Balashon

“Balashon – Hebrew Language Detective” is my blog where I investigate the meanings and histories of Hebrew words and phrases, which I’ve been writing since 2006. Posts look at Hebrew across Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval, and Modern sources (including slang), and often trace how meanings develop over time. I also compare Hebrew to related languages such as Aramaic and Arabic, and I look at loanwords as they enter Hebrew from Greek, Latin, and English (and sometimes travel in the other direction as well).

Here’s a selection of popular posts:

• ish and isha
• artzot habrit
• mazal tov and besha’a tova
• tallit
• eshkolit
• sandak
• bira
• agvania
• pardes and paradise

I also write about Hebrew words in other publications:

• 929 Project
• The Jewish Press - Word Prompt
• HaMizrachi Weekly - where I explore language issues connected to the weekly Torah reading
• My essays in the Mizrachi print journal can be found on my Academia.edu page