Lesson 11 Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
Lesson 11: "he" (הוּא) in Babylonian Aramaic
These lessons are for the language of the Babylonian Talmud, Targum Onkelos, Midrash and Aggadah and Gaonic Literature
Section A (Detailed English-Aramaic Interlinear Text)
11.1 הוּא he אָזֵיל goes לְ to בֵּי house of מִדְרָשָׁא study כָּל every יוֹמָא day
11.2 הוּא he יָתֵיב sits בְּ in דוּכְתֵּיהּ his place וְ and גָּרֵיס studies
11.3 כַּד when הוּא he חֲזָא saw לְ to רַבֵּיהּ his teacher, קָם stood up
11.4 הוּא he דָּרֵישׁ expounds בְּ in בֵּי house of כְּנִישְׁתָּא assembly בְּשַׁבְּתָא on Sabbath
11.5 הוּא he יָהֵיב gives צְדָקָה charity לְ to עֲנִיֵּי poor ones מָתָא of the city
11.6 בִּזְמַן at time דְּ that הוּא he אָכֵיל eats, מְבָרֵךְ blesses
11.7 הוּא he כָּתֵיב writes סֵפֶר book תּוֹרָה Torah בִּקְדוּשָׁה in holiness
11.8 לָא not יָדַע knew מַאן who דְּ that הוּא he הֲוָה was
11.9 הוּא he מְתַרְגֵּם translates פְּסוּקֵי verses לַעֲרָמִית into Aramaic
11.10 הוּא he שָׁתֵי drinks מַיָּא water מִן from נַהֲרָא river
11.11 כֵּיוָן since דְּ that הוּא he חֲכִים wise, שָׁאֲלִין they ask מִנֵּיהּ from him
11.12 הוּא he מְצַלֵּי prays תְּלַת three זִמְנִין times בְּיוֹמָא in day
11.13 הוּא he סָלֵיק ascends לְ to אַרְעָא land דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל of Israel
11.14 בְּעִדָּנָא at time דְּ that הוּא he נָיֵים sleeps, חָלַם dreamed חֶלְמָא dream
11.15 הוּא he מְקַדֵּשׁ sanctifies יוֹמָא day דְּשַׁבְּתָא of Sabbath עַל over חַמְרָא wine
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Section B (Complete Aramaic Sentences with English Translation)
11.1 הוּא אָזֵיל לְבֵי מִדְרָשָׁא כָּל יוֹמָא He goes to the house of study every day
11.2 הוּא יָתֵיב בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ וְגָרֵיס He sits in his place and studies
11.3 כַּד הוּא חֲזָא לְרַבֵּיהּ, קָם When he saw his teacher, he stood up
11.4 הוּא דָּרֵישׁ בְּבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא בְּשַׁבְּתָא He expounds in the synagogue on the Sabbath
11.5 הוּא יָהֵיב צְדָקָה לְעֲנִיֵּי מָתָא He gives charity to the poor of the city
11.6 בִּזְמַן דְּהוּא אָכֵיל, מְבָרֵךְ When he eats, he blesses
11.7 הוּא כָּתֵיב סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה בִּקְדוּשָׁה He writes a Torah scroll in holiness
11.8 לָא יָדַע מַאן דְּהוּא הֲוָה No one knew who he was
11.9 הוּא מְתַרְגֵּם פְּסוּקֵי לַעֲרָמִית He translates verses into Aramaic
11.10 הוּא שָׁתֵי מַיָּא מִן נַהֲרָא He drinks water from the river
11.11 כֵּיוָן דְּהוּא חֲכִים, שָׁאֲלִין מִנֵּיהּ Since he is wise, they ask from him
11.12 הוּא מְצַלֵּי תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא He prays three times in the day
11.13 הוּא סָלֵיק לְאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל He ascends to the land of Israel
11.14 בְּעִדָּנָא דְּהוּא נָיֵים, חָלַם חֶלְמָא At the time that he sleeps, he dreamed a dream
11.15 הוּא מְקַדֵּשׁ יוֹמָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא עַל חַמְרָא He sanctifies the Sabbath day over wine
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Section C (Aramaic Text Only)
11.1 הוּא אָזֵיל לְבֵי מִדְרָשָׁא כָּל יוֹמָא
11.2 הוּא יָתֵיב בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ וְגָרֵיס
11.3 כַּד הוּא חֲזָא לְרַבֵּיהּ, קָם
11.4 הוּא דָּרֵישׁ בְּבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא בְּשַׁבְּתָא
11.5 הוּא יָהֵיב צְדָקָה לְעֲנִיֵּי מָתָא
11.6 בִּזְמַן דְּהוּא אָכֵיל, מְבָרֵךְ
11.7 הוּא כָּתֵיב סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה בִּקְדוּשָׁה
11.8 לָא יָדַע מַאן דְּהוּא הֲוָה
11.9 הוּא מְתַרְגֵּם פְּסוּקֵי לַעֲרָמִית
11.10 הוּא שָׁתֵי מַיָּא מִן נַהֲרָא
11.11 כֵּיוָן דְּהוּא חֲכִים, שָׁאֲלִין מִנֵּיהּ
11.12 הוּא מְצַלֵּי תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא
11.13 הוּא סָלֵיק לְאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
11.14 בְּעִדָּנָא דְּהוּא נָיֵים, חָלַם חֶלְמָא
11.15 הוּא מְקַדֵּשׁ יוֹמָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא עַל חַמְרָא
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Section D (Grammar Explanation for English Speakers)
For English speakers learning Babylonian Aramaic, understanding הוּא ("he") requires attention to several key features:
Basic Usage:
הוּא is the masculine singular personal pronoun "he"
Unlike English, it can also mean "that" or "it" when used as a demonstrative
Can appear as both subject and predicate
Differences from English:
No capitalization system in Aramaic
Can - and usually is - omitted in present tense sentences. It is included here, where it takes on an emphatic colouring.
Often combines with particles like -דְּ ("that")
Different word order patterns from English
Special Forms:
הוּא alone = "he"
דְּהוּא = "who/that he" or "which"
הוּא הוּא = "the very same"
הוּא גַבְרָא = "that man"
Important Rules:
Always masculine singular
Never changes form for grammatical case
Can be used for emphasis
Often appears in legal formulas
Common Combinations:
בִּזְמַן דְּהוּא = "when he"
הוּא דְּאָמַר = "he who said"
הוּא נִיהוּ = "that is"
מַאן הוּא = "who is he?"
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Section E (Cultural Context for English Speakers)
Understanding הוּא in Babylonian Aramaic requires awareness of its cultural context:
Religious Usage:
Frequently used in rabbinic discussions
Often indicates authority in legal texts
Special uses in prayer and liturgy
Important in scriptural interpretation
Academic Context:
Used in scholarly debates
Indicates attribution of teachings
Marks hierarchical relationships
Essential in study house terminology
Legal Implications:
Critical in contract language
Used in court proceedings
Important in witness testimony
Key term in religious law
Social Significance:
Shows respect in formal settings
Indicates social relationships
Used differently with teachers vs. peers
Important in community structures
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Section F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interlinear Analysis)
From Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 28b:
כַּד when הוּא he הֲוָה was נָפֵיק departing מִן from עָלְמָא world, אָמַר said לְהוֹן to them: פַּנּוּ clear מָאנֵי vessels מִפְּנֵי because of הַטֻּמְאָה the impurity וְאַתְקִינוּ and prepare כֻּרְסְיָא chair לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ for Hezekiah מֶלֶךְ king יְהוּדָה of Judah דְּאָתֵי who comes
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
כַּד הוּא הֲוָה נָפֵיק מִן עָלְמָא, אָמַר לְהוֹן: פַּנּוּ מָאנֵי מִפְּנֵי הַטֻּמְאָה וְאַתְקִינוּ כֻּרְסְיָא לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה דְּאָתֵי
"When he was departing from the world, he said to them: Clear away the vessels because of the impurity and prepare a chair for Hezekiah king of Judah who is coming."
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Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This passage from Berakhot describes the final moments of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai. The use of הוּא here is particularly significant as it refers to a great sage at the moment of his death. The text demonstrates several important features:
The combination כַּד הוּא ("when he") introducing a temporal clause
The use of הֲוָה with a participle (נָפֵיק) to form past progressive
The formal speech pattern using אָמַר לְהוֹן ("he said to them")
The shift from narrative to direct speech
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
כַּד הוּא הֲוָה forms a temporal construction common in Aramaic
The particle הוּא helps form the past progressive aspect
The word order follows typical Aramaic narrative patterns
The citation demonstrates formal rabbinic Aramaic style
Multiple subordinate clauses show complex sentence structure
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Genre Section: Legal Formulae
Section A (Detailed English-Aramaic Interlinear Text)
11.16 הוּא he דְּאָמַר who said קַמֵּי before בֵּי house of דִינָא judgment דַּהֲבָא gold אִית exists לֵיהּ to him
11.17 הוּא he דְּיָהֵיב who gives שְׁטָרָא document לְ to בֵּי house of דִינָא judgment חַיָּיב is liable לְשַׁלּוֹמֵי to pay
11.18 הוּא he דְּטָעֵין who claims בְּמִגּוֹ with a stronger claim נֶאֱמָן is believed בְּדִינָא in judgment
11.19 הוּא he דְּאַחֲזֵיק who possessed תְּלָת three שְׁנִין years בְּאַרְעָא in land זָכֵי gains rights בַּהּ in it
11.20 כַּד when הוּא he מוֹדֵי admits בְּחוֹבָא to debt, מְשַׁלֵּם pays כּוּלָּא all
11.21 הוּא he דְּאַפְקֵיד who deposited גַּבֵּיהּ with him מָמוֹנָא money אַחֲרַי responsible לְנַטְרֵיהּ to guard it
11.22 אִי if הוּא he מְזַבֵּן sells נִכְסֵי property, בָּעֵי needs לְמִכְתַּב to write שְׁטָרָא document
11.23 הוּא he דְּיָרֵית who inherits מִן from אֲבוּהִי his father חַיָּיב is liable בְּחוֹבוֹי for his debts
11.24 כֵּיוָן since דְּהוּא that he קַבֵּיל accepted עֵדוּת testimony, לָא not מְצֵי able לְמֵיהֲדַר to retract
11.25 הוּא he דְּמַשְׁכֵּן who pledges בֵּיתֵיהּ his house לְמַלְוֶה to lender לָא not מְצֵי able לְזַבּוֹנֵי to sell
11.26 הוּא he דְּאִית who has לֵיהּ to him דִּינָא lawsuit בַּהֲדֵי with חַבְרֵיהּ his fellow אָזֵיל goes לְבֵי to house of דִּינָא judgment
11.27 הוּא he דְּמַקְנֵי who transfers נִכְסֵי property לִבְרֵיהּ to his son בָּעֵי needs לְמִכְתַּב to write מַתָּנָה gift
11.28 כַּד when הוּא he מְשַׁלֵּם pays כְּתוּבָּה marriage contract, בָּעֵי needs שׁוֹבָר receipt
11.29 הוּא he דְּטָעֵין who claims טַעֲנַת claim of גַּנָּב theft מִשְׁתָּבַע swears שְׁבוּעָה oath
11.30 הוּא he דְּמְקַבֵּל who accepts עֲלֵיהּ upon himself אַחֲרָיוּת responsibility חַיָּיב is liable בְּאוֹנְסִין for accidents
Section B (Complete Aramaic Sentences with English Translation)
11.16 הוּא דְּאָמַר קַמֵּי בֵּי דִינָא דַּהֲבָא אִית לֵיהּ He who said before the court that he has gold
11.17 הוּא דְּיָהֵיב שְׁטָרָא לְבֵי דִינָא חַיָּיב לְשַׁלּוֹמֵי He who gives a document to the court is liable to pay
11.18 הוּא דְּטָעֵין בְּמִגּוֹ נֶאֱמָן בְּדִינָא He who claims with a stronger claim is believed in judgment
11.19 הוּא דְּאַחֲזֵיק תְּלָת שְׁנִין בְּאַרְעָא זָכֵי בַּהּ He who possessed land for three years gains rights in it
11.20 כַּד הוּא מוֹדֵי בְּחוֹבָא, מְשַׁלֵּם כּוּלָּא When he admits to a debt, he pays all
11.21 הוּא דְּאַפְקֵיד גַּבֵּיהּ מָמוֹנָא אַחֲרַי לְנַטְרֵיהּ He who deposited money with him is responsible to guard it
11.22 אִי הוּא מְזַבֵּן נִכְסֵי, בָּעֵי לְמִכְתַּב שְׁטָרָא If he sells property, he needs to write a document
11.23 הוּא דְּיָרֵית מִן אֲבוּהִי חַיָּיב בְּחוֹבוֹי He who inherits from his father is liable for his debts
11.24 כֵּיוָן דְּהוּא קַבֵּיל עֵדוּת, לָא מְצֵי לְמֵיהֲדַר Since he accepted testimony, he is not able to retract
11.25 הוּא דְּמַשְׁכֵּן בֵּיתֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה לָא מְצֵי לְזַבּוֹנֵי He who pledges his house to a lender cannot sell it
11.26 הוּא דְּאִית לֵיהּ דִּינָא בַּהֲדֵי חַבְרֵיהּ אָזֵיל לְבֵי דִּינָא He who has a lawsuit with his fellow goes to court
11.27 הוּא דְּמַקְנֵי נִכְסֵי לִבְרֵיהּ בָּעֵי לְמִכְתַּב מַתָּנָה He who transfers property to his son needs to write a gift deed
11.28 כַּד הוּא מְשַׁלֵּם כְּתוּבָּה, בָּעֵי שׁוֹבָר When he pays the marriage contract, he needs a receipt
11.29 הוּא דְּטָעֵין טַעֲנַת גַּנָּב מִשְׁתָּבַע שְׁבוּעָה He who claims theft must swear an oath
11.30 הוּא דְּמְקַבֵּל עֲלֵיהּ אַחֲרָיוּת חַיָּיב בְּאוֹנְסִין He who accepts responsibility upon himself is liable for accidents
Section C (Aramaic Text Only)
11.16 הוּא דְּאָמַר קַמֵּי בֵּי דִינָא דַּהֲבָא אִית לֵיהּ
11.17 הוּא דְּיָהֵיב שְׁטָרָא לְבֵי דִינָא חַיָּיב לְשַׁלּוֹמֵי
11.18 הוּא דְּטָעֵין בְּמִגּוֹ נֶאֱמָן בְּדִינָא
11.19 הוּא דְּאַחֲזֵיק תְּלָת שְׁנִין בְּאַרְעָא זָכֵי בַּהּ
11.20 כַּד הוּא מוֹדֵי בְּחוֹבָא, מְשַׁלֵּם כּוּלָּא
11.21 הוּא דְּאַפְקֵיד גַּבֵּיהּ מָמוֹנָא אַחֲרַי לְנַטְרֵיהּ
11.22 אִי הוּא מְזַבֵּן נִכְסֵי, בָּעֵי לְמִכְתַּב שְׁטָרָא
11.23 הוּא דְּיָרֵית מִן אֲבוּהִי חַיָּיב בְּחוֹבוֹי
11.24 כֵּיוָן דְּהוּא קַבֵּיל עֵדוּת, לָא מְצֵי לְמֵיהֲדַר
11.25 הוּא דְּמַשְׁכֵּן בֵּיתֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה לָא מְצֵי לְזַבּוֹנֵי
11.26 הוּא דְּאִית לֵיהּ דִּינָא בַּהֲדֵי חַבְרֵיהּ אָזֵיל לְבֵי דִּינָא
11.27 הוּא דְּמַקְנֵי נִכְסֵי לִבְרֵיהּ בָּעֵי לְמִכְתַּב מַתָּנָה
11.28 כַּד הוּא מְשַׁלֵּם כְּתוּבָּה, בָּעֵי שׁוֹבָר
11.29 הוּא דְּטָעֵין טַעֲנַת גַּנָּב מִשְׁתָּבַע שְׁבוּעָה
11.30 הוּא דְּמְקַבֵּל עֲלֵיהּ אַחֲרָיוּת חַיָּיב בְּאוֹנְסִין
Section D (Grammar Notes for Legal Genre)
The use of הוּא in Babylonian Aramaic legal formulae has specific patterns and features that English speakers should note:
Standard Legal Constructions:
הוּא דְּ ("he who") introduces legal principles
כַּד הוּא ("when he") marks conditional clauses
אִי הוּא ("if he") begins hypothetical situations
הוּא with participles forms ongoing actions
Common Legal Phrases:
הוּא דְּאָמַר ("he who says") - for claims
הוּא דְּמַקְנֵי ("he who transfers") - for property transactions
הוּא דְּטָעֵין ("he who claims") - for legal arguments
הוּא דְּמְקַבֵּל ("he who accepts") - for obligations
Special Legal Usage:
Used in formulaic expressions
Creates legal precedents
Establishes responsibilities
Defines legal categories
Important Patterns:
הוּא + participle = ongoing legal status
הוּא + perfect = completed legal action
הוּא in conditional clauses
הוּא in procedural statements
Legal Document Structure:
Opening formulae with הוּא
Conditional clauses using הוּא
Consequence clauses following הוּא statements
Closing formulae with הוּא
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