mitzvah

or mits·vah

[ Sephardic Hebrew meets-vah, mits-; English, Ashkenazic Hebrew mits-vuh ]

noun

, Hebrew.

, plural mitz·voth, mitz·vot, mitz·vos [meets-, vawt, mits-, mits-, vohs]; English mitz·vahs [mits, -v, uh, z].

1. any of the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Bible and additional ones of rabbinic origin that relate chiefly to the religious and moral conduct of Jews.
2. any good or praiseworthy deed.

mitzvah

/ ˈmɪtsvə; mitsˈvɑ /

noun

1. a commandment or precept, esp one found in the Bible
2. a good deed

Word History and Origins

Origin of mitzvah¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from Hebrew miṣwāh “command, commandment”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mitzvah¹

from Hebrew: commandment

Example Sentences

"He said he had the bar mitzvahs covered but I have the weddings covered with Love is All Around. "

From BBC

In Judaism, a mitzvah war is one which includes defending Jewish life and sovereignty and is considered obligatory as opposed to one of choice.

From BBC

The mall replaced a banquet facility that served as a local social center where couples got married and families shared big occasions such as bar mitzvahs.

From Los Angeles Times

Don’t get me wrong, she’s cool—I’m supposed to go to her bat mitzvah next year—but JP’s my best friend.

From Literature

He kept it alive in private, performing at weddings and bar mitzvahs after he was forced to flee to France, until he released a breakthrough album, “Café Oran,” in 1996 at the age of 68.

From New York Times

Related Words

• edict
• precept