← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
How do you say "day" in Babylonian Aramaic?
The Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud says יוֹמָא (yōmā), "day". You have met it many times already: יוֹמָא חַד, "one day", the opening of so many stories (lessons 54, 55, 62 and 63); כׇּל יוֹמָא, "every day" (67.7); כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא, "all day" (lesson 67, Section F); and the plural in בְּיוֹמֵי דְּרַבִּי, "in the days of Rabbi" (13.27). In this lesson the word is the subject itself.
The English learner should notice four things at once.
First, יוֹמָא is the ordinary form. Like every noun in this course, the word normally ends in -ā, the emphatic state, and it means either "the day" or "a day": the context decides. The short form יוֹם is rare in the Gemara's Aramaic; you will meet it mostly in Hebrew. When the Gemara quotes a Hebrew teaching it says בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם, "on that very day"; when it speaks Aramaic it says הַהוּא יוֹמָא, "that day" (Section A, 68.14).
Second, "the day of …" is יוֹמָא דְּ-. English says "the Day of Atonement"; Aramaic says יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, word for word "the day that-of atonements". The little word דְּ- does the work of English "of".
Third, "on that day" often needs no "on". The Gemara can say הַהוּא יוֹמָא אִתּוֹסְפוּ כַּמָּה סַפְסַלֵּי, "that day many benches were added", with no preposition, as English "that day". It can also use בְּ-, "on": בְּיוֹמָא דַעֲצַרְתָּא, "on the day of Atzeret".
Fourth, the plural is יוֹמֵי (yōmē), "days". תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי, "three days". After a number you will also meet יוֹמִין (yōmīn), as in lesson 43: תְּלָתָא יוֹמִין.
The word is old and shared by the Semitic languages: Hebrew יוֹם (yōm), Arabic يوم (yawm). Aramaic also has a second word, יְמָמָא (yəmāmā), "daytime", the light half of the day, as against לֵילְיָא (lēlyā), "night". The Targum of Genesis 1:5 uses both: God called the light יְמָמָא, "day(time)", and the first day is יוֹמָא חָד, "one day".
In this lesson the romanisation follows a simple academic scheme: ʾ for א, ʿ for ע, ḥ for ח, ṭ for ט, ṣ for צ, q for ק, sh for שׁ, kh for soft כ, v for soft ב, f for soft פ, w for consonantal ו; long vowels are marked with a macron (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū), and ə stands for the short vowel shewa.
- יוֹמָא (yōmā) = "the day, a day"; plural יוֹמֵי (yōmē) = "days" - Hebrew בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם = Aramaic הַהוּא יוֹמָא, "that day" - "The day of …" = יוֹמָא דְּ-: יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, "the Day of Atonement" - A time phrase may stand without "on": הַהוּא יוֹמָא, "(on) that day" - כׇּל יוֹמָא = "every day"; כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא = "the whole day" - מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי = "the eve of the Day of Atonement" - יְמָמָא (yəmāmā) = "daytime", as against לֵילְיָא, "night"
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The sentences of Sections A to C and of the Genre Section are written for this lesson; they are not quotations from the Talmud, except these: 68.12 is a sentence of the Gemara (Pesachim 68b), and 68.14 a sentence of the Gemara (Berakhot 28a), both as in the William Davidson edition on Sefaria. 68.10 and 68.11 are adapted from Ketubot 62b and Pesachim 68b.
68.1a יוֹמָא day חַד one
68.1b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥad (KHAD) one-M
68.2a גָּרֵיס he-studies כׇּל every יוֹמָא day
68.2b gārēs (gaa-RAYS) study-PTCP.M.SG kol (KOL) every yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH
68.3a הַהוּא that יוֹמָא day הֲוָה it-was
68.3b hahū (ha-HOO) that-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG
68.4a יְתֵיב he-stayed תַּמָּן there תְּלָתָא three יוֹמֵי days
68.4b yətēv (y'-TAYV) sit-PERF.3M.SG tammān (tam-MAAN) there təlātā (t'-laa-TAA) three yōmē (yoh-MAY) day-M.PL
68.5a טְרַח he-toiled כּוּלֵּהּ all-of יוֹמָא the-day
68.5b ṭəraḥ (t'-RAKH) toil-PERF.3M.SG kullēh (kul-LAYH) all-of-it-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH
68.6a יוֹמָא day חַד one הֲוָה was אָזֵיל going רָבָא Rava בְּאוֹרְחָא on-the-road
68.6b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥad (KHAD) one-M hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG ʾāzēl (aa-ZAYL) go-PTCP.M.SG Rāvā (RAA-vaa) Rava bə-ʾōrḥā (b'-ohr-KHAA) on-road-M.SG.EMPH
68.7a רַבָּנַן the-rabbis יָתְבִי sit בְּבֵי in-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study כּוּלֵּהּ all-of יוֹמָא the-day
68.7b rabbānan (rab-BAA-nan) rabbi-M.PL yātvī (yaat-VEE) sit-PTCP.M.PL bə-vē (b'-VAY) in-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH kullēh (kul-LAYH) all-of-it-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH
68.8a הַהוּא that יוֹמָא day אֲתוֹ came תַּלְמִידֵי students טוּבָא many לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
68.8b hahū (ha-HOO) that-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ʾătō (a-TOH) come-PERF.3M.PL talmīdē (tal-mee-DAY) student-M.PL ṭūvā (too-VAA) much lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
68.9a כַּמָּה how-many יוֹמֵי days יְתֵיב stayed רַבָּה Rabbah תַּמָּן there
68.9b kammā (KAM-maa) how-many yōmē (yoh-MAY) day-M.PL yətēv (y'-TAYV) sit-PERF.3M.SG Rabbā (RAB-baa) Rabbah tammān (tam-MAAN) there
68.10a כׇּל every מַעֲלֵי eve-of יוֹמָא the-day דְכִיפּוּרֵי of-atonements אָתֵי he-comes לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house
68.10b kol (KOL) every maʿălē (ma-a-LAY) entering-CONST yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-khippūrē (d'-khip-poo-RAY) of-atonement-M.PL ʾātē (aa-TAY) come-PTCP.M.SG lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his
68.11a מָר Mar בְּרֵיהּ his-son דְּרָבִינָא of-Ravina כּוּלַּהּ all-of שַׁתָּא the-year הֲוָה was יָתֵיב sitting בְּתַעֲנִיתָא in-a-fast לְבַר except מִמַּעֲלֵי from-the-eve-of יוֹמָא the-day דְכִיפּוּרֵי of-atonements
68.11b Mār (MAAR) Mar bərēh (b'-RAYH) son-his də-Rāvīnā (d'-raa-vee-NAA) of-Ravina kullah (kul-LAH) all-of-it-F shattā (shat-TAA) year-F.SG.EMPH hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG yātēv (yaa-TAYV) sit-PTCP.M.SG bə-taʿănītā (b'-ta-a-nee-TAA) in-fast-F.SG.EMPH lə-var (l'-VAR) except mim-maʿălē (mim-ma-a-LAY) from-entering-CONST yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-khippūrē (d'-khip-poo-RAY) of-atonement-M.PL
68.12a אִי if לָא not הַאי this יוֹמָא day דְּקָא that-is גָרֵים causing כַּמָּה how-many יוֹסֵף Josephs אִיכָּא there-are בְּשׁוּקָא in-the-market
68.12b ʾī (EE) if lā (LAA) not hay (HAI) this-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-qā (d'-KAA) that-PROG gārēm (gaa-RAYM) cause-PTCP.M.SG kammā (KAM-maa) how-many Yōsēf (yoh-SAYF) Joseph ʾīkkā (EEK-kaa) there-is bə-shūqā (b'-shoo-KAA) in-market-M.SG.EMPH
68.13a הַהוּא that יוֹמָא day דְּלָא that-not אֲתָא came רַבָּה Rabbah לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study אֲזַלוּ went כּוּלְּהוּ all-of-them תַּלְמִידֵי the-students לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house
68.13b hahū (ha-HOO) that-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-lā (d'-LAA) that-not ʾătā (a-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG Rabbā (RAB-baa) Rabbah lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH ʾăzalū (a-za-LOO) go-PERF.3M.PL kulləhū (kul-l'-HOO) all-of-them talmīdē (tal-mee-DAY) student-M.PL lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his
68.14a וְכׇל and-every הֵיכָא where דְּאָמְרִינַן that-we-say בּוֹ on-it בַּיּוֹם the-day הַהוּא that יוֹמָא day הֲוָה it-was
68.14b wə-khol (v'-KHOL) and-every hēkhā (HAY-khaa) where də-ʾāmrīnan (d'-aam-REE-nan) that-say-PTCP.1PL bō (BOH) on-it (Hebrew) bay-yōm (bai-YOHM) on-the-day (Hebrew) hahū (ha-HOO) that-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG
68.15a תְּלָתָא three יוֹמֵי days לָא not אֲכַל ate רַבָּה Rabbah מִידֵּי anything וּבְיוֹמָא and-on-the-day תְּלִיתָאָה the-third אֲתוֹ came תַּלְמִידֵיהּ his-students וִיהַבוּ and-gave לֵיהּ to-him נַהֲמָא bread
68.15b təlātā (t'-laa-TAA) three yōmē (yoh-MAY) day-M.PL lā (LAA) not ʾăkhal (a-KHAL) eat-PERF.3M.SG Rabbā (RAB-baa) Rabbah mīddē (MEED-day) thing ū-v-yōmā (oo-v'-yoh-MAA) and-on-day-M.SG.EMPH təlītāʾā (t'-lee-taa-AA) third-M.SG.EMPH ʾătō (a-TOH) come-PERF.3M.PL talmīdēh (tal-mee-DAYH) student-M.PL-his wīhavū (vee-ha-VOO) and-give-PERF.3M.PL lēh (LAYH) to-him nahămā (na-ha-MAA) bread-M.SG.EMPH
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
68.1 יוֹמָא חַד. — yōmā ḥad. — "One day."
68.2 גָּרֵיס כׇּל יוֹמָא. — gārēs kol yōmā. — "He studies every day."
68.3 הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה. — hahū yōmā hăwā. — "It was that day."
68.4 יְתֵיב תַּמָּן תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי. — yətēv tammān təlātā yōmē. — "He stayed there three days."
68.5 טְרַח כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא. — ṭəraḥ kullēh yōmā. — "He toiled all day."
68.6 יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵיל רָבָא בְּאוֹרְחָא. — yōmā ḥad hăwā ʾāzēl Rāvā bə-ʾōrḥā. — "One day Rava was going along the road."
68.7 רַבָּנַן יָתְבִי בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא. — rabbānan yātvī bə-vē midrəshā kullēh yōmā. — "The rabbis sit in the study house all day."
68.8 הַהוּא יוֹמָא אֲתוֹ תַּלְמִידֵי טוּבָא לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — hahū yōmā ʾătō talmīdē ṭūvā lə-vē midrəshā. — "That day many students came to the study house."
68.9 כַּמָּה יוֹמֵי יְתֵיב רַבָּה תַּמָּן? — kammā yōmē yətēv Rabbā tammān? — "How many days did Rabbah stay there?"
68.10 כׇּל מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי אָתֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ. — kol maʿălē yōmā də-khippūrē ʾātē lə-vētēh. — "Every eve of the Day of Atonement he comes home."
68.11 מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבִינָא כּוּלַּהּ שַׁתָּא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא, לְבַר מִמַּעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי. — Mār bərēh də-Rāvīnā kullah shattā hăwā yātēv bə-taʿănītā, lə-var mim-maʿălē yōmā də-khippūrē. — "Mar son of Ravina used to fast all year, except on the eve of the Day of Atonement."
68.12 אִי לָא הַאי יוֹמָא דְּקָא גָרֵים, כַּמָּה יוֹסֵף אִיכָּא בְּשׁוּקָא! — ʾī lā hay yōmā də-qā gārēm, kammā Yōsēf ʾīkkā bə-shūqā! — "Were it not for what this day has brought about, how many Josephs are there in the market!"
68.13 הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּלָא אֲתָא רַבָּה לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא, אֲזַלוּ כּוּלְּהוּ תַּלְמִידֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ. — hahū yōmā də-lā ʾătā Rabbā lə-vē midrəshā, ʾăzalū kulləhū talmīdē lə-vētēh. — "On the day that Rabbah did not come to the study house, all the students went to his house."
68.14 וְכׇל הֵיכָא דְּאָמְרִינַן ״בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם״, הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה. — wə-khol hēkhā də-ʾāmrīnan "bō bay-yōm", hahū yōmā hăwā. — "And wherever we say 'on that day', it was that day."
68.15 תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי לָא אֲכַל רַבָּה מִידֵּי, וּבְיוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה אֲתוֹ תַּלְמִידֵיהּ וִיהַבוּ לֵיהּ נַהֲמָא. — təlātā yōmē lā ʾăkhal Rabbā mīddē, ū-v-yōmā təlītāʾā ʾătō talmīdēh wīhavū lēh nahămā. — "For three days Rabbah ate nothing, and on the third day his students came and gave him bread."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
68.1 יוֹמָא חַד.
68.2 גָּרֵיס כׇּל יוֹמָא.
68.3 הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה.
68.4 יְתֵיב תַּמָּן תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי.
68.5 טְרַח כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא.
68.6 יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵיל רָבָא בְּאוֹרְחָא.
68.7 רַבָּנַן יָתְבִי בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא.
68.8 הַהוּא יוֹמָא אֲתוֹ תַּלְמִידֵי טוּבָא לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
68.9 כַּמָּה יוֹמֵי יְתֵיב רַבָּה תַּמָּן?
68.10 כׇּל מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי אָתֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ.
68.11 מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבִינָא כּוּלַּהּ שַׁתָּא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא, לְבַר מִמַּעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי.
68.12 אִי לָא הַאי יוֹמָא דְּקָא גָרֵים, כַּמָּה יוֹסֵף אִיכָּא בְּשׁוּקָא!
68.13 הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּלָא אֲתָא רַבָּה לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא, אֲזַלוּ כּוּלְּהוּ תַּלְמִידֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ.
68.14 וְכׇל הֵיכָא דְּאָמְרִינַן ״בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם״, הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה.
68.15 תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי לָא אֲכַל רַבָּה מִידֵּי, וּבְיוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה אֲתוֹ תַּלְמִידֵיהּ וִיהַבוּ לֵיהּ נַהֲמָא.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
1. The forms of the noun. יוֹמָא is a masculine noun. The Gemara uses it almost always in the emphatic state, with -ā:
- יוֹמָא (yōmā), "the day, a day" (68.1, 68.2, 68.3 and throughout) - יוֹמֵי (yōmē), "days" (68.4, 68.9, 68.15, 68.24, 68.29) - יוֹמִין (yōmīn), "days", the absolute plural, sometimes after a number (lesson 43.29) - יוֹמֵיהּ (yōmēh), "his day" (lesson 15.12)
The short singular יוֹם, the absolute state, exists in Aramaic but is rare in the Gemara's Aramaic. You will meet it mostly inside Hebrew phrases: בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם, "on that very day" (68.14).
2. Hebrew יוֹם, Aramaic יוֹמָא. On one page of Berakhot (28a) the Hebrew teaching says אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, "that day", and the Aramaic of the Gemara, telling the same day, says הַהוּא יוֹמָא. The Gemara even explains the Hebrew by the Aramaic: כׇּל הֵיכָא דְּאָמְרִינַן ״בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם״, הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה, "wherever we say 'on that day', it was that day" (68.14).
3. "The day of …" with דְּ-. Aramaic joins two nouns with דְּ-, "of", where Hebrew uses the construct:
- יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, "the Day of Atonement" (68.10, 68.11) - בְּיוֹמָא דַעֲצַרְתָּא, "on the day of Atzeret" (Section E) - יוֹמָא דְּתַלְמִידָא, "a student's day" (68.16)
4. Time without a preposition. A phrase of time may stand on its own, as in English "that day", "one day": הַהוּא יוֹמָא אֲתוֹ תַּלְמִידֵי טוּבָא (68.8); יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵיל (68.6). With בְּ-, "on", the phrase is just as correct: וּבְיוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה, "and on the third day" (68.15).
5. "This day", "that day", "one day". הַאי יוֹמָא, "this day" (68.12); הַהוּא יוֹמָא, "that day" (68.3, 68.8, 68.13); יוֹמָא חַד, "one day" (68.1, 68.6). The number חַד follows the noun.
6. "Every day" and "all day". כׇּל before a noun means "every": כׇּל יוֹמָא, "every day" (68.2, 68.21). כּוּלֵּהּ, "all of it", before a noun means "the whole": כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא, "the whole day, all day" (68.5, 68.7, 68.18). כּוּלֵּהּ agrees with the noun: for a feminine noun it is כּוּלַּהּ, as in כּוּלַּהּ שַׁתָּא, "the whole year" (68.11), for שַׁתָּא, "year", is feminine.
7. "The day that …" A clause with דְּ- after יוֹמָא tells what happened on it: הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּלָא אֲתָא רַבָּה, "the day that Rabbah did not come" (68.13). When the clause needs "on it", it adds בֵּיהּ: יוֹמָא דְּלָא גָּרֵיסְנָא בֵּיהּ, "a day that I do not study on it", that is, "a day on which I do not study" (68.25).
8. Numbers and days. With a masculine noun the numbers three to ten end in -ā: תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי, "three days" (68.4, 68.15, 68.29). The ordinals follow the noun and take -āʾā: יוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה, "the third day" (68.15); יוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה, "the fourth day" (68.29).
9. The eve. מַעֲלֵי, word for word "the coming-in of", is "the eve of" a holy day: מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, "the eve of the Day of Atonement" (68.10, 68.11, 68.22; Section F).
10. Day and daytime. יוֹמָא is the whole day, a unit of the calendar. יְמָמָא (yəmāmā) is the light part of it, "daytime", the opposite of לֵילְיָא (lēlyā), "night". This lesson uses יְמָמָא only in the Targum's verse quoted in Section E.
11. New words in this lesson.
- כִּיפּוּרֵי (kippūrē), "atonements", in יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי (68.10, 68.11, 68.22, Section F) - מַעֲלֵי (maʿălē), "the eve of" (68.10, 68.11, 68.22, Section F) - שַׁתָּא (shattā), "year", feminine (68.11) - תַּעֲנִיתָא (taʿănītā), "fast"; יָתֵיב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא, "he fasts" (68.11) - שׁוּקָא (shūqā), "market" (68.12) - תְּלִיתָאָה (təlītāʾā), "third"; רְבִיעָאָה (rəvīʿāʾā), "fourth" (68.15, 68.29) - אוּרְתָּא (ʾūrtā), "evening" (68.16, 68.20) - יַרְחָא (yarḥā), "month" (68.30) - שְׁמַעְתָּא (shəmaʿtā), "a teaching, a matter of law"; אִיגָּרָא (ʾiggārā), "roof"; דִּמְעֲתָא (dimʿătā), "tear" (Section F)
- Using Hebrew יוֹם in an Aramaic sentence. ✗ הַהוּא יוֹם → ✓ הַהוּא יוֹמָא. In the Gemara יוֹם appears mostly inside Hebrew phrases such as בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם. - Confusing כׇּל יוֹמָא and כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא. גָּרֵיס כׇּל יוֹמָא, "he studies every day"; גָּרֵיס כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא, "he studies all day long". - Translating יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי as "a day of atonements". It is the name of the holy day: "the Day of Atonement", Yom Kippur. - Reading מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי as the day itself. It is the day before: the eve, when one eats and prepares for the fast. - Confusing יוֹמָא and יְמָמָא. "Three days" is תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי, never יְמָמֵי: יְמָמָא is daylight, not a unit of the calendar.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
One tractate of the Mishnah and the Talmud is called simply יוֹמָא, Yoma, "The Day". It is the tractate of the Day of Atonement, יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, and of the service of the High Priest on that day. The Day of Atonement was the day above all days, so "the Day" was enough to name it.
Berakhot 27b–28a tells of the day the sages removed Rabban Gamliel from the head of the academy. The Hebrew teaching says: תָּנָא אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, סִלְּקוּהוּ לְשׁוֹמֵר הַפֶּתַח, "It was taught: that day they removed the guard at the door", and the students he had kept out came in. The Gemara goes on in Aramaic: הַהוּא יוֹמָא אִתּוֹסְפוּ כַּמָּה סַפְסַלֵּי, "that day many benches were added", four hundred according to one teacher, seven hundred according to another. So many teachings were settled then that the Gemara says: כׇּל הֵיכָא דְּאָמְרִינַן ״בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם״, הַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה, "wherever we say 'on that day', it was that day" (68.14).
Pesachim 68b records that on Atzeret (Shavuot), the festival of the giving of the Torah, Rav Yosef had a fine calf prepared, and said: אִי לָא הַאי יוֹמָא דְּקָא גָרֵים, כַּמָּה יוֹסֵף אִיכָּא בְּשׁוּקָא, "Were it not for what this day has brought about, how many Josephs are there in the market!" (68.12). Without the Torah given on that day, he would be one more Joseph among many. On the same page, Mar son of Ravina fasted all year except on three days: Atzeret, Purim and the eve of the Day of Atonement (68.11).
The Targum Onkelos, the Aramaic translation of the Torah, renders Genesis 1:5: וּקְרָא יְיָ לִנְהוֹרָא יְמָמָא וְלַחֲשׁוֹכָא קְרָא לֵילְיָא וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹמָא חָד, "And the LORD called the light day(time), and the darkness He called night; and there was evening and there was morning, one day" (text as in the Metsudah edition on Sefaria). The verse names evening before morning, and in Jewish reckoning the day begins at nightfall: the Day of Atonement begins on the evening of its eve.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 62b, text as in the William Davidson (Vilna-based, vocalised) edition on Sefaria; checked word by word against the unvocalised Wikisource text of the Talmud on Sefaria, which has the same words. The punctuation is the Sefaria edition's. The Gemara is discussing how long a scholar may stay away from home to study, and tells this story as a warning. The passage is chosen because יוֹמָא carries it twice: once as the holy day on whose eve Rav Reḥumi always came home, and once as the "one day" on which he did not.
F.1a כִּי as הָא this דְּרַב of-Rav רְחוּמִי Reḥumi הֲוָה was שְׁכִיחַ often-present קַמֵּיהּ before דְּרָבָא Rava בְּמָחוֹזָא in-Meḥoza
F.1b kī (KEE) as hā (HAA) this də-Rav (d'-RAV) that-Rav Rəḥūmī (r'-khoo-MEE) Reḥumi hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG shəkhīaḥ (sh'-KHEE-akh) present-PASS.PTCP.M.SG qammēh (kam-MAYH) before-him də-Rāvā (d'-RAA-vaa) of-Rava bə-Māḥōzā (b'-maa-khoh-ZAA) in-Meḥoza
F.2a הֲוָה he-was רְגִיל accustomed דַּהֲוָה that-he-was אָתֵי coming לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house כֹּל every מַעֲלֵי eve-of יוֹמָא the-day דְכִיפּוּרֵי of-atonements
F.2b hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG rəgīl (r'-GEEL) accustomed-PASS.PTCP.M.SG da-hăwā (da-ha-VAA) that-be-PERF.3M.SG ʾātē (aa-TAY) come-PTCP.M.SG lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his kol (KOL) every maʿălē (ma-a-LAY) entering-CONST yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-khippūrē (d'-khip-poo-RAY) of-atonement-M.PL
F.3a יוֹמָא day חַד one מְשַׁכְתֵּיהּ drew-him שְׁמַעְתָּא a-teaching
F.3b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥad (KHAD) one-M məshakhtēh (m'-shakh-TAYH) draw-PERF.3F.SG-him shəmaʿtā (sh'-ma-TAA) teaching-F.SG.EMPH
F.4a הֲוָה was מְסַכְּיָא looking-out דְּבֵיתְהוּ his-wife הַשְׁתָּא now אָתֵי he-comes הַשְׁתָּא now אָתֵי he-comes
F.4b hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG məsakkəyā (m'-sak-k'-YAA) look.out-PTCP.F.SG də-vēthū (d'-VAYT-hoo) of-house-his hashtā (HASH-taa) now ʾātē (aa-TAY) come-PTCP.M.SG hashtā (HASH-taa) now ʾātē (aa-TAY) come-PTCP.M.SG
F.5a לָא not אֲתָא he-came
F.5b lā (LAA) not ʾătā (a-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG
F.6a חֲלַשׁ grew-weak דַּעְתַּהּ her-mind אַחִית fell דִּמְעֲתָא a-tear מֵעֵינַהּ from-her-eye
F.6b ḥălash (kha-LASH) weaken-PERF daʿtah (da-TAH) mind-her ʾaḥīt (a-KHEET) come.down-PERF dimʿătā (dim-a-TAA) tear-F.SG.EMPH mē-ʿēnah (may-ay-NAH) from-eye-her
F.7a הֲוָה he-was יָתֵיב sitting בְּאִיגָּרָא on-the-roof
F.7b hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG yātēv (yaa-TAYV) sit-PTCP.M.SG bə-ʾiggārā (b'-ig-gaa-RAA) on-roof-M.SG.EMPH
F.8a אִפְּחִית collapsed אִיגָּרָא the-roof מִתּוּתֵיהּ from-under-him וְנָח and-rested נַפְשֵׁיהּ his-soul
F.8b ʾippəḥīt (ip-p'-KHEET) collapse-PERF.3M.SG ʾiggārā (ig-gaa-RAA) roof-M.SG.EMPH mit-tūtēh (mit-too-TAYH) from-under-him wə-nāḥ (v'-NAAKH) and-rest-PERF.3M.SG nafshēh (naf-SHAYH) soul-his
כִּי הָא דְּרַב רְחוּמִי הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא בְּמָחוֹזָא, הֲוָה רְגִיל דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ כֹּל מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי. יוֹמָא חַד מְשַׁכְתֵּיהּ שְׁמַעְתָּא. הֲוָה מְסַכְּיָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ: הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי, הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי. לָא אֲתָא. חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתַּהּ, אַחִית דִּמְעֲתָא מֵעֵינַהּ. הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּאִיגָּרָא, אִפְּחִית אִיגָּרָא מִתּוּתֵיהּ וְנָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ.
As in the case of Rav Reḥumi, who was often in Meḥoza, studying before Rava. He was used to coming home every eve of the Day of Atonement. One day a teaching held him. His wife was watching for him: "Now he is coming, now he is coming." He did not come. She was distressed, and a tear fell from her eye. He was sitting on the roof; the roof gave way under him, and he died.
כִּי הָא דְּרַב רְחוּמִי הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא בְּמָחוֹזָא, הֲוָה רְגִיל דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי לְבֵיתֵיהּ כֹּל מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי. יוֹמָא חַד מְשַׁכְתֵּיהּ שְׁמַעְתָּא. הֲוָה מְסַכְּיָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ: הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי, הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי. לָא אֲתָא. חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתַּהּ, אַחִית דִּמְעֲתָא מֵעֵינַהּ. הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּאִיגָּרָא, אִפְּחִית אִיגָּרָא מִתּוּתֵיהּ וְנָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ.
- כֹּל מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, "every eve of the Day of Atonement". The time phrase stands without a preposition (rule 4), and "the day of" is made with דְּ- (rule 3). The edition writes כֹּל here where this course writes כׇּל; the word is the same. - יוֹמָא חַד, "one day". The story formula of lessons 62 and 63. Here it means one such eve: the one day in the year when he was expected, and the one day he did not come. - הֲוָה רְגִיל דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי, "he was accustomed that he would come". הֲוָה with a participle tells what was done again and again (lesson 67, rule 2); רְגִיל, "accustomed", is followed by a clause with דְּ-. - מְשַׁכְתֵּיהּ שְׁמַעְתָּא, "a teaching drew him". The subject, שְׁמַעְתָּא, is feminine, so the verb has the feminine ending -t (מְשַׁכַת, "she drew"), and the object "him" is the ending -ēh. The teaching is the one who acts: it pulled him away from going home. - הֲוָה מְסַכְּיָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ, "his wife was looking out". דְּבֵיתְהוּ, word for word "the one of his house", is the Gemara's usual word for "his wife". הֲוָה stays in the masculine form before the feminine participle. - הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי, הַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי, "now he is coming, now he is coming". The participle אָתֵי, "coming", and then the perfect אֲתָא, "came", with לָא: the waiting and the end of it. - חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתַּהּ, "her mind grew weak". The idiom means "she was distressed"; it is the idiom of Berakhot 28a, where Rabban Gamliel's mind "grew weak" on the day of the benches. אַחִית is translated "fell"; its form is the causative, "brought down", and it can also be read "she shed a tear". - וְנָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ, "and his soul rested". The Gemara's gentle way of saying "he died". - The two days. A day of atonement and a tear: the story is told so that the reader feels what one day's absence can cost.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
A short description and story in the language of the Gemara, written for this lesson. It is not a quotation from the Talmud.
68.16a יוֹמָא the-day דְּתַלְמִידָא of-a-student מִצַּפְרָא from-morning וְעַד and-until אוּרְתָּא evening
68.16b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-talmīdā (d'-tal-mee-DAA) of-student-M.SG.EMPH miṣ-ṣafrā (mits-tsaf-RAA) from-morning-M.SG.EMPH wə-ʿad (v'-AD) and-until ʾūrtā (oor-TAA) evening-F.SG.EMPH
68.17a בְּצַפְרָא in-the-morning קָאֵים he-rises וְאָזֵיל and-goes לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
68.17b bə-ṣafrā (b'-tsaf-RAA) in-morning-M.SG.EMPH qāʾēm (kaa-AYM) rise-PTCP.M.SG wə-ʾāzēl (v'-aa-ZAYL) and-go-PTCP.M.SG lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
68.18a כּוּלֵּהּ all-of יוֹמָא the-day יָתֵיב he-sits קַמֵּיהּ before דְּרַבֵּיהּ his-master וְגָרֵיס and-studies
68.18b kullēh (kul-LAYH) all-of-it-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH yātēv (yaa-TAYV) sit-PTCP.M.SG qammēh (kam-MAYH) before-him də-rabbēh (d'-rab-BAYH) of-master-his wə-gārēs (v'-gaa-RAYS) and-study-PTCP.M.SG
68.19a בְּפַלְגָא in-the-half דְּיוֹמָא of-the-day אָכֵיל he-eats נַהֲמָא bread וְשָׁתֵי and-drinks מַיָּא water
68.19b bə-falgā (b'-fal-GAA) in-half-M.SG.EMPH də-yōmā (d'-yoh-MAA) of-day-M.SG.EMPH ʾākhēl (aa-KHAYL) eat-PTCP.M.SG nahămā (na-ha-MAA) bread-M.SG.EMPH wə-shātē (v'-shaa-TAY) and-drink-PTCP.M.SG mayyā (mai-YAA) water-M.PL.EMPH
68.20a וְהָדַר and-he-returns לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study עַד until אוּרְתָּא evening
68.20b wə-hādar (v'-haa-DAR) and-return-PTCP.M.SG lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH ʿad (AD) until ʾūrtā (oor-TAA) evening-F.SG.EMPH
68.21a כׇּל every יוֹמָא day הָכִי thus עָבֵיד he-does
68.21b kol (KOL) every yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH hākhī (haa-KHEE) thus ʿāvēd (aa-VAYD) do-PTCP.M.SG
68.22a וְלָא and-not אָזֵיל he-goes לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house אֶלָּא except מַעֲלֵי on-the-eve-of יוֹמָא the-day דְכִיפּוּרֵי of-atonements
68.22b wə-lā (v'-LAA) and-not ʾāzēl (aa-ZAYL) go-PTCP.M.SG lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his ʾellā (EL-laa) except maʿălē (ma-a-LAY) entering-CONST yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-khippūrē (d'-khip-poo-RAY) of-atonement-M.PL
68.23a יוֹמָא day חַד one אֲתָא came אֲבוּהּ his-father לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
68.23b yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH ḥad (KHAD) one-M ʾătā (a-TAA) come-PERF.3M.SG ʾăvūh (a-VOOH) father-his lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
68.24a אֲמַר he-said לֵיהּ to-him בְּרִי my-son כַּמָּה how-many יוֹמֵי days לָא not חָזֵינָא I-see לָךְ you
68.24b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him bərī (b'-REE) son-my kammā (KAM-maa) how-many yōmē (yoh-MAY) day-M.PL lā (LAA) not ḥāzēnā (khaa-ZAY-naa) see-PTCP.1SG lākh (LAAKH) OBJ-you-M.SG
68.25a אֲמַר he-said לֵיהּ to-him אַבָּא father יוֹמָא a-day דְּלָא that-not גָּרֵיסְנָא I-study בֵּיהּ on-it לָאו not יוֹמָא a-day הוּא it-is
68.25b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him ʾabbā (AB-baa) father-M.SG.EMPH yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH də-lā (d'-LAA) that-not gārēsnā (gaa-RAYS-naa) study-PTCP.1SG bēh (BAYH) on-it lāw (LAAV) not yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH hū (HOO) it-is
68.26a אֲמַר said לֵיהּ to-him אֲבוּהּ his-father וְיוֹמָא and-a-day דְּלָא that-not חָזֵית you-see בֵּיהּ on-it לַאֲבוּךְ your-father יוֹמָא a-day הוּא is-it
68.26b ʾămar (a-MAR) say-PERF.3M.SG lēh (LAYH) to-him ʾăvūh (a-VOOH) father-his wə-yōmā (v'-yoh-MAA) and-day-M.SG.EMPH də-lā (d'-LAA) that-not ḥāzēt (khaa-ZAYT) see-PTCP.2M.SG bēh (BAYH) on-it la-ʾăvūkh (la-a-VOOKH) OBJ-father-your yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH hū (HOO) is-it
68.27a שְׁמַע heard בְּרָא the-son וּשְׁתֵיק and-was-silent
68.27b shəmaʿ (sh'-MA) hear-PERF.3M.SG bərā (b'-RAA) son-M.SG.EMPH ū-shətēq (oo-sh'-TAYK) and-be.silent-PERF.3M.SG
68.28a לְמָחָר the-next-day אֲזַל went בְּרָא the-son בַּהֲדֵי with אֲבוּהּ his-father לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house
68.28b lə-māḥār (l'-maa-KHAAR) to-tomorrow ʾăzal (a-ZAL) go-PERF.3M.SG bərā (b'-RAA) son-M.SG.EMPH ba-hădē (ba-ha-DAY) with ʾăvūh (a-VOOH) father-his lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his
68.29a תְּלָתָא three יוֹמֵי days יְתֵיב he-stayed תַּמָּן there וּבְיוֹמָא and-on-the-day רְבִיעָאָה the-fourth הֲדַר he-returned לְבֵי to-the-house-of מִדְרְשָׁא study
68.29b təlātā (t'-laa-TAA) three yōmē (yoh-MAY) day-M.PL yətēv (y'-TAYV) sit-PERF.3M.SG tammān (tam-MAAN) there ū-v-yōmā (oo-v'-yoh-MAA) and-on-day-M.SG.EMPH rəvīʿāʾā (r'-vee-aa-AA) fourth-M.SG.EMPH hădar (ha-DAR) return-PERF.3M.SG lə-vē (l'-VAY) to-house-CONST midrəshā (mid-r'-SHAA) study-M.SG.EMPH
68.30a וּמֵהַהוּא and-from-that יוֹמָא day וְאֵילָךְ and-onward כׇּל every יַרְחָא month הֲוָה he-was אָזֵיל going לְבֵיתֵיהּ to-his-house
68.30b ū-mē-hahū (oo-may-ha-HOO) and-from-that-M yōmā (yoh-MAA) day-M.SG.EMPH wə-ʾēlākh (v'-ay-LAAKH) and-onward kol (KOL) every yarḥā (yar-KHAA) month-M.SG.EMPH hăwā (ha-VAA) be-PERF.3M.SG ʾāzēl (aa-ZAYL) go-PTCP.M.SG lə-vētēh (l'-vay-TAYH) to-house-his
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
68.16 יוֹמָא דְּתַלְמִידָא מִצַּפְרָא וְעַד אוּרְתָּא. — yōmā də-talmīdā miṣ-ṣafrā wə-ʿad ʾūrtā. — "A student's day runs from morning until evening."
68.17 בְּצַפְרָא קָאֵים וְאָזֵיל לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — bə-ṣafrā qāʾēm wə-ʾāzēl lə-vē midrəshā. — "In the morning he gets up and goes to the study house."
68.18 כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבֵּיהּ וְגָרֵיס. — kullēh yōmā yātēv qammēh də-rabbēh wə-gārēs. — "All day he sits before his master and studies."
68.19 בְּפַלְגָא דְּיוֹמָא אָכֵיל נַהֲמָא וְשָׁתֵי מַיָּא. — bə-falgā də-yōmā ʾākhēl nahămā wə-shātē mayyā. — "At midday he eats bread and drinks water."
68.20 וְהָדַר לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא עַד אוּרְתָּא. — wə-hādar lə-vē midrəshā ʿad ʾūrtā. — "And he goes back to the study house until evening."
68.21 כׇּל יוֹמָא הָכִי עָבֵיד. — kol yōmā hākhī ʿāvēd. — "Every day he does so."
68.22 וְלָא אָזֵיל לְבֵיתֵיהּ אֶלָּא מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי. — wə-lā ʾāzēl lə-vētēh ʾellā maʿălē yōmā də-khippūrē. — "And he goes home only on the eve of the Day of Atonement."
68.23 יוֹמָא חַד אֲתָא אֲבוּהּ לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — yōmā ḥad ʾătā ʾăvūh lə-vē midrəshā. — "One day his father came to the study house."
68.24 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּרִי, כַּמָּה יוֹמֵי לָא חָזֵינָא לָךְ! — ʾămar lēh: bərī, kammā yōmē lā ḥāzēnā lākh! — "He said to him: My son, how many days I have not seen you!"
68.25 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַבָּא, יוֹמָא דְּלָא גָּרֵיסְנָא בֵּיהּ, לָאו יוֹמָא הוּא. — ʾămar lēh: ʾabbā, yōmā də-lā gārēsnā bēh, lāw yōmā hū. — "He said to him: Father, a day on which I do not study is not a day."
68.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ: וְיוֹמָא דְּלָא חָזֵית בֵּיהּ לַאֲבוּךְ, יוֹמָא הוּא? — ʾămar lēh ʾăvūh: wə-yōmā də-lā ḥāzēt bēh la-ʾăvūkh, yōmā hū? — "His father said to him: And a day on which you do not see your father, is that a day?"
68.27 שְׁמַע בְּרָא וּשְׁתֵיק. — shəmaʿ bərā ū-shətēq. — "The son heard and was silent."
68.28 לְמָחָר אֲזַל בְּרָא בַּהֲדֵי אֲבוּהּ לְבֵיתֵיהּ. — lə-māḥār ʾăzal bərā ba-hădē ʾăvūh lə-vētēh. — "The next day the son went home with his father."
68.29 תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי יְתֵיב תַּמָּן, וּבְיוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה הֲדַר לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא. — təlātā yōmē yətēv tammān, ū-v-yōmā rəvīʿāʾā hădar lə-vē midrəshā. — "He stayed there three days, and on the fourth day he went back to the study house."
68.30 וּמֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא וְאֵילָךְ, כׇּל יַרְחָא הֲוָה אָזֵיל לְבֵיתֵיהּ. — ū-mē-hahū yōmā wə-ʾēlākh, kol yarḥā hăwā ʾāzēl lə-vētēh. — "And from that day on, he went home every month."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
68.16 יוֹמָא דְּתַלְמִידָא מִצַּפְרָא וְעַד אוּרְתָּא.
68.17 בְּצַפְרָא קָאֵים וְאָזֵיל לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
68.18 כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבֵּיהּ וְגָרֵיס.
68.19 בְּפַלְגָא דְּיוֹמָא אָכֵיל נַהֲמָא וְשָׁתֵי מַיָּא.
68.20 וְהָדַר לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא עַד אוּרְתָּא.
68.21 כׇּל יוֹמָא הָכִי עָבֵיד.
68.22 וְלָא אָזֵיל לְבֵיתֵיהּ אֶלָּא מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי.
68.23 יוֹמָא חַד אֲתָא אֲבוּהּ לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
68.24 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּרִי, כַּמָּה יוֹמֵי לָא חָזֵינָא לָךְ!
68.25 אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַבָּא, יוֹמָא דְּלָא גָּרֵיסְנָא בֵּיהּ, לָאו יוֹמָא הוּא.
68.26 אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ: וְיוֹמָא דְּלָא חָזֵית בֵּיהּ לַאֲבוּךְ, יוֹמָא הוּא?
68.27 שְׁמַע בְּרָא וּשְׁתֵיק.
68.28 לְמָחָר אֲזַל בְּרָא בַּהֲדֵי אֲבוּהּ לְבֵיתֵיהּ.
68.29 תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי יְתֵיב תַּמָּן, וּבְיוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה הֲדַר לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא.
68.30 וּמֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא וְאֵילָךְ, כׇּל יַרְחָא הֲוָה אָזֵיל לְבֵיתֵיהּ.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- The day described. The first six sentences use the participle for what happens every day: קָאֵים, אָזֵיל, יָתֵיב, גָּרֵיס, אָכֵיל, שָׁתֵי, הָדַר, עָבֵיד (68.17–68.21). Then יוֹמָא חַד (68.23) turns the description into a story, and the perfect takes over: אֲתָא, אֲמַר, שְׁמַע, אֲזַל, יְתֵיב, הֲדַר. - "From … until". מִצַּפְרָא וְעַד אוּרְתָּא, "from morning until evening" (68.16): מִן, "from", joins the noun as מִ- and doubles its first letter. - "Midday". בְּפַלְגָא דְּיוֹמָא, "in the half of the day" (68.19): פַּלְגָא from lesson 67, joined to יוֹמָא with דְּ- (rule 3). - "Only". לָא … אֶלָּא, "not … except", is "only" (68.22). - A day on which. יוֹמָא דְּלָא גָּרֵיסְנָא בֵּיהּ (68.25) and יוֹמָא דְּלָא חָזֵית בֵּיהּ (68.26): the clause with דְּ- and בֵּיהּ, "on it" (rule 7). The father answers the son with the son's own words. - "Is not a day". לָאו יוֹמָא הוּא (68.25): לָאו, not לָא, denies a noun; הוּא, "it", stands for "is". The father's reply turns it into a question by the voice alone (68.26). - "I see you". לָא חָזֵינָא לָךְ (68.24): the participle with -nā, "I", and the object marked with לְ-, as in lesson 67's שְׁקַל לִגְלִימַיְיהוּ. - Ordinal and number. תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי and יוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה (68.29), rule 8. - "From that day on". וּמֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא וְאֵילָךְ (68.30): מִן + הַהוּא יוֹמָא + וְאֵילָךְ, "and onward". With הֲוָה אָזֵיל, "he used to go", the habit is in the past. - Echoes of Section F. The son goes home only on מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי (68.22), as Rav Reḥumi did; but this story ends with the father's word heard, and with a son who goes home more often.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
- IPA: /joːˈmaː/ - י (yod) = y, as in yes. - וֹ (holam male) = a long o, as in more without the r. - מ (mem) = m. - ָ (qamats) = a long a, as in father. - א (alef) at the end is silent: it only carries the vowel ā. - The stress falls on the last syllable: yoh-MAA.
- IPA: /joːˈmeː/ - yoh-MAY: the plural ending -ē is a long e, as in English day.
- IPA: /jəmaːˈmaː/ - y'-maa-MAA: three syllables, the first with a light shewa.
- IPA: /joːˈmaː dəxippuːˈreː/ - yoh-MAA d'-khip-poo-RAY: the כ after דְ is soft, kh, and the פּ has a dot, so it is a hard, doubled p.
- IPA: /maʕăˈleː/ - ma-a-LAY: the ע divides the two short a sounds.
- ח (ḥet) in חַד, טְרַח, בְּאוֹרְחָא, רְחוּמִי, שְׁכִיחַ, בְּמָחוֹזָא, חֲלַשׁ, אַחִית, אִפְּחִית, וְנָח, חָזֵינָא, חָזֵית, יַרְחָא, לְמָחָר: a rasping sound in the throat, like the ch of Scottish loch. Written kh in the respellings. - ע (ʿayin) in מַעֲלֵי, בְּתַעֲנִיתָא, שְׁמַעְתָּא, דַּעְתַּהּ, דִּמְעֲתָא, מֵעֵינַהּ, עָבֵיד, וְעַד, שְׁמַע, רְבִיעָאָה: a voiced sound in the throat, in most modern readings silent or a slight catch. - ט (ṭet) in טְרַח, טוּבָא: originally an emphatic t; most readers today say a plain t. - ק (qof) in דְּקָא, בְּשׁוּקָא, קַמֵּיהּ, קָאֵים, וּשְׁתֵיק: originally a k made further back in the throat; most readers today say a plain k. - צ (ṣade) in בְּצַפְרָא, מִצַּפְרָא: ts, as in English cats. - The mappiq ה in כּוּלֵּהּ, כּוּלַּהּ, לְבֵיתֵיהּ, בְּרֵיהּ, דַּעְתַּהּ, מֵעֵינַהּ, מִתּוּתֵיהּ, נַפְשֵׁיהּ, בֵּיהּ, אֲבוּהּ: the final h is really breathed out.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---
Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)