תַּכְשִׁיט (tach-sheet) )is the common Hebrew word for ‛piece of jewelry’. It refers to any piece of jewelry or other ornament, including bracelet, necklace, earring, ring, brooch, tiara, etc. From the word תַּכְשִׁיט derives other words, like תַּכְשִׁיטָן (jeweler); תַּכְשׁׅיטָנׅית (for a female jeweler); תַּכְשִׁיטָנוּת (manufacture and sale of jewels). The place to buy all these beautiful things called חֲנוּת תַּכְשׁׅיטׅים (jewelry store).

But תַּכְשִׁיט is not the only Hebrew word for ‛piece of jewelry’. The Hebrew language is composed of different periods of texts and vocabulary. Although not used in spoken language, עֲדִי (a-di) is a synonym to תַּכְשִׁיט. The word עֲדִי actually preceded the word תַּכְשִׁיט in the development of the Hebrew language. עֲדִי is a biblical word that appears several time in the Bible. For example:

בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל בְּכֶינָה, הַמַּלְבִּשְׁכֶם שָׁנִי עִם עֲדָנִים הַמַּעֲלֶה עֲדִי זָהָב עַל לְבוּשְׁכֶן

[שמואל ב א, כד]

Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold [Book of Samuel 2, chapter 1, verse 24]

הֲתִשְׁכַּח בְּתוּלָה עֶדְיָהּ כַּלָּה קִשֻּׁרֶיהָ

[ירמיה ב, לב]

Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? [Book of Jeremiah, chapter 2, verse 32]

וָאֶעְדֵּךְ עֶדִי וָאֶתְּנָה צְמִידִים עַל-יָדַיִךְ וְרָבִיד עַל-גְּרוֹנֵךְ

[יחזקאל טז, יא]

I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck [Book of Ezekiel , chapter 16, verse 11]

תַּכְשִׁיט belongs to a later period of the Hebrew language. תַּכְשִׁיט is a Talmudic word – probably came to Hebrew from the Aramaic language – and stayed popular till the modern spoken Hebrew. עֲדִי appears today in the modern Hebrew only as a name, though quite a common name. I had a classmate in my high school whose name was עֲדִי, my friend married last year a girl name עֲדִי, and remember my visit to the Carmel Market? I went there with my friend עֲדִי.

Like the Hebrew names we have already learnt – Tal and Shahar – Adi is a unisex name. While living or travelling in Israel, you can meet women that go by the name Adi. For example, the comedian and actress Adi Ashkenazi, or the model and actress Adi Himelbloy. You can also meet men that go by the name Adi. For example, the fashion photographer and model agent Adi Barkan, or the mayor of Karmiel city Adi Eldar.

 

Text vocabulary

תַּכְשִׁיט =  piece of jewelry

תַּכְשׁׅיטׅים = pieces of jewelry

תַּכְשִׁיטָן = jeweler (male)

תַּכְשׁׅיטָנׅית = jeweler (female)

תַּכְשִׁיטָנוּת = manufacture and sale of jewels

חֲנוּת = store

חֲנוּת תַּכְשׁׅיטׅים = jewelry store

עֲדִי = piece of jewelry, a common name

 

Related posts:

Tal: The Origin of a Common Hebrew Name

Shahar: The Origin of a Common Hebrew Name

Aviv and Stav: The Origin and Meaning of Two Common Hebrew Names

 

Keep Calm and Learn Hebrew

---

---