךְ your לָא not מַכְשַׁר valid בְּלָא without סָהֲדֵי witnesses
27.20 כַּד when זַבִּינְתְּ you-sold בֵּיתָא house דִּילָךְ your קַבִּילְתְּ you-accepted עָלָךְ upon-yourself אַחֲרָיוּת responsibility?
27.21 מְטַלְטְלֵי movables דִּילָךְ your דְּאִינְּקוּף that-were-seized בְּחוֹבָךְ for-your-debt לָא not הָדְרִי return
27.22 זוּזֵי money דִּילָךְ your דִּנְפַלוּ that-fell לִרְשׁוּת into-domain רַבִּים public זָכָה acquired בְּהוּ them מַאן who דְּאַשְׁכַּח that-found
27.23 חֶבְלָא injury דַּעֲבַד that-made תּוֹרָךְ your-ox בְּגוּפֵיהּ in-body דְּחַבְרָךְ of-your-fellow מְשַׁלֵּם pays אַתְּ you
27.24 קִנְיָנָא acquisition דִּילָךְ your לָא not גָּמַר completed עַד until דְּמָטֵי that-arrives לִידָךְ to-your-hand
27.25 שׁוּתָּפוּתָא partnership דִּילָךְ your וְדִילֵיהּ and-his פְּקִיעָא dissolved מֵחֲמַת because-of מַחְלוֹקֶת dispute
27.26 נְכָסִין properties דִּילָךְ your דְּאִתְיַתְּמוּן that-were-orphaned בֵּית court דִּינָא of-law מְמַנֵּי appoints עֲלַיְיהוּ over-them אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס guardian
27.27 תְּנַאי condition דִּילָךְ your בִּכְתֻבָּה in-marriage-contract קַיָּם stands אַף even לְבָתַר after נִשּׂוּאִין marriage
27.28 חַמְרָא wine דִּילָךְ your דְּאִתְעָרַב that-mixed בְּדִידִי with-mine בָּטֵל nullified בְּרוּבָּא in-majority
27.29 מִלְוָה loan דִּילָךְ your עַל on פֶּה oral לָא not גָּבֵי collects מִיַּתְמֵי from-orphans
27.30 עֵדוּת testimony דִּילָךְ your פְּסוּלָה invalid אִי if נוֹגֵעַ touching אַתְּ you בְּדָבָר in-matter
27.16 הַאי מָאנָא דִּילָךְ הוּא אוֹ דִּילֵיהּ? Is this vessel yours or his?
27.17 סָהֲדֵי אָמְרִין דְּחַקְלָא דִּילָךְ הֲוָה מֵעִיקָּרָא. Witnesses say that the field was originally yours.
27.18 אִי פִּקְדוֹנָא דִּילָךְ אִיתַּזַּק בִּידִי מַאי דִּינָא? If your deposit was damaged in my possession, what is the law?
27.19 שְׁטָרָא דִּילָךְ לָא מַכְשַׁר בְּלָא סָהֲדֵי. Your document is not valid without witnesses.
27.20 כַּד זַבִּינְתְּ בֵּיתָא דִּילָךְ קַבִּילְתְּ עָלָךְ אַחֲרָיוּת? When you sold your house, did you accept responsibility upon yourself?
27.21 מְטַלְטְלֵי דִּילָךְ דְּאִינְּקוּף בְּחוֹבָךְ לָא הָדְרִי. Your movables that were seized for your debt do not return.
27.22 זוּזֵי דִּילָךְ דִּנְפַלוּ לִרְשׁוּת רַבִּים זָכָה בְּהוּ מַאן דְּאַשְׁכַּח. Your money that fell into the public domain, whoever found it has acquired it.
27.23 חֶבְלָא דַּעֲבַד תּוֹרָךְ בְּגוּפֵיהּ דְּחַבְרָךְ מְשַׁלֵּם אַתְּ. The injury that your ox caused to your fellow's body, you must pay.
27.24 קִנְיָנָא דִּילָךְ לָא גָּמַר עַד דְּמָטֵי לִידָךְ. Your acquisition is not completed until it reaches your hand.
27.25 שׁוּתָּפוּתָא דִּילָךְ וְדִילֵיהּ פְּקִיעָא מֵחֲמַת מַחְלוֹקֶת. Your partnership with him is dissolved because of dispute.
27.26 נְכָסִין דִּילָךְ דְּאִתְיַתְּמוּן בֵּית דִּינָא מְמַנֵּי עֲלַיְיהוּ אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס. Your properties that became orphaned, the court appoints over them a guardian.
27.27 תְּנַאי דִּילָךְ בִּכְתֻבָּה קַיָּם אַף לְבָתַר נִשּׂוּאִין. Your condition in the marriage contract stands even after marriage.
27.28 חַמְרָא דִּילָךְ דְּאִתְעָרַב בְּדִידִי בָּטֵל בְּרוּבָּא. Your wine that mixed with mine is nullified in the majority.
27.29 מִלְוָה דִּילָךְ עַל פֶּה לָא גָּבֵי מִיַּתְמֵי. Your oral loan cannot be collected from orphans.
27.30 עֵדוּת דִּילָךְ פְּסוּלָה אִי נוֹגֵעַ אַתְּ בְּדָבָר. Your testimony is invalid if you have an interest in the matter.
27.16 הַאי מָאנָא דִּילָךְ הוּא אוֹ דִּילֵיהּ?
27.17 סָהֲדֵי אָמְרִין דְּחַקְלָא דִּילָךְ הֲוָה מֵעִיקָּרָא.
27.18 אִי פִּקְדוֹנָא דִּילָךְ אִיתַּזַּק בִּידִי מַאי דִּינָא?
27.19 שְׁטָרָא דִּילָךְ לָא מַכְשַׁר בְּלָא סָהֲדֵי.
27.20 כַּד זַבִּינְתְּ בֵּיתָא דִּילָךְ קַבִּילְתְּ עָלָךְ אַחֲרָיוּת?
27.21 מְטַלְטְלֵי דִּילָךְ דְּאִינְּקוּף בְּחוֹבָךְ לָא הָדְרִי.
27.22 זוּזֵי דִּילָךְ דִּנְפַלוּ לִרְשׁוּת רַבִּים זָכָה בְּהוּ מַאן דְּאַשְׁכַּח.
27.23 חֶבְלָא דַּעֲבַד תּוֹרָךְ בְּגוּפֵיהּ דְּחַבְרָךְ מְשַׁלֵּם אַתְּ.
27.24 קִנְיָנָא דִּילָךְ לָא גָּמַר עַד דְּמָטֵי לִידָךְ.
27.25 שׁוּתָּפוּתָא דִּילָךְ וְדִילֵיהּ פְּקִיעָא מֵחֲמַת מַחְלוֹקֶת.
27.26 נְכָסִין דִּילָךְ דְּאִתְיַתְּמוּן בֵּית דִּינָא מְמַנֵּי עֲלַיְיהוּ אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס.
27.27 תְּנַאי דִּילָךְ בִּכְתֻבָּה קַיָּם אַף לְבָתַר נִשּׂוּאִין.
27.28 חַמְרָא דִּילָךְ דְּאִתְעָרַב בְּדִידִי בָּטֵל בְּרוּבָּא.
27.29 מִלְוָה דִּילָךְ עַל פֶּה לָא גָּבֵי מִיַּתְמֵי.
27.30 עֵדוּת דִּילָךְ פְּסוּלָה אִי נוֹגֵעַ אַתְּ בְּדָבָר.
In Talmudic legal discourse, דִּילָךְ functions as a crucial marker of ownership and responsibility. The legal genre demonstrates several specialized uses:
Ownership Disputes: When questioning ownership, דִּילָךְ often appears in direct questions with אוֹ (or): -
הַאי מָאנָא דִּילָךְ הוּא אוֹ דִּילֵיהּ? (Is this vessel yours or his?)
Property Descriptions: Legal texts use דִּילָךְ with detailed property descriptions: -
נְכָסִין דִּילָךְ דְּאִתְיַתְּמוּן (your properties that became orphaned) -
מְטַלְטְלֵי דִּילָךְ דְּאִינְּקוּף (your movables that were seized)
Conditional Statements: The particle אִי (if) frequently introduces hypothetical legal scenarios involving possessions: -
אִי פִּקְדוֹנָא דִּילָךְ אִיתַּזַּק (if your deposit was damaged)
Responsibility Formulas: Legal responsibility uses דִּילָךְ to establish liability: -
חֶבְלָא דַּעֲבַד תּוֹרָךְ (injury that your ox caused) Note here the use of suffix -ךְ with תּוֹר (ox) rather than תּוֹרָא דִּילָךְ
Temporal Legal Markers: Past ownership uses דִּילָךְ with time indicators: -
דִּילָךְ הֲוָה מֵעִיקָּרָא (was originally yours)
This legal usage shows how Aramaic developed precise possessive constructions for property law, contracts, and liability - areas where ownership clarity is paramount.
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The Latinum Institute's language learning materials represent a revolutionary approach to autodidactic language acquisition, developed by curator Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London) since 2006. These lessons employ the "construed text" method, breaking down complex linguistic structures into their smallest meaningful units to facilitate natural language absorption.
The course design specifically addresses the needs of self-directed learners by providing: -
Granular interlinear glossing that reveals grammatical relationships -
Progressive difficulty that builds confidence -
Authentic literary texts with detailed analysis -
Cultural context essential for true comprehension -
Multiple presentation formats to reinforce learning patterns
Each lesson integrates vocabulary, grammar, and cultural knowledge through carefully selected examples that mirror authentic usage. The method has proven particularly effective for classical and historical languages, where immersion opportunities are limited.
The Latinum Institute's materials are available through: -
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This pedagogical approach, refined over nearly two decades, enables motivated individuals to achieve reading fluency in historical languages without formal classroom instruction. The method's success lies in its respect for both the target language's authentic structures and the adult learner's analytical capabilities.
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