Sign up for your free daily dose!

May 15, 2011

how to say "I swear" in Hebrew...


לְהִשָּׁבַע


Check out our summer courses for adults and teens!




This one's for Zach-נָחוּם. We (I can only speak for the extended family) are proud of you.


On Friday Blogger went down, so I wasn't able to put out the Daily Dose of Hebrew. I hope everyone used the time normally spent reading these doses reviewing for the exam next week. 


Just kidding.


The word I wanted to write about on Friday is to swear. On Thursday evening, I had the honor of attending a swearing-in ceremony - טֶקֶס הַשְׁבָּעָה (TEH-kes hahsh-bah-AH) - of my relative, Zach Waxer. I was filled with pride and excitement as I navigated my way among thousands of people - among the soldiers and among those who came to honor them.


Zach and I at the entrance to the Western Wall Tunnels


At this ceremony, hundreds of cadets became full-fledged soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces as they responded to their charge to protect the people of Israel with "I swear!" - אֲנִי נִשְׁבַּע (ah-NEE neesh-BAH). 


They said that because they're all male at this particular טקס השבעה. A female at another טקס would have said אֲנִי נִשְׁבַּעַת (ah-NEE neesh-BAH-aht).


To swear is לְהִשָּׁבַע (leh-hee-shah-VAH). It's a נפעל (neef-AHL) verb.