how to say “salvation” in Hebrew
יְשׁוּעָה, גְּאֻלָּה, הַצָּלָה
With the Torah portion to be read this week by Jews around the world being the first of סֵפֶר שְׁמוֹת (Exodus), and with the heroics displayed by many during the snowstorm in Israel this past week, now’s a good time to introduce the terms for salvation.
(Exodus), and with the heroics displayed by many during the snowstorm in Israel this past week, now’s a good time to introduce the terms for salvation.ישועה
יְשׁוּעָה is the best translation of the English salvation. It carries with it a lofty, sometimes divine connotation. The word’s root is י.שׁ.ע (y.sh.a), and the verb to save, when used in loftier contexts, is לְהוֹשִׂיעַ , an active-causative verb of the פ”י variety.
is the best translation of the English salvation. It carries with it a lofty, sometimes divine connotation. The word’s root is י.שׁ.ע (y.sh.a), and the verb to save, when used in loftier contexts, is לְהוֹשִׂיעַ , an active-causative verb of the פ”י variety.גאולה
A word better translated to redemption is גְּאֻלָּה . This is the term used to describe redemption of land to a previous owner, as well as redemption of a people. Its related verb is לִגְאוֹל – to redeem – an active-simple verb.
. This is the term used to describe redemption of land to a previous owner, as well as redemption of a people. Its related verb is לִגְאוֹל – to redeem – an active-simple verb. Note that לגאול refers to redeeming land, not prizes – that’s לִפְדוֹת , which is also used in Biblical contexts referring to national redemption.
, which is also used in Biblical contexts referring to national redemption.הצלה
A third word meaning salvation – הַצָּלָה – is used mainly in the more day-to-day sense of rescue, perhaps most notably in the name of the Jewish volunteer emergency service. Its related verb is the active-causative לְהַצִּיל – to save or to rescue.
– is used mainly in the more day-to-day sense of rescue, perhaps most notably in the name of the Jewish volunteer emergency service. Its related verb is the active-causative לְהַצִּיל – to save or to rescue.