Notarikon (Hebrew: נוטריקוןNoṭriqōn) is a Talmudic and Kabbalistic method of deriving a word, by using each of its initial (Hebrew: ראשי תיבות) or final letters (סופי תיבות) to stand for another, to form a sentence or idea out of the words. Another variation uses the first and last letters, or the two middle letters of a word, in order to form another word.[1] The word "notarikon" is borrowed from the Greek language (νοταρικόν), and was derived from the Latin word "notarius" meaning "shorthand writer."[2]
Notarikon is one of the three ancient methods used by the Kabbalists (the other two are gematria and temurah) to rearrange words and sentences. These methods were used in order to derive the esoteric substratum and deeper spiritual meaning of the words in the Bible. Notarikon was also used in alchemy.
The term is mostly used in the context of Kabbalah. Common Hebrew abbreviations are described by ordinary linguistic terms.
Until the end of the Talmudic period, Notariqon is understood in Judaism as a common method of Scripture interpretation by which the letters of individual words in the Bible text indicate the first letters of independent words. For example, the consonants of the word nimreṣet (1Kgs 2:8) produce the words noʾef (adulterer), moʾābı (Moabite), roṣeaḥ (murderer), ṣorer (threatener) and tôʿbāh (horror). According to a Talmudic interpretation, the starting word indicates the insults which Shimei had thrown at King David.[3]
Usage in Kabbalah
A common usage of Notarikon in the practice of Kabbalah, is to form sacred names of God derived from religious or biblical verses. Agla, an acronym for Atah Gibor Le-olam Adonai, translated, "You, O Lord, are mighty forever," is one of the most famous examples of Notarikon. Dozens of examples are found in the Berit Menuchah, as is referenced in the following passage:
And it was discovered that the Malachim were created from the wind and the fine and enlightening air, and that the name of their origin עַמַרֻמְאֵליוְהָ was derived from the verse (Psalms 104:4): "Who makest the winds thy messengers, fire and flame thy ministers" (…) And when the lights reach this Sefira, they unite and receive a name that is derived from the central letters of the following verse (Genesis 6:2): "The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took to wife such of them as they chose." And this valiant name, which is drawn in the Gevura, is רְנֵלבֺנקְהֵכשְיִהְ.[4]
Sefer Gematriot is another example where many Notarikons for usage on talismans are given from Biblical verses.[5]
^The Dictionary of Jewish usage: a guide to the use of Jewish terms, By Sol Steinmetz, ISBN0-7425-4387-0, 2005, [article "Notarikon"]
^Mutius, Hans-Georg v (2011-04-01), "Notariqon", Religion Past and Present, Brill, retrieved 2022-06-14
^Brit Menucha - Covenant of Rest, Providence University Press 2007, p. 133
^Theodore Schrire, Hebrew Amulets: Their Decipherment and Interpretation Routledge & Kegan Paul 1966
February 04, 2023
notarikon, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2008, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Notarikon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Notarikon Hebrew נוטריקון Noṭriqōn is a Talmudic and Kabbalistic method of deriving a word by using each of its initial Hebrew ראשי תיבות or final letters סופי תיבות to stand for another to form a sentence or idea out of the words Another variation uses the first and last letters or the two middle letters of a word in order to form another word 1 The word notarikon is borrowed from the Greek language notarikon and was derived from the Latin word notarius meaning shorthand writer 2 Notarikon is one of the three ancient methods used by the Kabbalists the other two are gematria and temurah to rearrange words and sentences These methods were used in order to derive the esoteric substratum and deeper spiritual meaning of the words in the Bible Notarikon was also used in alchemy The term is mostly used in the context of Kabbalah Common Hebrew abbreviations are described by ordinary linguistic terms Contents 1 Usage in the Talmud 2 Usage in Kabbalah 3 See also 4 ReferencesUsage in the Talmud EditUntil the end of the Talmudic period Notariqon is understood in Judaism as a common method of Scripture interpretation by which the letters of individual words in the Bible text indicate the first letters of independent words For example the consonants of the word nimreṣet 1Kgs 2 8 produce the words noʾef adulterer moʾabi Moabite roṣeaḥ murderer ṣorer threatener and toʿbah horror According to a Talmudic interpretation the starting word indicates the insults which Shimei had thrown at King David 3 Usage in Kabbalah EditA common usage of Notarikon in the practice of Kabbalah is to form sacred names of God derived from religious or biblical verses Agla an acronym for Atah Gibor Le olam Adonai translated You O Lord are mighty forever is one of the most famous examples of Notarikon Dozens of examples are found in the Berit Menuchah as is referenced in the following passage And it was discovered that the Malachim were created from the wind and the fine and enlightening air and that the name of their origin ע מ ר מ א ליו ה was derived from the verse Psalms 104 4 Who makest the winds thy messengers fire and flame thy ministers And when the lights reach this Sefira they unite and receive a name that is derived from the central letters of the following verse Genesis 6 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair and they took to wife such of them as they chose And this valiant name which is drawn in the Gevura is ר נ לב נק ה כש י ה 4 Sefer Gematriot is another example where many Notarikons for usage on talismans are given from Biblical verses 5 See also EditAGLA notarikon for Atah Gibor Le olam Adonai Bible code a purported set of secret messages encoded within the Torah Biblical and Talmudic units of measurement Chol HaMoed the intermediate days during Passover and Sukkot Chronology of the Bible Counting of the Omer Gematria Jewish system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase Hebrew acronyms Hebrew calendar Hebrew numerals Jewish and Israeli holidays 2000 2050 Lag BaOmer 33rd day of counting the Omer Sephirot the 10 attributes emanations found in Kabbalah Significance of numbers in Judaism Weekly Torah portion division of the Torah into 54 portions References Edit Notarikon Archived from the original on 2011 07 17 The Dictionary of Jewish usage a guide to the use of Jewish terms By Sol Steinmetz ISBN 0 7425 4387 0 2005 article Notarikon Mutius Hans Georg v 2011 04 01 Notariqon Religion Past and Present Brill retrieved 2022 06 14 Brit Menucha Covenant of Rest Providence University Press 2007 p 133 Theodore Schrire Hebrew Amulets Their Decipherment and Interpretation Routledge amp Kegan Paul 1966 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Notarikon amp oldid 1111126057, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
