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Glite Dictionary
📜 Relating to Zevi 🧑‍🦱 A Zevi follower
Sabbatean

Sabbatean

1 9.9
About Sabbatai Zevi, his followers, or their belief that he was the Messiah
  • adjective
  • /ˌsæbəˈtiːən/
: sabbateo
  • The Sabbatean movement caused significant upheaval in Jewish communities during the seventeenth century.

Examples

  • The Sabbatean doctrines were controversial and led to divisions among religious leaders.

  • Some historians study the Sabbatean influence on later mystical traditions.

  • The Sabbatean movement gained many followers in the 17th century.

  • Many Sabbatean practices were considered controversial at the time.

  • The Sabbatean beliefs represented a radical shift in the Jewish faith during the 17th century.

  • Many scholars explore the Sabbatean practices that emerged after the teachings of Sabbatai Zevi.

  • The Sabbatean interpretations of scripture were often viewed as heretical by traditional Jewish authorities.

Surface Forms

Sabbatean positive

Morphology

Sabbatean = Sabbatai (transparent) = Sabbatai + an

Formed by the standard denominal/adjectival suffix '-an' attached to the proper name 'Sabbatai', a transparent morphological process though the referent is historically specific and may be unknown to learners.

Etymology

Sabbatean comes from the name Sabbatai, which in turn comes from the Hebrew Shabbat meaning 'Sabbath'. It refers to things connected with Sabbatai Zevi, the 17th-century man who said he was the Messiah, so Sabbatean means 'related to Sabbatai's teachings or practices'.