kabbalah

noun, often capitalized kab·ba·lah \ kə-ˈbä-lə , ˈka-bə-lə \

variants: or less commonly kabbala or kabala or cabala or cabbala or cabbalah

|Updated on: 4 May 2018

Definition of kabbalah

1 : a medieval and modern system of Jewish theosophy, mysticism, and thaumaturgy marked by belief in creation through emanation and a cipher method of interpreting Scripture

2 a : a traditional, esoteric, occult, or secret matter

b : esoteric doctrine or mysterious art

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kabbalism

play \ˈkä-bə-ˌli-zəm, ˈka-\ noun

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kabbalistic

play \ˌkä-bə-ˈli-stik, ˌka-\ adjective

Recent Examples of kabbalah from the Web

Gershom Scholem, the pioneering scholar of kabbalah, was one of many public intellectuals who felt that Arendt had lost track of the human reality of the Holocaust amid the scintillating twists of her argument.

— george prochnik, New York Times, "The Philosopher in Dark Times," 12 Apr. 2018
While Isaac Luria expounded the kabbalah following the expulsion from Spain, Joseph Caro updated the practical application of halakhah in the Shulchan Aruch code of laws (1563).

— dominic green, WSJ, "‘A History of Judaism’ Review: The Book of Books," 30 Mar. 2018
Incarcerated, not so much for his libidinous ways, but for gambling, cheating tourists, his flagrant libertinism in the face of the Venetian Inquisition, and his heretical interests in alchemy and the kabbalah.

— gaile robinson, star-telegram, "Kimbell’s ‘Casanova’ follows the seducer’s trail through Europe – adult-only art and all," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kabbalah.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.