how to say “to teach a lesson” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

 

having trouble seeing the print?

לְלַמֵּד לֶקַח 

 

 

Never experienced Ulpan La-Inyan? 
We’re offering free demo classes 
throughout the summer.
 
 

 

The Torah portion to be read this Shabbat by Jews around the world opens the book of דְּבָרִים – Deuteronomy, or literally, words (deh-vah-REEM), where words in this context refer to words of admonition. דברים, common in Biblical Hebrew with the primary meaning words, is today a literary term for words, while the common word used in Modern Hebrew is מִלִּים (mee-LEEM).


A more specific term for admonition is to teach a lesson, often one that isn’t so pleasant for the learner. As does most of the language, Modern Hebrew retains terms from its classical, often quite ancient sources. 


To teach a lesson comes directly from Biblical Hebrew: לְלַמֵּד לֶקַח (leh-lah-MED LEH-kahkh).


ללמד means to teach. It’s an active-intensive פִּעֵל (pee-EL) verb. You can learn to conjugate ללמד by studying this chart.

לקח means a lesson, specifically a moral or life lesson. It can be found all over the Holy Writings section of the Bible, perhaps most famously in the verse:
 
כִּי לֶקֶח טוֹב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם, תּוֹרָתִי אַל תַּעֲזֹבוּ 
For I have given you a good lesson, do not forsake my Torah
(kee LEH-kahkh tohv nah-TAH-tee lah-KHEM, toh-rah-TEE ahl tah-ah-ZOH-voo). 
 
לקח is related to the word לַקַּחַת (lah-KAH-khaht) – to take – and its root is ל.ק.ח (l.k.kh). So such a lesson is actually a taking or sorts.
 
Flipping the scenario, we get to learn a lesson – לִלְמוֹד לֶקַח (leel-MOHD LEH-kahkh). ללמוד is an active-simple פָּעַל (pah-AHL) verb of the same root as ללמד. Learn to conjugate it here.
 
ללמד לקח and ללמוד לקח are essential for personal growth, though ללמד לקח in a way the other person will hear, requires a high level of sensitivity. I think the best way ללמד לקח to someone else while maintaining דאגה (concern) for the other person, is for the teacher לִלְמוֹד אֶת הַלֶּקַח – to learn the lesson (leel-MOHD et hah-LEH-kahkh) first him/herself. It makes the world a better place.
 
שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם, וְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ נָעִים לְכֻלָּם!

Shabbat Shalom, and a pleasant weekend to all!
(shah-BAHT shah-LOHM, veh-SOHF shah-VOO-ah nah-EEM leh-khoo-LAHM) 

 
 
Further build your
Hebrew vocabulary with…
with a special discount for
Ulpan La-Inyan enthusiasts like yourself
 

Similar Posts

how to say “to land” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/לנחות-#.m4a” /]לִנְחוֹת If להמריא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/לנחות-#.m4a” /] is to take off, לנחות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/לנחות-#.m4a” /] is to land. For example: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/לנחות-#.m4a” /]רק עכשיו המראנו, ואתה כבר שואל מתי נוחתים? We just took off, and you’re already asking when we’re landing? לנחות is a simple פעל verb of the root נ.ח.ת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/לנחות-#.m4a” /]. which is about going down….

how to say “we’re not on the same page” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

  אֲנַחְנוּ לֹא מְשַׁדְּרִים עַל אֹתוֹ גַּל  listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet?     In English, we talk about people thinking differently by invoking metaphors such as not quite seeing eye to eye, or not being on the same page. Hebrew invokes the metaphor of broadcasting:   .אֲנַחְנוּ לֹא מְשַׁדְּרִים עַל אֹתֹו גַּל We don’t…

how to say “upgraded” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-1.m4a” /]מְשֻׁדְרָג The Hebrew word for an upgrade is שדרוג[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-x.m4a” /]. It takes the root ד.ר.ג[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-2.m4a” /] meaning step or rung and adds a ש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-3.m4a” /] to the beginning, creating the super-root (an upgraded root, if you will) ש.ד.ר.ג[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-4.m4a” /] meaning upgrade or raise in quality. To upgrade is the active-intensive verb לשדרג[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/משודרג-5.m4a” /]. For example:…

how to say “worldwide” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

  having trouble seeing the print? עוֹלָמִי  listen and repeat     Today, Christians around the world are celebrating the well-known and beloved holiday, Christmas.       one Jew’s answer to the popularity of Christmas   One gift that Christianity has delivered to the world is an emphasis on kindness. Here’s how to say global kindness in Hebrew:…

how to say “I promise” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/מבטיח-1.m4a” /]אֲנִי מַבְטִיחַ, אֲנִי מַבְטִיחָה The Hebrew word for to promise – להבטיח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/מבטיח-2.m4a” /] – comes from the root ב.ט.ח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/מבטיח-3.m4a” /] – sureness, security. It’s an active-causative הפעיל verb. For example: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/מבטיח-4.m4a” /]אמא, אני מבטיח לך שסידרתי את החדר! Mom, I promise you that I cleaned my room! (spoken by a boy)…

how to say “one step at a time” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/צעד-צעד-1.m4a” /]צַעַד צַעַד The Hebrew expression for one at a time is אחד אחד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/צעד-צעד-2.m4a” /] – literally, one one. For example: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/צעד-צעד-3.m4a” /]הילדים נכנסו לכיתה אחד אחד. The children entered the classroom one at a time. Now suppose you want to say something like one step at a time. That’s צעד צעד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/צעד-צעד-1.m4a” /] –…