Hebraism

Hebraism is the identification of a usage, trait, or characteristic of the Hebrew language. By successive extension it is sometimes applied to the Jewish people, their faith, national ideology, or culture.
== Idiomatic Hebrew ==
There exist in the Hebrew language numerous idiomatic terms that don't translate easily to more widely used languages. To the extent those broader cultures rely for cultural meaning on Hebrew-language-based scriptures, those idioms sometimes prove puzzling. 
Writer David Bivin gives examples of some difficult Hebrew idioms: "be'arba enayim, literally 'with four eyes,' means face to face without the presence of a third person, as in, 'The two men met with four eyes.' [The term] lo dubim ve lo ya'ar is literally '[There are] neither bears nor forest,' but means that something is completely false. And taman et yado batsalahat, 'buried his hand in the dish,' means that someone idles away his time."Bivin, David. "Hebrew Idioms in the Gospels," Jerusalem Perspective Online.
== Hebrew etymologies ==
The word Hebraism may also describe a word in another language that has Hebrew etymology"Hebraism," Merriam-Webster online.. The word "Carob" is an English-language example of this etymologyBalashon - Hebrew Language Detective.
Several common-place phrases in English have Hebrew origins.Leman, Wayne. "Ancient Hebrew Idioms," Ancient Hebrew Research Center. Some examples are "The way of women," "Flowing with milk and honey," and "stiff-necked." 
== Distinctive language ==
Beyond simple etymology, both spoken and written Hebrew is marked by peculiar linguistic elements that distinguish its semitic roots. These Hebraisms include: Word order, chiasmus, compound prepositions, and numerous other distinctive features. 
At least one writer finds Hebraisms in the New Testament, suggesting that the work was originally written in Hebrew, rather than Greek, as others argue.Marlowe, Michael D. "The Semitic Style of the New Testament", Bible Research.
==Systematic Hebraisms==
Finally, the word Hebraism describes a quality, character, nature, or method of thought, or system of religion attributed to the Hebrew people. It is in this sense that Mathew Arnold (1869) contrasts Hebraism with HellenismArnold, Matthew. "Hebraism and Hellenism". From Culture and Anarchy: An Essay in Political and Social Criticism.. Feldman's response to Arnold expands on this usage.Feldman, Louis H., "Hebraism and Hellenism reconsidered," Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life and Thought, March 1994.
==See also==
*List of English words of Hebrew origin
==Notes==
==Further reading==
* 
Category:Hebrew language
Category:Judeo-Christian topics
Category:Christian terms
fr:Hébraïsme
ko:헤브라이즘