Berakah
/bəˈrɑːkə/noun
A Hebrew blessing or benediction, especially one recited in Jewish religious practice.
Did you know?In Judaism, berakhot are traditionally recited before many everyday acts, including eating, transforming routine experiences into ritual acknowledgments of divine blessing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*barak-
“A reconstructed root associated with kneeling and blessing”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
בְּרָכָה (berākhāh)
“Blessing, benediction, or the act of blessing”
Second Temple Period
Hebrew
ברכה (berakhah)
“A formal religious blessing or expression of praise”
Classical Syriac
Syriac
ܒܪܟܬܐ (brākhtā)
“Blessing or benediction”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
بَرَكَة (baraka)
“Blessing, divine favor, or sacred abundance”
Modern English
English
berakah
“A Hebrew blessing or Jewish benediction, used especially in religious and scholarly contexts”