Lech-Lecha
/ˌlɛx ˈlɛ.xa/noun
A Hebrew biblical phrase meaning “go forth for yourself,” traditionally referring to God’s command to Abram to leave his homeland.
Did you know?In Genesis 12:1, the doubled Hebrew command is famously interpreted by commentators as an inward journey as well as a physical departure: leave outwardly so you can discover yourself.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew, c. 1st millennium BCE
Hebrew
לֶךְ־לְךָ (lekh-lekha)
““Go for yourself” or “go to yourself,” God’s command to Abram in Genesis 12:1.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
הלך (halakh)
“To go, walk, travel, or proceed; the verbal root underlying the command.”
Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism
Hebrew/Aramaic
הלך
“The root became associated with one’s way of conduct and manner of living.”
Rabbinic Hebrew, late antiquity
Hebrew
הֲלָכָה (halakha)
“A legal or customary way of life derived from the same “walking or going” root.”
Modern English religious and cultural usage
English
Lech-Lecha
“A transliterated Hebrew phrase used in Jewish commentary, theology, education, and spiritual writing to signify transformative departure or self-discovery.”