Mesorah Tradition
/məˈsɔː.rə trəˈdɪʃ.ən/noun
The Jewish tradition of preserving and transmitting religious teachings, especially the Hebrew Bible’s text, pronunciation, and interpretation.
Did you know?Mesorah includes not only written text but traditional pronunciation, spelling, chanting, and scribal conventions preserved by Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מָסַר (māsar)
“To hand over, deliver, or transmit; the root underlying mesorah.”
Rabbinic Hebrew
Hebrew
מְסוֹרָה (mesōrāh)
“A received tradition or transmission of teaching.”
Early Medieval Period
Hebrew
מָסוֹרֶת (māsōret)
“Tradition, especially the received textual and interpretive tradition of Judaism.”
6th–10th Century
Hebrew
Masorah
“The scholarly system of notes and conventions used to preserve the exact Hebrew biblical text.”
14th Century
Latin
traditio
“A handing over, delivery, or transmission; the source of English tradition.”
Modern English
English
Mesorah tradition
“A modern English expression for the Jewish tradition of transmitting sacred texts and associated knowledge.”