how to say “to delegate” in Hebrew

In the Torah portion to be read tomorrow by Jews around the world, G-d eases מֹשֶׁה – Moses (moh-SHEH) of some of his burden in leading the Children of Israel by stating that He will remove of the spirit which is upon you (משה) and place it upon them (the elders) – וְאָצַלְתִּי מִן הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם (veh-ah-tsahl-TEE meen hah-ROO-ahkh ah-SHEHR ah-LEH-khah veh-sahm-TEE ah-leh-ee-HEM).


The root א.צ.ל (a.ts.l) means in the vicinity, as is the essential meaning of the common preposition אֵצֶל (EH-tsel). In the Biblical context above, the root is plugged into the active-simple פעל form, where it means to re-move – or to move from one person and place upon another – and would appear as לֶאְצוֹל (leh-eh-TSOHL) in the infinitive. 




Modern application


In Modern Hebrew, this root appears in the active-causative הפעיל application in the expression meaning to delegate – לְהַאֲצִיל סַמְכוּיוֹת (leh-hah-ah-TSEEL sahm-khoo-YOHT). An approximate literal translation of להאציל סמכויות is to endow authorities or responsibilities – as the person who delegates is actually removing authority or responsibility from him/herself and endowing them upon others.


For example:

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