מֹשֶׁה
moshémasculine
The English name Moses is translated into Hebrew as מֹשֶׁה (moshé). Wiktionary also lists מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ (moshé rabénu).
Meaning: the biblical patriarch (name)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| מֹשֶׁה | moshé | masculine |
| מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ | moshé rabénu | masculine |
The phrase refers to the biblical patriarch Moses.
Which one should you use?
The form מֹשֶׁה is the standard name, while מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ is a respectful variation used to refer to him as 'Moses our teacher'.
How do you pronounce it?
moshé
When do people say it?
In Jewish religious and liturgical settings, it is common to use the respectful title מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ when speaking of the patriarch.
Did you know?
- The name מֹשֶׁה is actually a loanword from Ancient Egyptian, likely derived from the root 'msy' meaning 'to give birth' or 'born'.
- In certain Hebrew-speaking religious circles, the name מֹשֶׁה is treated with such sanctity that calling him by his name alone, without a title, can feel like a breach of etiquette. It is a linguistic way of maintaining a boundary between the human and the divine.
- Because מֹשֶׁה ends with the letter ה, the name is grammatically masculine even though that specific ending is often associated with feminine nouns in Hebrew.
Examples in context
- וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה אֶל מֹשֶׁה וּלְאַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר לְכוּ זִבְחוּ לֵאלֹהֵיכֶם בָּאָרֶץ.And Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go and sacrifice to your God in this land.This sentence shows the name מֹשֶׁה being used in a biblical context involving Pharaoh and Aaron.Tatoeba #12945476 by fekundulo, translation #7990635 by carlosalberto
- תן לי דיו לכתוב את תורתו של משהGive me ink to write Moses' Torah
- סִפְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה מְדַבְּרִים עַל מֹשֶׁה.Sifrei haTorah medabrim al Moshe.The books of the Torah speak about Moses.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noa and Noam are discussing a book in a library.
- נועה Noaאתה יודע מי היה מֹשֶׁה?Atah yodea mi haya Moshe?Do you know who Moses was?
- נועם Noamכן, הוא היה מנהיג גדול.Ken, hu haya manhig gadol.Yes, he was a great leader.
- נועה Noaהוא קיבל את התורה בהר סיני.Hu kibel et hatorah behar Sinai.He received the Torah at Mount Sinai.
- נועם Noamזה נכון, זה סיפור מרתק.Ze nachon, ze sippur meratek.That's true, it's a fascinating story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moses” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
