kabbalah
Americannoun
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a system of esoteric theosophy and theurgy developed by rabbis, reaching its peak about the 12th and 13th centuries, and influencing certain medieval and Renaissance Christian thinkers. It was based on a mystical method of interpreting Scripture by which initiates claimed to penetrate sacred mysteries. Among its central doctrines are: all creation is an emanation from the Deity and the soul exists from eternity.
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any occult or secret doctrine or science.
noun
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an ancient Jewish mystical tradition based on an esoteric interpretation of the Old Testament
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any secret or occult doctrine or science
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of kabbalah
First recorded in 1515–25; from Medieval Latin cabbala, from Hebrew qabbālāh “tradition,” literally, “something received,” i.e., “handed down”; see also cabal ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Actually, the doctrine became central in the post-1960s decades, emanating from the popularization of Kabbalah and an association with progressive politics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025
The parade route that passed through Central Avenue wound past the gelato shop, the Kabbalah bookstore and salons, and close to Marlena Jayatilake’s spice and tea shop.
From New York Times • Jul. 5, 2022
Through a bizarre philosophy that wove Kabbalah, Gnosticism and Sabbatai’s ideas with worship of the Divine Mother, Frank believed he was achieving tikkun olam, the Jewish ideal of repairing the world.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2022
More importantly, he was inspired by the Kabbalah, a mystical tradition that became of greater popular interest early in this century after it was embraced by Madonna and other celebrities.
From Washington Post • Nov. 22, 2021
He wanted to drive the idea of studying Kabbalah from my mind.
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
