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Bible Encyclopedias
Hedyoṭ
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
or Term used in Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash to designate a private person, a commoner, not belonging to the class of kings, priests, officers, etc. (e.g., Sanh. 90a, "three kings and four hedyoṭot"); also an ignorant man; one of low character; an uncultured, ill-mannered individual ("ha-hedyoṭ ḳofeẓ be-rosh"). "The lowest man rushes ahead" and gives his opinion first in the presence of prominent men (Meg. 12b). "Hedyoṭ" is used as opposed to "sons of kings" (Num. R. 8:4); of man as opposed to God (ib.; Ḳid. 28b); of a common priest as distinguished from a high priest (Yeb. 59a); of a Samaritan as opposed to an Israelite (Sanh. 21b); of an untrained as opposed to a skilled worker (M. Ḳ. 10a); "leshon hedyoṭ" (vulgar or popular parlance) is spoken of in contradistinction to the language of the learned (B. M. 104a); "meshal hedyoṭ" (a proverb or popular saying) occurs frequently in the Midrash; "shiṭre hedyoṭ" (private writings, letters, or documents) are opposed to Biblical books (Shab. 116b); "parah hedyoṭit" means a cow of common stock, not trained for plowing (Ruth R. 1:19).
- Jastrow, Dict. 1:333;
- Levy, Neuhebr. Wörterb. 1:453;
- Bacher, Aus dem Wörterbuche Tanchum Jeruschalmis, Hebrew part, p. 26.
These files are public domain.
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Hedyoṭ'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tje/h/hedyoa1.html. 1901.
