Hebrew

Verb

הִבְדִּיל • ‎(hivdíl) ‎(hif'il construction)

1. To separate.
   • Genesis 1:4, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאוֹר כִּי־טוֹב וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ׃‎

     vayár' 'elohím 'et-ha'ór ki-tóv vayavdél 'elohím béin ha'ór uvéin hakhóshekh.

     And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

2. To distinguish: to recognize or discern a difference, or to make a distinction.

   קשה להבדיל ביניהם.‎ ― 'kashé l'havdíl beinéhem. ― It is hard to tell them apart.

Conjugation

Related terms

• הֶבְדֵּל ‎(hevdél)
• הַבְדָּלָה ‎(havdalá)