Jewish Texts

What is the source of the name "Nissim"? The name doesn’t seem to have been used by any of the sages of the Talmud or by any of the Geonim; it seems to be of Persian origin. There were several…

Why in Jeremiah 31:9 is Ephrayim referred to as G-d’s first born? Ephrayim wasn’t even Joseph’s first born; his brother Menasheh was. But in Ch.31 Jeremiah is prophesying that the Northern kingdom (the Kingdom of Israel) would return from exile…

What is the source of the saying “A poor man is like a dead man”? The Talmud (Nedarim 64b) says that a man who has become poor is regarded as though he had died. In Ex. 4:19 G-d tells Moses…

What is the meaning of the “sapphires” in Job Ch. 28? Ch. 28 in Job is contrasting precious metals and precious stones, which do occur in nature, with wisdom, which is truly hard to find (see verse 12); thus the…

What is the meaning of the verse (Prov. 30:4), "mah shemo u-mah shem beno" – "what is his name and what is his son’s name?". The Midrash on Proverbs explains each phrase of this verse as referring to a different…

What is the meaning of the “beauty of holiness” in Psalm 110? The sages interpret Ch.110 of Psalms as written in praise of Abraham. The phrase “hadrei kodesh” is interpreted in several different ways by the commentators. Rashbam says it…

What does the Bible tell us about golems? Psalm 139:16 says “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance”; the Hebrew word for “my unformed substance” is “golmi”, which can be translated “my golem”. The sole occurrence of the word “golem”…