how to say “the immune system” in Hebrew

It’s winter for most of us, and we’re aware that it’s time to shift into high gear with strengthening our immune systems. In Biblical and early Rabbinic times, however, people didn’t know of such physiological systems, so there was no need for a term for them.


Modern Hebrew created names for these systems based on Biblical roots and concepts. Here’s the one for the immune system.


System – מערכת
Modern Hebrew derives its word for system, מַעֲרֶכֶת (mah-ah-REH-khet), from the Ancient Hebrew root ע.ר.כ (a.r.k), meaning value: a system is a group of individually valued units working together. Some of the other words deriving from that root include עֶרֶך (EH-rekh) – value, and לְהַעֲרִיך (leh-hah-ah-REEKH) – to appreciate or evaluate.


Immunity – חיסון
The Modern Hebrew word for to immunize comes from the Biblical (and Modern) Hebrew word חֹסֶן (KHOH-sen) meaning foundation or stability, mobilized into the active-intensive פיעל verb, לְחַסֵּן (leh-khah-SEN): immunizing is strengthening the foundations of health. The noun form of that verb – immunity or immunization – is חִסּוּן (khee-SOON), following the same vowel pattern as speech – דִּבּוּר (dee-BOOR) and a visit – בִּקּוּר (bee-KOOR).


Putting together the Modern Hebrew words for system and immunity, we get מַעֲרֶכֶת הַחִסּוּן (mah-ah-REH-khet hah-khee-SOON) – the immune system.






Opportunity to make a difference

You can support the Koby Mandell Foundation and get a great workout by running the Jerusalem 10k on March 16. 

Contact Ellen for details: ellen@netvision.net.il