talmudic

IPA/ˌtælˈmʊdɪk/
IPA/ˌtælˈmʊdɪk/

talmudic — adjective

  • talmudicpositive
  • more talmudiccomparative
  • most talmudicsuperlative

1. found in or based on the Talmud, an ancient Jewish collection of rabbinic teachi

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

found in or based on the Talmud, an ancient Jewish collection of rabbinic teachings about law, ethics, and customs.

Example

Rabbi Esteban Cohen gave a clear talmudic explanation of the holiday rules for Passover.

collocation: talmudic explanation

Putri found a talmudic passage about helping poor people in her grandmother's old books.

collocation: talmudic passage

Common collocations
  • talmudic law
  • talmudic writings
  • talmudic passage
  • talmudic argument
  • talmudic teachings
  • talmudic scholar
  • talmudic commentary
  • talmudic discussion
  • talmudic study
  • talmudic tradition
Synonyms
  • rabbinic

    broader than talmudic; covers all teachings and writings from rabbinic tradition, not only those in the Talmud

  • halakhic

    more specific; refers to Jewish legal rulings that may be drawn from the Talmud but also from later codes and commentaries

Grammar Patterns

talmudic + noun (law, writings, passage, argument, teaching)

Usage Note

Typically placed before nouns associated with Jewish religious scholarship, law, or textual commentary. The word can also describe a style of reasoning that is detailed, question-driven, and deeply interpretive — resembling the method of Talmudic study — though this metaphorical use is less frequent than the literal one.

Common Mistakes

She follows talmudic traditions' (when the speaker means general Jewish customs).
She follows Jewish traditions that are based on talmudic teachings.
talmudic refers specifically to the Talmud, not to all Jewish customs or beliefs.

Word family

  • Talmud
    nounC2
  • Talmudist
    nounC2
  • talmudical
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Talmudic refers specifically to the Talmud itself — the ancient compilation of rabbinic debates, laws, and ethics. Rabbinic is a broader term that covers all teachings and writings produced by rabbis, including but not limited to the Talmud. Halakhic pertains to Jewish legal rulings (halakha), which draw on the Talmud but also on later codes and commentaries. Scriptural is more general still, relating to any sacred writings (the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, the Quran, etc.), and lacks the specific connection to rabbinic tradition. For example, a class on 'talmudic law' examines the Talmud's legal discussions, while a class on 'halakhic decision-making' might look at how medieval and modern rabbis apply Talmudic principles to everyday questions.

rabbinichalakhic ↗scriptural

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

HebrewAramaicEnglish

Derived from the Hebrew word תַּלְמוּד (talmúd), meaning 'study' or 'learning', combined with the English suffix -ic. The Talmud itself was compiled between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE and is the central text of rabbinic Judaism. The adjective talmudic entered English in the early 19th century.