Hebrew

• Like Arabic, Hebrew frequently begins with verbs that place emphasis on the action rather than the subject, maintaining a sense of divine initiative.
• The Creator (YHWH) is often explicitly or implicitly the subject of actions in biblical Hebrew.

Hebrew, like Arabic, uses multiple divine names and titles that convey God’s sovereignty and uniqueness. However, the way these names are interpreted can either preserve or distort the Creator-creation relationship.

The Torah contains numerous anthropomorphic descriptions of God, which, if taken literally, obscure His transcendence:

1. Examples of Anthropomorphism:

   • “The hand of the Lord” (Yad YHWH) – Exodus 9:3.
   • “The eyes of the Lord” (Ayn YHWH) – Proverbs 15:3.
   • “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma” – Genesis 8:21.

2. Theological Error:

   • These expressions suggest human-like attributes, leading to confusion about God’s nature.
   • Taken literally, they blur the line between Creator and creation.

3. Islamic Clarity:

   • In the Quran, Allah’s attributes are affirmed without likening Him to creation:

     “There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” Quran 42:11

   • Terms like “Yadullah” (Hand of Allah) are understood metaphorically, affirming divine power without anthropomorphism.

Hebrew, like Arabic and Sanskrit, is a root-based language. Words derive from three-letter roots (shorashim), which carry fundamental meanings.

• Example:

  • “Shalom” (שָׁלוֹם): Derived from shalem (שׁלם), meaning wholeness or peace.
  • Related concepts like “perfection” or “completion” reflect God as the source of peace (similar to As-Salam in Arabic).

• Potential for Error: Overemphasis on linguistic roots sometimes leads to abstract philosophical speculation, as seen in Kabbalah.

  • Example: Kabbalistic concepts like the Ein Sof (the infinite) blur divine transcendence with mystical immanence.

Hebrew grammar often reflects the ultimate causality of God in events, similar to Arabic:

1. Verb Usage: Divine causality is emphasized through verbs.

   • “וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים” (Vayomer Elohim): “And God said…”
     • God’s speech initiates creation.

2. Theology: Events are understood as occurring by God’s will.

   • Example: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.” – Job 1:21.

3. Contrast with English: In English, causality is often attributed to immediate causes (e.g., “nature did this”), diminishing recognition of the ultimate cause.

The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) is central to Jewish monotheism:
“שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד”

• Transliteration: “Shema Yisrael, YHWH Eloheinu, YHWH Echad.”
• Translation: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.”
• Analysis:
  • YHWH: Reinforces divine unity.
  • Echad: “One” emphasizes singularity (parallel to tawhid).
• Islamic Confirmation:
  • The Quran echoes this truth: “Say, He is Allah, the One.” Quran 112:1.

• Strengths: Hebrew’s grammar, verb focus, and divine names reinforce a monotheistic worldview that aligns closely with tawhid.
• Weaknesses:
  • Anthropomorphic descriptions and misinterpretations (e.g., plural forms) can obscure God’s transcendence.
  • Mystical traditions like Kabbalah blur Creator-creation boundaries through speculative concepts.

1. How do Hebrew’s anthropomorphic terms impact one’s understanding of God’s transcendence?
2. Why is it important to maintain a clear Creator-creation distinction in language and theology?
3. How can studying Quranic Arabic clarify misconceptions present in other religious traditions?

Hebrew, as the “Lashon HaKodesh” (the Holy Language), is believed to carry divine significance in Judaism. Its linguistic structure is imbued with spiritual and ontological weight, directly linking humanity to God.

1. Root-Based Theology

   • Hebrew’s root system creates layers of meaning in divine and philosophical contexts.
   • Example: “אמת” (Emet) means truth. Its root א-מ-ת spans the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, symbolizing God as the ultimate truth across time.
     • Rambam (Maimonides): Truth is essential to understanding God’s unity and transcendence.

2. Philosophical Emphasis on Divine Speech

   • The Hebrew word “דבר” (davar) means both “word” and “thing,” suggesting the divine speech-act principle.
   • Example:
     • “ויאמר אלוהים יהי אור ויהי אור” (Genesis 1:3) – “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
     • God’s speech creates reality, unlike human speech, which describes.

3. Anthropomorphism in Philosophical Debate

   • Philosophers like Maimonides rejected literal interpretations of God’s “eyes,” “hands,” etc., stating that such expressions exist only in human conceptual frameworks.
     • Modern Israeli slang reflects this gap:
       • “יאללה, נשמה!” (“Yalla, neshama!”) – Colloquially means “Come on, soul!” emphasizing emotional closeness but in a human, non-theological way.

The Hebrew language served as a cornerstone of Zionist ideology, uniting Jews across the Diaspora with a shared cultural and spiritual identity.

• Judaism: Hebrew’s divine roots emphasize a clear Creator-creation distinction but also risk anthropomorphism.
• Philosophy: Thinkers like Maimonides upheld Hebrew as the language that conveys truth about God while rejecting literal limitations.
• Zionism: The revival of Hebrew represents not only a cultural renaissance but also fulfills a spiritual and nationalistic vision.