Neder
/ˈnɛdər/noun
A vow or self-imposed obligation, especially in Jewish religious law.
Did you know?The Hebrew concept of a neder became so legally serious that Jewish tradition developed formal procedures for annulling certain vows, reflected in practices associated with Kol Nidre.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*n-d-r
“To vow or dedicate something by a solemn declaration”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
נֶדֶר (neder)
“A vow, especially a voluntary promise or dedication made to God”
Second Temple Period
Aramaic
נִדְרָא (nidra)
“A vow or sworn obligation”
Rabbinic Hebrew
Mishnaic Hebrew
נדרים (nedarim)
“Vows; also the name of a Talmudic tractate concerning vows”
Medieval Hebrew Scholarship
Hebrew
נֶדֶר (neder)
“A legally binding religious vow under Jewish law”
Modern English
English
neder
“A Hebrew religious term for a vow or solemn obligation”