User:Shlomif/Hebraic Proverbs

This page is for Hebrew proverbs, in alphabetical order, with English translations. כאן יש מספר פתגמים עבריים, על-פי סדר האלף-בית, כולל תרגומים לאנגלית.

See also the "discussion" page for the errata and todo list.

א

• אבן נגולה מעל לבי
  • Even nagolah me'al libbi
  • Translation: a stone was removed off my heart.
  • Meaning: I was relieved from a mental burden.
• אדם לאדם זאב
  • Adam le'adam Ze'ev
  • Translation: a human is a wolf to a human
  • Meaning: people treat each other cruelly.
  • Latin Equivalent: "Homo homini lupus est."
  • English equivalent: It's a dog-eat-dog world.
• אותה גברת בשינוי אדרת
  • Otah Gevereth Beshinuy Adereth
  • Translation: the same madame with another coat.
  • Meaning: the same thing with a small difference.
• אחרי מות, קדושים אמור
  • Achrey mot, q'doshim emor
  • Translation: After death, say holy.
  • Meaning: Say only good things about people after they die.
  • Origin: The Hebrew names of the Leviticus "portions" 16-18,19-20,21-24 are "After death", "Holy" and "Say" respectively, so the table of contents spells the Hebrew phrase (which is grammatical in Hebrew).
  • References: for Hebrew names of the portions, see [1] [2] [3]
• איך נפלו גיבורים
  • Ekh Naflu Giborim
  • Translation: how the mighty have fallen.
  • Meaning: how the competent (or otherwise those that were heavily anticipated to succeed) have failed.
  • Origin: the Bible - 2 Samuel 1 19
• אין ארוחת חינם
  • Eyn Aruhath Hinam
  • Translation: there isn't a free meal.
  • Meaning: someone has to pay for a man to support himself.
  • English Equivalent: there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
• אין הנחתום מעיד על עיסתו
  • Eyn Hanah'tom Meid Al Eesato
  • Translation: The baker shouldn't comment on his dough.
  • Meaning: A person who makes something should not speak its praises.
  • English equivalent: He that tooteth his own horn, the same shall not be tooted. Hezekiah 4:44 (not a real Scripture, only an inference that this saying is true and ancient/respectable)
  • English equivalent: Don't blow your own horn.
• אין חיה כזאת
  • Eyn Hayah Kazoth
  • Translation: there's no such animal.
  • Meaning: it [= the topic of the conversation] does not exist or is impossible.
• אין משיחין בשעת הסעודה פן יקדים קנה לושט
  • En mesihin bisha'ath hase'oda pen yaqdim qaneh levesheth
  • Meaning: don't talk during the meal lest the trachea will precede the esophagus
• אין עשן בלי אש
  • Eyn Ashan Bli Esh
  • Translation: There is no smoke without fire.
  • Meaning: a side-effect has a cause.
  • English equivalent: "No smoke without fire", or "Where there's smoke, there's fire".
• אליה וקוץ בה
  • Aliyah Veqotz Bah
  • Translation: a fat tail (of the sheep) with a thorn in it.
  • Meaning: a mixed blessing.
  • English equivalent: there's a fly in the ointment.
• אל יתהלל חוגר כמפתח
  • Al yithalel hoger kimfate'ah
  • Translation: he who buckles [his armor] should not boast as the one who opens it.
  • Meaning: he who goes into battle should not boast as much as the one who has won it.
  • Origin: The Bible - Kings 20, 11
• אל תסתכל בקנקן, אלא במה שבתוכו
  • Al tistakel baqanqan, ela bemah shebetokho
  • Translation: Don't look at the jar, but at what's inside it.
  • Meaning: don't be fooled by external appearances - find the real value.
  • English equivalent: Don't judge a book by its cover.
• אל תקנה חתול בשק
  • Al Tiqneh Hatul Basaq
  • Translation: Don't buy a cat in the sack.
  • Meaning: Don't buy an uncertain good.
  • English equivalent: Don't buy a pig in a poke.
• אל תתן לחתול לשמור על השמנת
  • Al Titen La'hatol Lishmor Al Hashameneth
  • Translation: Don't let the cat guard the cream
  • Meaning: Don't give something to someone who is likely to take it for himself.
  • English equivalent: Don't let the fox guard the hen-house.
• אם אין אני לי, מי לי; וכשאני לעצמי, מה אני; ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי.(פרקי אבות, פרק א, משנה יד)
  • "Im ein ani li, mi li; uchshe'ani le'atzmi, ma ani; ve'im lo achshav, eymatay?" -- Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 1, Episode 14
  • Translation: "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And when I am [only] for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
  • See also the Chabad page about this sentence
• אם בארזים נפלה שלהבת, מה יגידו אזובי הקיר?
  • "Im Ba'arazim Naflah Shalheveth, Mah Yagidu Ezovey Haqir?"
  • Translation: "If a flame has caught the firs, what will the moss on the wall say?"
  • Meaning: if the leadership has become corrupt, what can one expect of lesser folks?
  • Origin: from the Biblical Talmud.
  • See also this page about the phrase from safa-ivrit.org.
• אם ההר לא יבוא אל מוחמד, מוחמד ילך אל ההר.
  • "Im ha'har lo yavo el Muhammad, Muhammad yelekh el hahar.
  • Translation: "If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the mountain."
  • Meaning: if reality does not adapt itself to one's personal whims, one must adapt himself to reality.
• אמר את המילה האחרונה
  • Amar eth hamilah ha'ahrona
  • Translation: (he) said the last word
  • Meaning: He had the last laugh, his was the final word

ב

• בדקה התשעים (בדקה ה-90)
  • Badaqah Hatish'im
  • Translation: in the 90th minute.
  • Meaning: in the last moment; in the nick of time.
  • Origin: from Soccer games which last 90 minutes, and there can be a goal in the 90th minute.
• בור ששתית ממנו מים אל תזרוק בו אבן
  • Bor she'shatitah mimenu mayim al tizrok bo even.
  • Translation: don't throw a stone into a well you drank from.
  • Meaning: a person must show his gratitude to all, even to an animal or an object.
• בין הפטיש לסדן
  • Beyn hapatish lasadan
  • Translation: between the hammer and the anvil
  • Meaning: between two evils
  • English Equivalent: Between a rock and a hard place
• בכל רמ"ח איבריו
  • Bekhol Ramah Eivarav
  • Translation: in all 248 of his bones.
  • Meaning: (said of a person) fully, completely.
  • Origin: from the Halakha, after the 248 "Do commands" in the Bible, which Hazal believed to be the number of bones in the human body.
• במה הועילו חכמים בתקנתם?
  • Bameh ho'ilu hakhamim bethaqanatham?
  • Translation: how did the wise men help with their ruling?
• ברומא התנהג כרומאי
  • Be'Roma hitnaheg ke'Roma'i
  • Translation: in Rome act like a Roman
  • Meaning: one has to adapt oneself to his environment
• ברחל בתך הקטנה
  • Be'Rahel bitkha haqtanah
  • Translation: by Rachel your younger daughter
  • Meaning: spell out every detail
  • Origin: from the Bible (Genesis 29, 18).
• בשר תותחים
  • Besar totahim
  • Translation: cannon fodder
  • Meaning: a live wall.

ג

• גדול המצווה ועושה - משאינו מצווה ועושה
  • Gadol Ha'Metsoo've ve'oh'se mi'mee she'ay'no me'tsoo've ve'oh'se
  • Transtaltion: Greater is he who is obligated to do it, than he who volunteers to do it.
  • Meaning: Its harder for a person to do his job, than a volunteer. Moreover the volunteer can walk away at any time, whereas the obligated one, cannot.
  • Origin: Talmud in the name of Chananiah ben Teradyon

ד

• דומים כמו שתי טיפות מים
  • Domim Kmo Shthey Tiputh Mayim
  • Translation: similar like two drops of water.
• דמו בראשו
  • Damo berosho
  • Translation: his blood is in his head.
  • Meaning: his problems are his own fault.

ה

• הזורעים בדמעה - ברינה יקצרו.
  • Hazor'im bedim'a - berina yiqtsoro
  • Translation: they who seed with tears - will reap with song.
  • Meaning: those who worked hard, will reap the fruits of their labour.
• היהפוך כושי עורו ונמר חברבורותיו?
  • Hayahafokh kushi oro venamer hhavarborotav
  • Translation: can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?
  • Meaning: certain things cannot be changed, because it is against their nature.
  • Origin: Jeremiah 13/23 from the Hebrew Bible
• היופי הוא בעיני המתבונן
  • Hayofi hoo be'eyney hamitbonen
  • Translation: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• הבדל של שמיים וארץ
  • Hevdel shel shamayim va'arets
  • Translation: a difference of Sky and Earth.
  • Meaning: a very significant difference.
• הפוסל במומו פוסל
  • Haposel Bemumo Posel
  • Translation: the one who disqualifies, disqualifies based on his own fault.
  • English Equivalent: Pot calling the kettle black
• המטרה מקדשת את האמצעים
  • Hamatarah meqadesheth eth ha'emtsa'im
  • Translation: the cause makes the means holy. (i.e: in place).
  • Meaning: the ends justify the means.
• הניח כספו על קרן הצבי
  • Henia'ch kaspo al keren ha'tsvi
  • Translation: placed his money on the gazzele's horns
  • Meaning: risked his money
• הסנדלר הולך יחף
  • Hasandlar holekh yahef
  • Translation: the cobbler walks barefoot.
  • Meaning: a professional does not apply his profession upon himself.
  • English equivalent: the shoe-maker has no shoes.
• השמיים הם הגבול
  • Hashamayim hem hagvul
  • Translation: the sky's the limit.
  • Meaning: said on something that if performed, there will be very vast possibilities.
• התפוח לא נופל רחוק מהעץ
  • Hatapuakh lo nofel rahoq meha'etz
  • Translation: the apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • Meaning: children resemble their parents.
  • English Equivalent: Chip off the old block

ו

• ובא לציון גואל
  • Uba Letziyon Go'el
  • Translation: and a savior came for Zion.
  • Meaning: and the salvation/solution for a problem will come (and everyone will be happy).

ח

• חיים ומוות ביד הלשון
  • Hayim oo'maveth beyad halashon
  • Translation: life and death in the hands of the tongue
  • Meaning: what you say can have a large effect on your future.
• חיפש את האתונות ומצא את המלוכה
  • Hipess eth ha'atonoth oomatsa eth hamelukha
  • Translation: looked for the female donkeys and found the kingship.
  • Meaning: looked for something minor and found something much greater.
  • Origin: from the Bible, in regards to the story about Saul that was anointed as a king after looking for his father's donkeys.

ט

• טוב להיות זנב לאריות מאשר ראש לשועלים
  • Tov Lihiyoth Zanav La'arayoth Ma'asher Rosh Lashu'alim
  • Translation: Better be a tail for the lions than the head of the foxes
  • Meaning: It is better to be a minor member of a good group, than a prominent leader of a bad group.
• טובה ציפור אחת ביד משתיים על העץ
  • Tova Tzipor Ahath Bayad Mishtayim Al Ha'etz
  • Translation: "One bird in the hand is better than two on the tree".
• טלית שכולה תכלת
  • Tallith Shekulah Tkheleth
  • Translation: a Tallit which is entirely azure.
  • Meaning: someone who is a purely benevolent person. Usually said negatively: "he isn't a Tallit which is entirely azure".

י

• ירד לטמיון
  • Yarad letimyon
  • Translation: went to the government's treasury
  • Meaning: to get lost; to go down the drain.

• יש גבול לכל תעלול
  • Yesh Gvul Lekhol Ta'alul
  • Translation: there's a limit to every act of mischief
  • Meaning: enough is enough.

כ

• כורת את הענף שעליו הוא יושב
  • Koreth eth ha'anaf she'alav hu yoshev
  • Translation: He cuts the branch that he is sitting on.
  • Meaning: he is hurting something that he depends on.
• כי בתחבולות תעשה לך מלחמה
  • Ki betah'boloth ta'aseh lekha milhama
  • Translation: because with tricks you should do a war
  • Origin: The Bible - Pslams 24, 6
• כל הדרכים מובילות לרומא
  • Kol hadrakhim moviloth le'Roma
  • Translation: all the roads lead to Rome.
• כל שני וחמישי
  • Kol Sheni va'Hamishi
  • Translation: every Monday and Thursday
  • Meaning: often and continuously (every few days).
  • Origin: from the days of the Torah reading, besides Saturday, which in turn originated from Market days in Judea during the Second Temple.
• כמו כוסות רוח למת
  • Kmo Kosoth Ru'akh Lameth
  • Translation: like fire cups for the dead.
  • Meaning: like something useless.

ל

• לא דובים ולא יער
  • Lo Dubim Velo Ya'ar
  • Translation: No bears and no forest.
  • Meaning: Never happened.
• לא היו דברים מעולם
  • Lo hayu dvarim me'olam
  • Translation: (these) things never happened.
• לא תמיד אתה מפספס את האוטובוס, לפעמים האוטובוס מפספס אותך
  • Lo tamid atha mefasfes eth ha'otobus, lif'amim ha'otobus mefasfes otkha.
  • Translation: You don't always miss the bus. Sometimes, it misses you.
• להכות בברזל בעודו חם
  • Lehakoth Babarzel Be'odo Ham
  • Translation: hit the iron while it's hot.
  • Meaning: exploit the opportunity while it still exists.
• לחפש בנרות
  • Lehapes Baneroth
  • Translation: to search using candles.
  • Meaning: to search thoroughly (in obscure places, etc.).
• למען יראו וייראו
  • Lema'an Yir'u Va'yira'u
  • Translation: so (people) will see and fear.

מ

• מדברים על החמור (והחמור בא)
  • Medabrim al hahamor (ve'hahamor ba)
  • Translation: speaking of the donkey (and the donkey comes)
  • Meaning: said when someone appears shortly after he has been discussed.
  • English Equivalent: Speak of the devil
• מהר יצא עכבר
  • Mehar Yatza Akhbar
  • Translation: a mountain ended up as a mouse
  • Meaning: something that was hyped to be very significant, turned out to be much less so.
  • English Equivalent: Made a mountain of a mole hill
• מה ששנוא עליך - אל תעשה לחברך
  • Mah Sheshano'a Aleikha Al Ta'aseh Lehaberkha
  • Translation: don't do to another what is hated by you.
• מחט בערמת שחת
  • Mahat Be'aremath Shahath
  • Translation: a needle in a pile of hay.
  • Meaning: "a needle in a haystack", trying to find something specific in a big surrounding of no interest to the person who looks for it.
• מי שאוכל לבד - מת לבד
  • Mi she'okhel levad - meth levad
  • Translation: he who eats by himself, dies by himself.
  • Corollaries:
    • מי שאוכל לבד - אוכל יותר
      • Mi she'okhel levad - okhel yother
      • Translation: he who eats by himself, eats more.
      • Origin: the motto of the Cheetos snack in Israel
    • מי שאוכל לבד, מת לבד, אבל מי שמשתף אחרים, מת מרעב
      • Mi she'okhel levad, meth levad, aval mi shemashatef aherim, meth mera'av
      • Translation: he who eats by himself, dies alone, but he who shares his food, dies of hunger.
        • (Therefore he who eats alone will die with his stomach full)
• מי שטרח בערב שבת, יאכל בשבת
  • Mi shetarah be'erev Shabbath, yokhal beshabath
  • Translation: "He who labored on Shabbath' Eve, will eat on Shabbath".
  • Meaning: he who labored in preparance, will enjoy the fruit of his labor.
• מי שלא מרים עשר אגורות, לא שווה עשר אגורות
  • Mi shelo merim eser agoroth, lo shaveh eser agoroth
  • Translation: he who doesn't pick up a dime, isn't worth a dime.
• מי שנכווה ברותחין יזהר בפושרין
  • Mi Shenikhwah Berot'hin Yizaher Beposhrin
  • Translation: He who got burnt in boiling water, will be careful in mildly warm water.
• מכל טוב הארץ
  • Mikol Tuv Ha'arets
  • Translation: from all the good things of the land.
  • Meaning: "from all the riches of the land" - a lot of good things.
• מן הפח אל הפחת
  • Min hapah el hapahath
  • Translation: from the trap to the pit.
  • Meaning: from the frying pan into the fire.
  • English Equivalent: From bad to worse
• מרבה נכסים - מרבה דאגות
  • Marbeh Nekhasim - Marbeh De'agoth
  • Translation: (he who) proliferates possessions - proliferates worries
  • English Equivealent: more money - more problems.
• מרוב עצים לא רואים את היער
  • Merov etzim lo ro'im eth ha'ya'ar
  • Translation: Can't see the forest for the trees.
  • Meaning: the subject is obscured by the details.

נ

• נאה דורש - נאה מקיים
  • Na'eh doresh - na'eh meqayem
  • Translation: he who demands well, should fullfill his demands well.
  • English equivalent: "You've got to practice what you preach".
• נהרוג טורקי - ננוח
  • Na'harog Turqi - na'nuahh
  • Translation: let's kill one Turk, then rest.
  • English equivalent: "One job at a time".
• נכנס יין - יצא סוד
  • Nikhnas Yayin - Yatza Sod
  • Translation: "Wine Entered - Secret Went Out".
  • Note: in Gematria the values of "wine" and "secret" are the same - 70.
• נפל האסימון
  • Nafal Ha'asimon
  • Translation: the token has fallen down.
  • Meaning: something was finally understood.

ס

• סנונית אחת אינה מבשרת את בוא האביב
  • Snonith ahath eyna mevasereth eth bo ha'aviv
  • Translation: one swallow does not herald the coming of spring.
  • Meaning: one occurrence does not indicate a general pattern.
  • Origin: Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics".

• סערה בכוס מים
  • Se'arah bekos mayim
  • Translation: a storm in a glass of water.
  • Meaning: a large fuss with little effect on the outside.
  • English equivalent: "Tempest in a teacup/teapot".

ע

• עבר זמנו - בטל קורבנו
  • Avar Zmano - Battel Qorbano
  • Translation: Its time passed - its sacrifice is cancelled
  • Meaning: it's no longer relevant to take the necessary measure, because it's long past when it would have helped.
• עוד הזרוע נטויה
  • Od Hazro'a Netuyah
  • Translation: And the arm is still erect.
  • Meaning: It is still going strong.
  • Origin: probably from the Bible, where in a battle with the Amaleq, the Israelites were winning when Moses' arm was erect and losing when his arm was down.
• על ראש הגנב בוער הכובע
  • "Al Rosh Haganav Bo'er Hakova"
  • Translation: The hat burns on the head of the thief.
  • Origin: reportedly from a folk tale in which a community leader found the identity of a thief by gathering the town and saying that he sees the thief's hat burning, and then observing the real thief feeling his hat with his hands.
• עם האוכל בא התאבון
  • "Im Ha'okhel Ba' Hate'avon"
  • Translation: "the appetite comes with the food."
  • Meaning: once you start something, you feel like doing it.
• עם יד על הלב
  • "Im Yad Al Halev"
  • Translation: with a hand on the heart.
  • Meaning: sincerely.
• עם קצת רצון ועם קצת יכולת גם פיל יזיין תרנגולת
  • "Im Qtzath Ratson Ve'im Qtzath Yehuleth Gam Pill Yezayen Tarnegoleth"
  • Translation: With some will and some ability, even a elephant will f*ck a chicken
  • Meaning: If you want something, you can achieve it

פ

• פה קבור הכלב
  • Po Qavur Hakelev
  • Translation: "The dog is buried here."
  • Meaning: this is the main issue.
• פוסח על שני הסעיפים
  • Pose'ah al shney ha'se'ifim
  • Translation: "skips on two branches"
  • Meaning: "cannot decide between two options and does a little of both".
  • Origin: Bible, prophet Eliyahu's quote - "Ad matay tifsehu al shtey ha'se'ifim".
• פעם שלישית גלידה
  • Pa'am shlishith glidah
  • Translation: third time icecream.
  • Meaning: said when two people accidentally meet twice during a short period, saying that the next time, the other person should buy some icecream to the speaker.
  • English Equivalent: Third time's the charm.
  • See this page in the Hebrew Wikipedia about it.
• פרה פרה
  • Parah Parah
  • Translation: Literal: "Cow. cow" or "A cow, A cow". Meaning: "One cow at a time."
  • Meaning: one should accomplish two or more things by tackling them one at a time.
  • See also this resource in the MSN learn Hebrew forum

צ

• צדק - צדק תרדוף
  • Tsedeq Tsedeq Tirdof
  • Translation: Justice, Justice you shall pursue.
  • Origin: from the Torah - Deuteronomy 16, 20
• צוחק מי שצוחק אחרון
  • Tsoheq mi shetsoheq aharon
  • Translation: laughs he who laughs last.
  • Meaning: the winner is the one who won at the end.
• צרות באות בצרורות
  • Tsaroth ba'oth bitsro'oth
  • Translation: troubles come in packs.
  • English equivalent: when it rains, it pours.
  • Corollaries:
    • צרה צרורה
      • Tsarah Tsrurah
      • Translation: a packed trouble.
• צרת רבים - חצי נחמה
  • Tsarath rabim - hatzi nehamath
  • Translation: The trouble of many - half of the consolation.
  • Meaning: It is better to share your troubles with people.
• צרת רבים - נחמת טיפשים
  • Tsarath rabim - nehamath tipshim
  • Translation: The trouble of many - the consolation of fools.

ק

• קרח מכאן ומכאן
  • "Qere'ah Mikan Oomikan"
  • Translation: "Bald from here and from here"
  • Meaning: deprived in both senses.
  • Story behind: a man who has two wives: one young and one old. The young one removes his old hair, and the old one removes his young hair, and thus he becomes "bald from here and from here".

ר

• רומא לא נבנתה ביום אחד
  • Roma Lo Nivnetha Beyom Ehad
  • Translation: "Rome wasn't built in a day."

• רוקד בשתי חתונות
  • Roqed Bishtey Hatunoth
  • Translation: "Dancing in Two Weddings".
  • Meaning: "Does two different things (or is committed to two different entities) at once."

• רחוק מהעין - רחוק מהלב
  • Rahoq Meha'ayin - Rahoq Mehalev
  • Translation: "Far from the eye - far from the heart".
  • English equivalent: "out of sight - out of mind"

ש

• שושנה בין החוחים
  • Shoshanah Beyn Hahhohhim
  • Translation: a lily (or incorrectly a rose) between the thorns
  • Meaning: an excpetionally good woman within a bad society.
• שניים רבים - השלישי זוכה
  • Shnayim Ravim Hashlishi Zokheh
  • Translation: two are fighting - the third wins.
• שעיר לעזאזל
  • Se'ir La'azazel
  • Meaning: scapegoat.
  • Origin: from the bible. (Leviticus 16)
  • English Equivalent: Scape goat.
  • Corollaries:
    • הולך לעזאזל
      • Holekh La'azazel
      • Translation: goes to the Azazel.
      • Meaning: goes to hell, goes down the drain.

ת

• תפסת מרובה - לא תפסת
  • Tafasta Merubeh - Lo Tafasta
  • Translation: (tried to) caught a lot - didn't catch.
  • Meaning: if one tries to achieve too many goals at once, he'll achieve none or few of them.

א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת