Ktav Ashuri (Hebrew: כְּתָב אַשּׁוּרִי, k'tav ashurí, lit. "Assyrian Writing") also (Ktav) Ashurit, is the traditional Hebrew language name of the Hebrew alphabet, used to write both Hebrew and Jewish Babylonian Aramaic. It is often referred to as (the) Square script. The names "Ashuri" (Assyrian) or "square script" are used to distinguish it from the Paleo-Hebrew script.
According to Halakha (Jewish religious law), tefillin (phylacteries) and mezuzot (door-post scripts) can only be written in Ashurit.
Name
Ktav Ashuri is the term used in the Talmud; the modern Hebrew term for the Hebrew alphabet is simply אלפבית עברי "Alphabet Hebrew". Consequently, the term Ktav Ashuri refers primarily to a traditional calligraphic form of the alphabet used in writing the Torah. However, the term Ashuri is often used in the Babylonian Talmud to refer to the contemporary "Hebrew alphabet", as opposed to the older Paleo-Hebrew script.
The Talmud gives two opinions for why the script is called Ashuri:
- either because the Jews brought it back with them when they returned from exile in Assyria (called Ashur in Hebrew);
- alternatively, this script was given at Mount Sinai and then forgotten and eventually revived, and received its name because it is "me'usheret" (Hebrew: מאושרת; beautiful/praiseworthy or authorized).
The name reflects the fact that the Hebrew alphabet used by Jews (as opposed to the Samaritans) was derived from the Aramaic alphabet (Hebrew: אלפבית ארמי) used in Assyria and Babylonia and Imperial Aramaic was a lingua franca of both states' empires, it thus refers to "the Aramaic alphabet as used in Judaism", and is sometimes referred to as the "Assyrian script."
The name contrasts with the name Libonaa (or Liboni) given to the Samaritan alphabet, and by extension the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. This name is most likely derived from Lubban, i.e. the script is called "Libanian" (of Lebanon), although it has also been suggested that the name is a corrupted form of "Neapolitan", i.e. of Nablus.
History
Mention of the Ashuri script first appears in rabbinic writings of the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods, referring to the formal script used in certain Jewish ceremonial items, such as sifrei Torah, tefillin, mezuzot, and the Five Megillot.[citation needed]
According to the Talmud, Ezra was the first to mandate that the sefer Torah be written in the Aramaic alphabet rather than in the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet used formerly and permitted that the Book of Daniel be composed in Aramaic. According to the Talmud, prior to Ezra the Torah had been written in Paleo-Hebrew (Ktav Ivri), and Ezra switched it to Ktav Ashuri. However, there is a dispute (in the Talmud) as to whether it was originally written in Ktav Ashuri but switched to Paleo-Hebrew, and Ezra was switching it back to the original Ktav Ashuri; or that it was originally in written Paleo-Hebrew script and Ezra was the first to change it to Ktav Ashuri. According to a third opinion, the Torah had always been written in Ktav Ashuri. The Samaritans continue to write their Samaritan Torah in Ktav Ivri, now commonly called the Samaritan script.
See also
- Ktav Stam
References
- Danby, H., ed. (1964), "Tractate Megillah 1:8", Mishnah, London: Oxford University Press, OCLC 977686730, s.v. Megillah 1:8, p. 202 (note 20); Yadayim 4:5-6, (note 6)
- Megillah 17a, Megillah 18a
- Sanhedrin 22a
- Sanhedrin 22a
- Steiner, R.C. (1993). "Why the Aramaic Script Was Called "Assyrian" in Hebrew, Greek, and Demotic". Orientalia. 62 (2): 80–82. JSTOR 43076090.
- Cook, Stanley A. (1915). "The Significance of the Elephantine Papyri for the History of Hebrew Religion". The American Journal of Theology. 19 (3). University of Chicago Press: 348. doi:10.1086/479556. JSTOR 3155577.
- James A. Montgomery, The Samaritans, the earliest Jewish sect (1907), p. 283.
- Jerusalem Talmud (Megillah 10a); Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 21b [end]); cf. Tractate Soferim 1:6
- Babylonian Talmud (Megillah 2b; Shabbat 104a; Zevahim 62a; Sanhedrin 22a), Jerusalem Talmud (Megillah 10a)
Ktav Ashuri Hebrew כ ת ב א ש ו ר י k tav ashuri lit Assyrian Writing also Ktav Ashurit is the traditional Hebrew language name of the Hebrew alphabet used to write both Hebrew and Jewish Babylonian Aramaic It is often referred to as the Square script The names Ashuri Assyrian or square script are used to distinguish it from the Paleo Hebrew script Pirkei Avot in the Ashurit script with Babylonian vocalization according to Yemenite scribal custom According to Halakha Jewish religious law tefillin phylacteries and mezuzot door post scripts can only be written in Ashurit NameAssyrian script with Tiberian vocalization Ktav Ashuri is the term used in the Talmud the modern Hebrew term for the Hebrew alphabet is simply אלפבית עברי Alphabet Hebrew Consequently the term Ktav Ashuri refers primarily to a traditional calligraphic form of the alphabet used in writing the Torah However the term Ashuri is often used in the Babylonian Talmud to refer to the contemporary Hebrew alphabet as opposed to the older Paleo Hebrew script The Talmud gives two opinions for why the script is called Ashuri either because the Jews brought it back with them when they returned from exile in Assyria called Ashur in Hebrew alternatively this script was given at Mount Sinai and then forgotten and eventually revived and received its name because it is me usheret Hebrew מאושרת beautiful praiseworthy or authorized The name reflects the fact that the Hebrew alphabet used by Jews as opposed to the Samaritans was derived from the Aramaic alphabet Hebrew אלפבית ארמי used in Assyria and Babylonia and Imperial Aramaic was a lingua franca of both states empires it thus refers to the Aramaic alphabet as used in Judaism and is sometimes referred to as the Assyrian script The name contrasts with the name Libonaa or Liboni given to the Samaritan alphabet and by extension the Paleo Hebrew alphabet This name is most likely derived from Lubban i e the script is called Libanian of Lebanon although it has also been suggested that the name is a corrupted form of Neapolitan i e of Nablus HistoryA sample of the Ashuri alphabet with tagin written according to the Ashkenaz scribal custom on parchment klaf Mention of the Ashuri script first appears in rabbinic writings of the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods referring to the formal script used in certain Jewish ceremonial items such as sifrei Torah tefillin mezuzot and the Five Megillot citation needed According to the Talmud Ezra was the first to mandate that the sefer Torah be written in the Aramaic alphabet rather than in the Paleo Hebrew alphabet used formerly and permitted that the Book of Daniel be composed in Aramaic According to the Talmud prior to Ezra the Torah had been written in Paleo Hebrew Ktav Ivri and Ezra switched it to Ktav Ashuri However there is a dispute in the Talmud as to whether it was originally written in Ktav Ashuri but switched to Paleo Hebrew and Ezra was switching it back to the original Ktav Ashuri or that it was originally in written Paleo Hebrew script and Ezra was the first to change it to Ktav Ashuri According to a third opinion the Torah had always been written in Ktav Ashuri The Samaritans continue to write their Samaritan Torah in Ktav Ivri now commonly called the Samaritan script See alsoKtav StamReferencesDanby H ed 1964 Tractate Megillah 1 8 Mishnah London Oxford University Press OCLC 977686730 s v Megillah 1 8 p 202 note 20 Yadayim 4 5 6 note 6 Megillah 17a Megillah 18a Sanhedrin 22a Sanhedrin 22a Steiner R C 1993 Why the Aramaic Script Was Called Assyrian in Hebrew Greek and Demotic Orientalia 62 2 80 82 JSTOR 43076090 Cook Stanley A 1915 The Significance of the Elephantine Papyri for the History of Hebrew Religion The American Journal of Theology 19 3 University of Chicago Press 348 doi 10 1086 479556 JSTOR 3155577 James A Montgomery The Samaritans the earliest Jewish sect 1907 p 283 Jerusalem Talmud Megillah 10a Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 21b end cf Tractate Soferim 1 6 Babylonian Talmud Megillah 2b Shabbat 104a Zevahim 62a Sanhedrin 22a Jerusalem Talmud Megillah 10a
