09-27-2019, 10:47 AM
So, my wife is Jewish and says the shema daily. And just from the cognates, I understand the first line as a direct quotation from scripture. But, I'm trying to understand the second line, and when I've asked her for a translation... she seems to simply have the words memorized, but can't really tell me what they mean.
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto L'olam Va'ed.
1- First off, the last two words: both "translate to 'forever'" But, I have to assume there's unique connotation where both words are used to mean "not just one or the other, but both."
2- בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם, I get. "Blessed is the name..." Seems rather simple. But I've seen a few contradictory explanations for כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ : Usually, it's "of his glorious kingdom" (implication being "all of reality"). But, another explanation was "of his royal majesty." ... as a layman with a dictionary, both interpretations seem textually valid, but "blessed be the name of his royal majesty" seems to be a more logical response to the strong declaration of the first line than to switch focus from the creator to the creation by blessing "the name of the kingdom." Clearly, I would agree, his kingdom should be blessed as well, but it seems awkward placing as a response to the first portion.
3- While attempting to look into this myself, one person pointed out a detail about the first line I hadn't seen elsewhere, and I'm curious if it's a common understanding. He pointed out that the last letters in the first and last words are intentionally written slightly larger. The ayin in שְׁמַ֖ע and the dalet in אֶחָֽד are intentionally written a bit larger on purpose, but said that was a whole different conversation and didn't go into it. ... but I like knowing things... so... Would anyone be willing to help me understand a bit better?
thank you for your time.
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto L'olam Va'ed.
1- First off, the last two words: both "translate to 'forever'" But, I have to assume there's unique connotation where both words are used to mean "not just one or the other, but both."
2- בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם, I get. "Blessed is the name..." Seems rather simple. But I've seen a few contradictory explanations for כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ : Usually, it's "of his glorious kingdom" (implication being "all of reality"). But, another explanation was "of his royal majesty." ... as a layman with a dictionary, both interpretations seem textually valid, but "blessed be the name of his royal majesty" seems to be a more logical response to the strong declaration of the first line than to switch focus from the creator to the creation by blessing "the name of the kingdom." Clearly, I would agree, his kingdom should be blessed as well, but it seems awkward placing as a response to the first portion.
3- While attempting to look into this myself, one person pointed out a detail about the first line I hadn't seen elsewhere, and I'm curious if it's a common understanding. He pointed out that the last letters in the first and last words are intentionally written slightly larger. The ayin in שְׁמַ֖ע and the dalet in אֶחָֽד are intentionally written a bit larger on purpose, but said that was a whole different conversation and didn't go into it. ... but I like knowing things... so... Would anyone be willing to help me understand a bit better?
thank you for your time.