AboutGaddy Yaari Expertise What I do: I'll help you understand Hebrew phrases or single words, as well as answer questions about Jewish practices.
What I don't do: Tattoo translations. For that, try http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_hebrew.html
Experience I am a columnist for a Hebrew-language newspaper, and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Education/Credentials MBA
BA in the US,
Grade school and high school in Israel
Expert: Gaddy Yaari Date: 6/29/2008 Subject: the suffix iah--what does it mean?
Question QUESTION: I want to know what the iah in Jeremiah, Isaiah means.
ANSWER: Thadra,
The ancient people of the Middle East liked to incorporate the names of their deities into their male children's names. 'Iah' is short for YHWH. In Isaiah's case, 'isa' means 'savior', and 'iah' means 'YHWH", so what we have is a name that proclaims that "YHWH (or God) is my savior".
Now, suppose that a pagan family, which worshipped the pagan god Baal, wanted to give their son a name with the same meaning as 'Isaiah'. They would name their son 'Isabaal'.
All the best,
Gaddy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much! What do you think the name Shekeliah would mean in Hebrew?
Answer I've never come across that name. In Biblical times, Shekel was a unit of weight (approximately 1 ounce) used in weighing silver. When the Temple was standing in Jerusalem, all Jews had to pay an annual "Temple tax" of 1 shekel of silver. Perhaps Shekeliah means "God's silver".
