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The word “tehillim” is a plural, not occurring in Biblical Hebrew, and comes from the singular “tehillah” = “song of praise.” It is thus a fitting title for the collection of songs found in nach in the “Kesubim” and more fully described as “Sefer Tehillim,” or the “Book of Psalms.” “Tehillim” is also contracted to “tillim” (Aramaic, “tillin”).
But Tehillah is feminine. So why isnt it called Sefer Tehillos?
Come on all you dikdukniks out there!
Shticky: you’re your best friend…
Oh, and I find your question and answer quite interesting!
Off the top of my head I would guess that tehillos was contracted to the gender-neutral (daykanim, check me on that?) tillin and then retranslated to the incorrect Hebrew “tehillim”.
almost the same- with shabbosim and shabbasos!
stop the speculation
see the gemara in ????? ??”? The gemara says Tehilim. Those who are lazy to walk over to the book case go to http://kodesh.snunit.k12.il/b/l/l2310_117a.htm
According to a ?? scholar ???”? & ??? ???? refer to Tehilos I don’t know where in order to verify
snapplegrl almost the same ???-
with shabbosim
Yiddish
and shabbasos ??”?!
Shticky guy: Who said tehillos was gender neutral? I said the aramaic “tillin” might be.
wellmeaning busybody: There are actually several references to Tehillim for example in :??? ???? ??? it says ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?????… Even in ?????? in ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? it says ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????
Rav Dunner ztz”l of London was a bokee in these things. He was asked regarding the name yerucham which a couple wanted to use when the true name as it appears in nach is yerocham. He told them that although that was strictly true, but because through the years generations had used the name as yerucham, it should not be changed but kept that way!
check http://www.asktherabbi.org/status.asp?p=24NK130AB53OY7W
in a coupla days they usually answer in a day or so
Well meaning busy body, I see that you really live up to your name. This time i, or really I, (otherwise some posters will shout at me) dont mind, for who doesnt like a yenta! I dont even mind that you misspelt my name when you submitted my mishnaic source! Please post back when you see a reply from the rabbi. Cheers! Thanks!
from Rabbi Zvi Frank @ revach.net
In Avos 9 6 & in other places we find Chazal referring to Sefer Tehillim.
But Tehillah is feminine. So why isn’t it called Sefer Tehillos?
Hi
Excellent Question.
Actually, the Ibn Ezra in many places does indeed call it Sefer Tehilos!!!!
See his perush on Chumash bereshis many times as well as on Tehillim itself.
However, although the common understanding is that the word tehillim stems from the word tehillah, this may not be set in stone.
In Yerushalmi and sometimes in medrash it appears as sefer Tillim. Without the letter “heh”.
Additionally, in Medrash Tehillim it says that Rav used to call it sefer hallelu-ka.
Apparently Tehillim may come from the word hillulim. A lashon of hallel rather than tehilah. This would explain the Yerushalmi word Tillim as well.
Alternatively, perhaps it is a combination of both concepts Tehillos and Hillulim which formed the word Tehillim.
The Noam Elimelech says it comes from the word Tahel which means shine light, see (Iyov 41, 10).
Finally, we do find similar parallels in Hebrew such as Tefillin where the singular is feminine tefilla, and should have been called Tefillos.
As an abundant amount of gematrios, remazim, roshei teves, shemos hakedoshim etc. have been handed down throughout the generations based on the lettering of the word tehillim, these various hidden concepts may have influenced the
decision as well.
Kol Tuv
Rabbi Tzvi Frank, grew up in Boro Park, NY and learned in Yeshivos Chasan Sofer, Philadelphia, Brisk -R’ Avrohom Yehoshua, Kollel Halichos Yerushalayim, Kollel Ner Moshe in Givat Shaul and Lakewood, NJ. He currently resides in Lakewood
check my previous link to ask the Rabbi
I got an answer ???? ??? ??? ??? ????: ‘?? ?????’
I sent Rav Frank’s answer to Rabbi Laufer @ Ask the Rabbi & received this
March 8, 2011 11:39AM
Submitted by: Rabbi Reuven Lauffer
I saw the excellent and well researched answer of Rabbi Frank. Interestingly enough, until today, the Yemenites still refer to it as Sefer Tillim (without the ‘heh’). The only thing that is missing is a definitive reason (not theories) as to why it is called Sefer Tehillim and not Tehillos which would seem to be grammatically correct.
@ken zayn you misspelt my name ??
Your name is 208 ??????? too?
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