Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, the Rambam teaches us the profound respect and awe we must have for the holy names of Hashem, as well as the physical structure of the Beis HaMikdash and sacred Torah writings. We learn the strict Torah prohibition against erasing or destroying any of the seven holy names of Hashem, which is derived from the warning not to do to Hashem what we are commanded to do to the idols of the non-Jews. The halachos outline which letters connected to the names carry this holiness, which abbreviations are protected, and how we must treat a holy name written on a utensil or even on a person's flesh.
We also learn about the severe prohibition against destroying any part of the Beis HaMikdash, such as removing a stone from the Mizbe'ach or the Azarah with destructive intent, or burning consecrated wood. The Rambam then guides us in the proper care for holy seforim and their commentaries, explaining when they must be buried and the unique, painful case of a Torah scroll written by a heretic, which must be burned to erase their memory.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
הל׳ א
אִסּוּר מְחִיקַת שֵׁם הַשֵּׁם מִן הַתּוֹרָהHalacha 1 · The Torah Prohibition Against Erasing the Holy Names of Hashem
כָּלAnyהַמְאַבֵּדwho destroysשֵׁםa nameמִןfromהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהַקְּדוֹשִׁיםthe holyהַטְּהוֹרִיםthe pureשֶׁנִּקְרָאthat is calledבָּהֶםby themהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heלוֹקֶהreceives lashesמִןfromהַתּוֹרָה.the Torahשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysבַּעֲבוֹדַתregarding worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsגמראGemaraשבתShabbosקכ120בb"וְאִבַּדְתֶּם"And you shall destroyאֶת—שְׁמָםtheir nameמִןfromהַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַהוּאthe thatלֹאnotתַעֲשׂוּןshall you doכֵּןsoלַה'to Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶם":your God"
This halacha establishes that erasing any of the holy names of Hashem is a Torah prohibition carrying the penalty of lashes.
הל׳ ב
אִסּוּר מְחִיקַת שִׁבְעָה שֵׁמוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם נִמְחָקִיםHalacha 2 · The Prohibition of Erasing Any of the Seven Sacred Names of Hashem
וְשִׁבְעָהAnd sevenשֵׁמוֹתnamesהֵם.they areהַשֵּׁםthe Nameהַנִּכְתָּבthat is writtenיוּ"דYudהֵ"אHehוָא"וVavהֵ"אHehוְהוּאand itהַשֵּׁםis the Nameהַמְפֹרָשׁ.Explicitאוֹorהַנִּכְתָּבthat is writtenאֲדֹנָי.Adonaiוְאֵל.and Elאֱלוֹהַּ.Eloahוֵאלֹהִים.and Elohimוֵאלֹהֵי.and Eloheiוְשַׁדַּי.and Shaddaiוּצְבָאוֹת.and Tzvaosכָּלanyהַמּוֹחֵקone who erasesאֲפִלּוּevenאוֹתletterאַחַתoneמִשִּׁבְעָהfrom sevenאֵלּוּtheseלוֹקֶה:receives lashes
This halacha lists the seven holy names of Hashem that are forbidden to be erased, establishing that erasing even a single letter from them incurs the penalty of lashes.
הל׳ ג
מְחִיקַת אוֹתִיּוֹת הַנִּטְפָּלוֹת לַשֵּׁםHalacha 3 · Erasing Letters Attached as Prefixes or Suffixes to the Divine Name
כָּלAnyהַנִּטְפָּלprefixלַשֵּׁםto the Nameמִלְּפָנָיוfrom before itמֻתָּרis permittedלְמָחֳקוֹto erase itכְּגוֹןsuch asלָמֶ"דthe lamedמִלַּיהוָֹהfrom the Nameוּבֵי"תand the beisמִבֵּאלֹהִיםfrom Elokimוְכַיּוֹצֵאand similarבָּהֶןto themאֵינָןthey are notכִּקְדֻשַּׁתlike the holiness ofהַשֵּׁם.the Nameוְכָלand anyהַנִּטְפָּלsuffixלַשֵּׁםto the Nameמֵאַחֲרָיוfrom after itכְּגוֹןsuch asךְ'the chafשֶׁלofאֱלֹהֶיךָElohechaוְכֶ"םand the chaf-memשֶׁלofאֱלֹהֵיכֶםEloheichemוְכַיּוֹצֵאand similarבָּהֶןto themאֵינָםare notנִמְחָקִיםerasedוַהֲרֵיand beholdהֵםtheyכִּשְׁאָרare like the rest ofאוֹתִיּוֹתthe lettersשֶׁלofשֵׁםthe Nameמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהַשֵּׁםthe Nameמְקַדְּשָׁם.sanctifies themוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשׁוּthey became sanctifiedוְאָסוּרand it is forbiddenלְמָחֳקָםto erase themהַמּוֹחֵקone who erasesאֵלּוּtheseהָאוֹתִיּוֹתlettersהַנִּטְפָּלוֹתthat are attachedאֵינוֹdoes notלוֹקֶה.receive lashesאֲבָלbutמַכִּיןthey strikeאוֹתוֹhimמַכַּתstripes ofמַרְדּוּת:rebelliousness
This halacha distinguishes between prefixes to God's Name, which may be erased, and suffixes, which are sanctified by the Name and may not be erased, though erasing them does not incur Torah-mandated lashes.
הל׳ ד
אִסּוּר מְחִיקַת אוֹתִיּוֹת מִן הַשֵּׁם הַקָּדוֹשׁHalacha 4 · The Prohibition of Erasing Letters Written from the Holy Names of Hashem
כָּתַבIf one wroteאָלֶ"ףalefלָמֶ"דlamedמֵאלֹהִים,from Elohimיוּ"דyudהֵ"אheyמֵיְהוָֹה,from Hashemאֵינוֹit is notנִמְחָק.erasedוְאֵיןand there is noצָרִיךְneedלוֹמַרto sayיָהּKahשֶׁהוּאwhich isשֵׁםa nameבִּפְנֵיonעַצְמוֹ.its ownמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁזֶּהthisהַשֵּׁםnameמִקְצָתpart ofשֵׁםthe ExplicitהַמְפֹרָשׁNameהוּא.isאֲבָלbutהַכּוֹתֵבone who writesשִׁי"ןshinדָּלֶ"תdaletמִשַּׁדַּי,from Shaddaiצַדִּ"יtzadiבֵּי"תbeisמִצְּבָאוֹת,from Tzvaosהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisנִמְחָק:may be erased
This halacha details which partial letters of the holy Names of Hashem are forbidden to be erased.
הל׳ ה
מְחִיקַת כִּנּוּיֵי הַשֵּׁם וּשְׁאָר כִּתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁHalacha 5 · Erasing Descriptive Titles of Hashem and Other Holy Writings
שְׁאָרThe rest ofהַכִּנּוּיִיןthe descriptive titlesשֶׁמְּשַׁבְּחִיןthat we praiseבָּהֶןwith themאֶת—הַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessed isהוּאHeכְּגוֹןsuch asחַנּוּןGraciousוְרַחוּםand Mercifulהַגָּדוֹלthe Greatהַגִּבּוֹרthe Mightyוְהַנּוֹרָאand the Awesomeהַנֶּאֱמָןthe FaithfulקַנֹּאJealousוְחָזָקand Strongוְכַיּוֹצֵאand likeבָּהֶןthemהֲרֵיbeholdהֵןthey areכִּשְׁאָרlike the rest ofכִּתְבֵיwritings ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe holinessוּמֻתָּרand it is permittedלְמָחֳקָן:to erase them
This halacha distinguishes between the actual names of Hashem, which may never be erased, and His descriptive attributes, which may be erased if necessary.
הל׳ ו
אִסּוּר מְחִיקַת הַשֵּׁם הַכָּתוּב עַל כְּלִי אוֹ עַל הַבָּשָׂרHalacha 6 · The Prohibition of Erasing the Name Written on a Utensil or on the Flesh
כְּלִיA utensilשֶׁהָיָהthat wasשֵׁםa Nameכָּתוּבwrittenעָלָיוupon itקוֹצֵץone cuts offאֶת—מְקוֹםthe place ofהַשֵּׁםthe Nameוְגוֹנְזוֹ.and buries itוַאֲפִלּוּAnd evenהָיָהif wasהַשֵּׁםthe Nameחָקוּקengravedבִּכְלֵיon a utensil ofמַתָּכוֹתmetalsאוֹorבִּכְלֵיon a utensil ofזְכוּכִיתglassוְהִתִּיךְand he meltedהַכְּלִיthe utensilהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneלוֹקֶהis lashedאֶלָּאratherחוֹתֵךְhe cuts offאֶת—מְקוֹמוֹits placeוְגוֹנְזוֹ.and buries itוְכֵןAnd likewiseאִםifהָיָהwasשֵׁםa Nameכָּתוּבwrittenעַלuponבְּשָׂרוֹhis fleshהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneלֹאshall notיִרְחַץwashוְלֹאand shall notיָסוּךְanointוְלֹאand shall notיַעֲמֹדstandבִּמְקוֹםin a place ofהַטִּנֹּפֶת.filthנִזְדַּמְּנָהIf happenedלוֹto himטְבִילָהan immersionשֶׁלofמִצְוָהa mitzvahכּוֹרֵךְhe windsעָלָיוupon itגֶּמִיreedsוְטוֹבֵל.and immersesוְאִםand ifלֹאnotמָצָאhe foundגֶּמִיreedsמְסַבֵּבhe wrapsבִּבְגָדָיוwith his garmentsוְלֹאbut notיְהַדֵּקshall he tightenכְּדֵיsoשֶׁלֹּאthat notיָחֹץ.it will interveneשֶׁלֹּאfor notאָמְרוּdid they sayלִכְרֹךְto windעָלָיוupon itאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאָסוּרthat it is forbiddenלַעֲמֹדto standבִּפְנֵיbeforeהַשֵּׁםthe Nameכְּשֶׁהוּאwhen he isעָרֹם:naked
This halacha details the prohibition of destroying God's Name when written on utensils or on one's body, and the proper procedures for handling such situations.
הל׳ ז
אִסּוּר נְתִיצַת אֶבֶן מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַHalacha 7 · The Prohibition of Demolishing a Stone from the Temple or the Altar
הַסּוֹתֵרOne who demolishesאֲפִלּוּevenאֶבֶןstoneאַחַתoneדֶּרֶךְby way ofהַשְׁחָתָהdestructionמִןfromהַמִּזְבֵּחַthe altarאוֹorמִןfromהַהֵיכָלthe Sanctuaryאוֹorמִשְּׁאָרfrom the rest ofהָעֲזָרָהthe courtyardלוֹקֶהreceives lashesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבַּעֲבוֹדַתregarding worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsשמותShemosלד34יג13"כִּי"Forאֶת—מִזְבְּחֹתָםtheir altarsתִּתֹּצוּן"you shall tear down"וְכָתוּבand it is writtenדבריםDevarimיב12ד4"לֹא"Do notתַעֲשׂוּןdoכֵּןsoלַה'to Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶם".your God"וְכֵןAnd likewiseהַשּׂוֹרֵףone who burnsעֲצֵיwoods ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe Sanctuaryדֶּרֶךְby way ofהַשְׁחָתָהdestructionלוֹקֶהreceives lashesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimיב12ג3"וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם"and their Asherah treesתִּשְׂרְפוּןyou shall burnבָּאֵשׁ"with fire"וּכְתִיבand it is writtenלֹאDo notתַעֲשׂוּןdoכֵּןsoלַה'to Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶם:your God
This halacha teaches that destroying any part of the Beis HaMikdash or its altar, as well as burning consecrated wood destructively, is strictly forbidden and incurs lashes.
הל׳ ח
אִסּוּר הַשְׁמָדַת כִּתְבֵי קֹדֶשׁ וְדִין סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה שֶׁכָּתַב אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסHalacha 8 · The Prohibition of Destroying Sacred Texts and the Law of a Torah Scroll Written by a Heretic
כִּתְבֵיWritings ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe holinessכֻּלָּןall of themוּפֵרוּשֵׁיהֶןand their commentariesוּבֵאוּרֵיהֶןand their explanationsאָסוּרit is forbiddenלְשָׂרְפָםto burn themאוֹorלְאַבְּדָםto destroy themבַּיָּדby handוְהַמְאַבְּדָןand the one who destroys themבַּיָּדby handמַכִּיןwe strikeאוֹתוֹhimמַכַּתlashes ofמַרְדּוּת.rebelliousnessבַּמֶּהIn whatדְּבָרִיםwordsאֲמוּרִיםare saidבְּכִתְבֵיregarding writings ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe holinessשֶׁכְּתָבָםthat wrote themיִשְׂרָאֵלa Jewבִּקְדֻשָּׁהwith holinessאֲבָלButאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסa hereticיִשְׂרָאֵלJewשֶׁכָּתַבwho wroteסֵפֶרa scroll ofתּוֹרָהTorahשׂוֹרְפִיןwe burnאוֹתוֹitעִםwithהָאַזְכָּרוֹתthe Divine Namesשֶׁבּוֹ.that are in itמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאֵינוֹthat he does notמַאֲמִיןbelieveבִּקְדֻשַּׁתin the holiness ofהַשֵּׁםthe Nameוְלֹאand notכְּתָבוֹdid he write itלִשְׁמוֹfor Its sakeאֶלָּאratherשֶׁהוּאthat heמַעֲלֶהraisesבְּדַעְתּוֹin his mindשֶׁזֶּהthat thisכִּשְׁאָרis like the rest ofהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsוְהוֹאִילand sinceוְדַעְתּוֹand his mindכֵּןis soלֹאnotנִתְקַדֵּשׁwas sanctifiedהַשֵּׁם.the Nameוּמִצְוָהand it is a mitzvahלְשָׂרְפוֹto burn itכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notלְהַנִּיחַto leaveשֵׁםa nameלָאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסִיםto the hereticsוְלֹאand notלְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם.to their deedsאֲבָלButעוֹבֵדa worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsשֶׁכָּתַבwho wroteאֶת—הַשֵּׁםthe Nameגּוֹנְזִיןwe buryאוֹתוֹ.itוְכֵןand likewiseכִּתְבֵיwritings ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe holinessשֶׁבָּלוּthat became worn outאוֹorשֶׁכְּתָבָןthat wrote themעוֹבֵדa worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsיִגָּנְזוּ:shall be buried
This halacha details the prohibition against destroying holy writings and explains the differing laws for scrolls written by Jewish heretics versus non-Jews.
הל׳ ט
קְדֻשַּׁת שְׁמוֹת הַשֵּׁם הַכְּתוּבִים בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִיםHalacha 9 · The Sanctity of Divine Names Written in Specific Biblical Passages
כָּלAllהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהָאֲמוּרִיםsaidבְּאַבְרָהָםconcerning Avrahamקֹדֶשׁare sacredאַףevenזֶהthisשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרwhich is saidבראשיתBereishisיח18ג3"אֲדֹנָי"My LordאִםifנָאpleaseמָצָאתִיI have foundחֵן"favor"הֲרֵיbeholdהוּאitקֹדֶשׁ.is sacredכָּלAllהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהָאֲמוּרִיםsaidבְּלוֹטconcerning Lotחֹלare non-sacredחוּץexceptמִזֶּהfrom thisגמראGemaraשבועותShevuosלה35ב2"אַל"Do notנָאpleaseאֲדֹנָיmy Lordהִנֵּהbeholdנָאpleaseמָצָאhas foundעַבְדְּךָyour servantחֵן".favor"כָּלAllהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהָאֲמוּרִיםsaidבְּגִבְעַתconcerning the hill ofבִּנְיָמִיןBinyaminקֹדֶשׁ.are sacredכָּלAllהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהָאֲמוּרִיםsaidבְּמִיכָהconcerning Michahחֹל.are non-sacredכָּלAllהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe namesהָאֲמוּרִיםsaidבְּנָבוֹתconcerning Navotקֹדֶשׁ.are sacredכָּלEveryשְׁלֹמֹהShelomohהָאָמוּרsaidבְּשִׁירin the Song ofהַשִּׁירִיםSongsקֹדֶשׁis sacredוַהֲרֵיand beholdהוּאitכִּשְׁאָרis like otherהַכִּנּוּיִיןdescriptive termsחוּץexceptמִזֶּהfrom thisשירSong ofהשיריםSongsח8יב12"הָאֶלֶף"The thousandלְךָfor youשְׁלֹמֹה".Shelomoh"כָּלEveryמַלְכַיָּאkingהָאָמוּרsaidבְּדָנִיֵּאלin Danielחֹלis non-sacredחוּץexceptמִזֶּהfrom thisדניאלDanielב2לז37"אַנְתְּ"YouמַלְכָּאO kingמֶלֶךְKing ofמַלְכַיָּא"kings"וַהֲרֵיand beholdהוּאitכִּשְׁאָרis like otherהַכִּנּוּיִין:descriptive terms
This halacha clarifies which occurrences of the names of God, Shelomoh, and King in specific biblical narratives are sacred and which are non-sacred.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The chapter begins by identifying the seven holy names of Hashem that may never be erased, detailing the status of prefixes, suffixes, and partial names, while distinguishing them from other descriptive praises of Hashem which may be erased. The Rambam rules on how to handle a holy name written on a utensil or on one's skin, and details the Torah prohibition against destroying any part of the Beis HaMikdash or burning consecrated wood. Finally, the halachos address the prohibition of destroying sacred texts, the requirement to bury worn-out seforim or those written by non-Jews, the mitzvah to burn a Torah scroll written by a Jewish heretic, and a detailed guide clarifying which ambiguous names in Tanach are kadosh and which are chol.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
When we learn about the severe prohibition of erasing or destroying Hashem’s holy names, it is easy to think of this as a technical law reserved only for Sofrim (scribes) or those handling worn-out sefarim. But the Rambam reveals a profound principle of kedushah here: the letters that are attached to the end of Hashem's name, like the "chaf" in "Elohecha" (your G-d), become holy themselves simply because they are connected to the Name. The Rambam writes, "the name conveys holiness upon them."
Think about what this means for you. If ink on parchment becomes so holy that it is forbidden to erase it just because it is attached to Hashem's name, how much more does this apply to a Jewish neshama? You are connected to Hashem. Your very existence is bound up with His name. Because of that connection, you possess an inherent, untouchable holiness. Every mitzvah you do, every word of Torah you speak, and every moment you spend striving to do His will attaches you even closer to Him, elevating your entire physical being.
This awareness must also transform how we look at our fellow Yidden. Every single Jew is connected to the Creator. When you see another person, you are looking at someone who carries a spark of the Divine, someone whose very essence is "attached to the Name." Just as we would never treat a holy name of Hashem with disrespect or carelessness, we must treat every single Yid with the utmost reverence, love, and sensitivity, recognizing the kedushah that rests upon them.
Today, when you speak to or about another person, pause for a moment before you react or speak, and remind yourself: "This person is connected to Hashem; I must treat them with the same respect and care that I would show to a holy sefer Torah."