The words a person speaks are deep waters,
a flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.
—Proverbs 18:4

We generally think of language as a convention of words arbitrarily chosen for the purpose of communication, to ensure that our speech or writing is understood by others. The names of things, however, are of little significance to what they really are. As Shakespeare puts it: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Usually, an object precedes its name—first it exists, then it is given a name. However, regarding creation, the Torah tells us, G‑d said: “Let there be light,” and there was light—the name not only predates the object but is the means through which it is created. A rose by any other Hebrew name, therefore, wouldn’t quite smell as sweet.

Hebrew words and names are not arbitrary. They are definitive and expressive of the true nature of things.1 The Biblical word for rose, shoshanah, is rooted in the word sheshoneh, “that changes,” communicating that its beauty is in its delicate suppleness, its softness and responsiveness, and its ability to change (shoneh) in response to touch.2

Hebrew words are therefore understood to provide insight into the nature and meaning of things. This means that Jewish understanding of a particular object or idea is embedded within the Hebrew word used to describe it.

In Genesis,3 the Torah tells us about Adam naming the animals. The Midrash4 describes this act as an incredible feat that is even beyond the capability of angels. If names were arbitrary, there is no reason why this would be deemed a supra-angelic skillset. There must be deeper existential truths to be uncovered within a name.

Mystics explain5 that our purpose in this world is to utilize our unique gifts of comprehension and creativity—gifts that are unique to the human race and do not exist among the angels—to uncover the Divine source and purpose of every created being that is embedded in their name and to assist in utilizing all things in service of their ultimate purpose.

Before G‑d gave His laws at Sinai, our mission as humans was to bring the wisdom of each creation to fruition by recognizing and actualizing the purpose of its creation, which is buried within its name.

In G‑d’s language, words are portals through which we can discover the meaning of things from the Divine perspective.

When looking to make sense of ourselves, our world, and everything that transpires within it, the key to unlocking this deeper meaning can be found within the language of G‑d’s book, the Bible.

As mentioned earlier, words do much more than just communicate the nature and meaning of things; in Jewish thought, they occupy a creative and generative function. Sefer Yetzirah, the earliest book of Jewish mysticism, asserts that the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet constitute the “DNA” of the entire cosmos, “the letters with which G‑d created the universe.”

“Twenty-two letters, He drew them, hewed them, combined them, weighed them, interchanged them, and through them produced the entirety of creation and everything that is destined to come into being.”
—Sefer Yetzirah, Ch. 2

Hebrew words, particularly those of Biblical derivative, provide a portal into the essence of things. They allow us a glimpse into G‑d’s mind, to peer at G‑d’s intent and gain insight into the purpose and meaning of everything in our world. Hebrew words are thus a key that can unlock the hidden meaning and significance of whatever is called by their name, including its philosophical, psychological, and theological significance. The purpose of this book is to help open this mysterious world of meaning.

When compiling this work, we searched for contrasts between Hebrew words and their counterparts in other languages, seeking to identify the unique outlook embedded within them.

Another critical factor that went into determining our choice of words for inclusion was the novelty of the big idea that the word expresses and its relevance to our lives.

This book is more than a book of words. It provides windows of insight into Jewish history, thought, culture, meaning, and practice. In writing it, we attempted to capture the unique spirit of Judaic thought that sets it apart from its counterparts and from popular society. We incorporated many themes that are relevant to our lives, to provide a glimpse of the profound depth of Jewish philosophy by unpacking fifty Hebrew words to uncover their deeper meaning, significance, and insights into life.

Zalman Abraham
New York, 2022