Cabbala
/kəˈbɑːlə/noun
A system of Jewish mystical interpretation concerned with the hidden meanings of scripture and the nature of God.
Did you know?The term originally referred broadly to received Jewish tradition before becoming associated with medieval mystical teachings about divine emanations, creation, and sacred letters.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ḳ-b-l
“A root associated with receiving, accepting, or facing toward”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
qibbel
“He received or accepted”
Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
qabbālāh
“That which is received; received tradition”
12th–13th Century
Hebrew
Qabbalah
“A developing Jewish mystical tradition and its teachings”
16th Century
Latin
Cabala
“Jewish mystical teaching, especially as discussed by Christian scholars”
17th Century
English
cabbala
“A secret or mystical system of interpretation; later, a secret scheme or clique”
Modern English
English
cabbala
“A variant spelling of Kabbalah, or a mysterious secret doctrine”