What does cabbala mean?
Cabbala is an alternative spelling of Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical tradition that seeks hidden meanings in the Hebrew scriptures and describes the structure of the divine and the universe through symbols such as the Tree of Life. Emerging in medieval Provence and Spain, it became central to Jewish spirituality and was later absorbed by Christian scholars during the Renaissance, who adapted it into their own esoteric systems. In modern usage, the word can refer specifically to this Jewish mysticism or, more loosely, to any secret or arcane body of knowledge. It carries strong connotations of mystery, initiation, and concealed wisdom, appearing most often in academic, historical, and literary writing. Related forms include cabbalist, cabbalistic, and cabbalism, all pointing to practitioners and adherents of these mystical doctrines.
nounA body of Jewish mystical teachings developed from the medieval interpretation of the Torah and other scriptures; also, more loosely, any esoteric or occult tradition or secret doctrine.
- Jewish mystical tradition: the esoteric system of interpreting scripture and the universe developed in medieval Judaism
- Any secret or occult body of knowledge or doctrine regarded as mysterious or reserved for initiates
"He spent years studying the cabbala in search of the hidden meanings beneath the Hebrew text."
"Her grandfather taught her the cabbala, decoding the letters of the Torah for hidden meanings."
"The alchemist's notebooks were filled with diagrams borrowed from the cabbala and other arcane traditions."
Rarely pluralized; the word usually denotes a single unified tradition, though the plural may appear when distinguishing different schools or spellings of the tradition.
"Scholars compared the various cabbalas practiced across medieval Spain and Provence."
The same Hebrew root that gives us 'cabbala' also gave us the word 'cabal' — so every conspiracy theory owes its name to Jewish mysticism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cabbala
Cabbala derives from Hebrew qabbālāh, literally 'receiving' or 'tradition passed down by reception', from the root q-b-l meaning to receive or accept. The term entered European languages in the late medieval period as Christian Hebraists encountered Jewish mystical texts, spreading into Latin, Italian, French, English, German, and Spanish under various spellings. Its Arabic cognate qibla ('direction of prayer') shares the same Semitic root, and the English word 'cabal' ultimately traces back to the Hebrew source via French cabale.
Related word forms
How cabbala is actually used
'Cabbala' is one of several accepted spellings, alongside 'Kabbalah', 'Cabala' and 'Qabbalah'; the spelling often signals the tradition emphasized (Jewish, Christian, or Hermetic). The word carries connotations of mystery, hidden knowledge, and scholarly depth, and appears mostly in academic, historical, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with cabbala
A 'cabal' is a small secretive political faction, while 'cabbala' refers to Jewish mystical doctrine; both share the same Hebrew root but have entirely different meanings.
A 'cannula' is a thin medical tube inserted into the body, whereas 'cabbala' is a system of mystical religious teaching — the words merely sound somewhat alike.