''Amoraim'' (

Aramaic The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated in ...

: plural or , singular ''Amora'' or ''Amoray''; "those who say" or "those who speak over the people", or "spokesmen") refers to Jewish scholars of the period from about 200 to 500 CE, who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the

Oral Torah According to Rabbinic Judaism, the Oral Torah or Oral Law ( he, , Tōrā šebbəʿal-pe}) are those purported laws, statutes, and legal interpretations that were not recorded in the Five Books of Moses, the Written Torah ( he, , Tōrā šebbīḵ� ...

. They were primarily located in

Babylonia Babylonia (; Akkadian: , ''māt Akkadī'') was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Syria). It emerged as an Amorite-ruled state c. ...

and the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isra ...

. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the

Gemara The Gemara (also transliterated Gemarah, or in Yiddish Gemo(r)re; from Aramaic , from the Semitic root ג-מ-ר ''gamar'', to finish or complete) is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah w ...

. The ''Amoraim'' followed the ''

Tannaim ''Tannaim'' ( Amoraic Hebrew: תנאים , singular , ''Tanna'' "repeaters", "teachers") were the rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 10–220 CE. The period of the ''Tannaim'', also referred to as the Mis ...

'' in the sequence of ancient Jewish scholars. The ''Tannaim'' were direct transmitters of uncodified oral tradition; the ''Amoraim'' expounded upon and clarified the oral law after its initial codification.

The Amoraic era

The first Babylonian ''Amoraim'' were

Abba Arika Abba Arikha (175–247 CE; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: ; born: ''Rav Abba bar Aybo'', ), commonly known as Rav (), was a Jewish amora of the 3rd century. He was born and lived in Kafri, Asoristan, in the Sasanian Empire. Abba Arikha establishe ...

, respectfully referred to as ''Rav'', and his contemporary and frequent debate partner, Shmuel. Among the earliest ''Amoraim'' in Israel were Johanan bar Nappaha and Shimon ben Lakish. Traditionally, the Amoraic period is reckoned as seven or eight generations (depending on where one begins and ends). The last ''Amoraim'' are generally considered to be Ravina I and Rav Ashi, and Ravina II, nephew of Ravina I, who codified the

Babylonian Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cente ...

around 500 CE. In total, 761 amoraim are mentioned by name in the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds. 367 of them were active in the land of Israel from around 200-350 CE, while the other 394 lived in Babylonia during 200-500 CE. In the Talmud itself, the singular ''amora'' generally refers to a lecturer's assistant; the lecturer would state his thoughts briefly, and the ''amora'' would then repeat them aloud for the public's benefit, adding translation and clarification where needed.

Prominent Amoraim

The following is an abbreviated listing of the most prominent of the (hundreds of) ''Amoraim'' mentioned in the Talmud. More complete listings may be provided by some of the external links below. ''See also List of rabbis.''

First generation (approx. 230–250 CE)

* Abba Arikha (d. 247), known as ''Rav'', last ''Tanna'', first ''Amora''. Disciple of

Judah haNasi Judah ha-Nasi ( he, יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא‎, ''Yəhūḏā hanNāsīʾ‎''; Yehudah HaNasi or Judah the Prince) or Judah I, was a second-century rabbi (a tanna of the fifth generation) and chief redactor and editor of the ''Mis ...

. Moved from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia (219). Founder and Dean of the

Yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are s ...

Sura A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah ('' Al-K ...

. * Shmuel (d. 254), disciple of Judah haNasi's students and others. Dean of the Yeshiva at Nehardea. * Joshua ben Levi (early 3rd century), headed the school of

Lod Lod ( he, לוד, or fully vocalized ; ar, اللد, al-Lidd or ), also known as Lydda ( grc, Λύδδα), is a city southeast of Tel Aviv and northwest of Jerusalem in the Central District of Israel. It is situated between the lower Shephe ...

. *

Bar Kappara Bar Kappara ( he, בר קפרא) was a rabbi of the late 2nd and early 3rd century CE, during the period between the ''tannaim'' and ''amoraim''. He was active in Caesarea in the Land of Israel, from around 180 to 220 CE. His name, meaning "Son o ...

Second generation (approx. 250–290 CE)

* Rav Huna (d. 297), disciple of

Rav ''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi''. (For a more nuan ...

and Shmuel. Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura. *

Rav Yehudah Judah bar Ezekiel (220–299 CE) (Hebrew: יהודה בן יחזקאל); often known as Rav Yehudah, was a Babylonian amora of the 2nd generation. Biography Judah was the most prominent disciple of Rav, in whose house he often stayed, and whos ...

(d. 299), disciple of Rav and Shmuel. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita. *

Adda bar Ahavah Adda bar Ahavah or Adda bar Ahabah is the name of two Jewish rabbis and Talmudic scholars, known as Amoraim, who lived in Babylonia. The amora of the second generation Rav Adda bar Ahavah was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as a ...

, (3rd and 4th centuries), disciple of Rav. *

Hanan bar Rava Ḥanan bar Rava (חנן/חנא/חנין בר רב/א) or Ḥanan bar Abba (חנן בר א/בא) was a Talmudic sage and second-generation Babylonian Amora. He lived in Israel, moved to Babylonia with Abba b. Aybo, and died there ca. 290 CE. He ...

, disciple of Rav. *

Hillel, son of Gamaliel III Hillel, son of Gamaliel III, was a Jewish scholar in the 3rd century CE (second generation of amoraim). Biography He was son of Gamaliel III, brother of Judah II, and probably a pupil of his grandfather Judah I. Of his early history nothing i ...

(fl. early 3rd century), disciple and grandson of Judah haNasi, and younger brother of

Judah II Judah II or Nesi'ah I was a Jewish sage who lived in Tiberias in the Land of Israel, in the middle of the third century CE. He is mentioned in the classical works of Judaism's Oral Torah, the Mishnah and Talmud. There he is variously called "Jud ...

(Judah Nesiah). *

(fl. early 3rd century), disciple and grandson of Judah haNasi, and son and successor of Gamaliel III as

Nasi Nasi may refer to: Food Dishes Nasi Goreng is an Indonesian and Malay word for ''cooked rice'', featured in many Southeast Asian dishes *Nasi goreng, a popular rice dish often simply called ''nasi'' *Other Southeast Asian ''nasi'' dishes: **Nasi ...

. Sometimes called ''Rabbi Judah Nesi'ah'', and occasionally ''Rebbi'' like his grandfather. *

Resh Lakish Shim‘on ben Lakish ( he, שמעון בן לקיש; arc, שמעון בר לקיש ''Shim‘on bar Lakish'' or ''bar Lakisha''), better known by his nickname Reish Lakish (c. 200 — c. 275), was an amora who lived in the Roman province of Judae ...

(d. late 3rd century), Student of Rabbi Yochanan of Galilee, Rabbi Yannai and others, and colleague of Rabbi Yochanan. * Yochanan bar Nafcha (Rabbi Yochanan) (d. 279 or 289), disciple of Judah haNasi and Rabbi Yannai. Dean of the Yeshiva at

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Fo ...

. Primary author of the

Jerusalem Talmud The Jerusalem Talmud ( he, תַּלְמוּד יְרוּשַׁלְמִי, translit=Talmud Yerushalmi, often for short), also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud of the Land of Israel, is a collection of rabbinic notes on the second-century ...

. *

Samuel ben Nahman Samuel ben Nahman ( he, שמואל בן נחמן) or Samuel arNahmani ( he, שמואל �רנחמני) was a rabbi of the Talmud, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel from the beginning of the 3rd century until the beginning of the ...

Shila of Kefar Tamarta Rabbi Shila of Kefar Tamarta ( he, שילא איש כפר תמרתא) was a Jewish Talmudist from the Land of Israel, who lived in the 3rd century (third generation of amoraim). In the Jerusalem Talmud he is usually called by his personal name, ...

Isaac Nappaha Rabbi Isaac Nappaha (Hebrew ''Rabbi Yitzhak Nappaḥa'', רבי יצחק נפחא), or Isaac the smith, was a rabbi of the 3rd-4th centuries (second generation of Amoraim) who lived in the Galilee. Name He is found under the name "Nappaha" only in t ...

Anani ben Sason Rabbi Anani ben Sason (Hebrew: רבי ענני בר ששון; also called 'Anani, 'Inani, and 'Inyani) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in the Land of Israel in the third century (third generation of amoraim). Teachings He was a contemporary of R ...

Third generation (approx. 290–320 CE)

* Rabbah (d. 320), disciple of Rav Huna and

. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita. * Rav Yosef (d. 323), disciple of Rav Huna and Rav Yehudah. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita. *

Rav Zeira Rabbi Zeira ( he, רבי זירא), known before his semicha as Rav Zeira ( he, רב זירא) and known in the Jerusalem Talmud as Rabbi Ze'era ( he, רבי זעירא), was a Jewish Talmudist, of the third generation of amoraim, who lived in th ...

(Israel) * Rav Chisda (d. 309), disciple of Rav, Shmuel, and Rav Huna. Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura. *

Shimon ben Pazi Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, also known as Rabbi Simon, was an amora of the third generation. He was a student of Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. He is commonly called Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi in the Babylonian Talmud, and Rabbi Simon in the J ...

* Rav Sheshet *

Rav Nachman Rav Nachman bar Yaakov ( he, רב נחמן בר יעקב; died 320) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amora of the third generation. It is generally accepted that references to Rav Nachman in the Talmud refer to Rav Nach ...

(d. 320), disciple of Rav, Shmuel, and

Rabbah bar Avuha Rabbah bar Abuha (or Rabbah bar Avuha; he, רבה בר אבוה) was a Babylonian rabbi of the second generation of amoraim. Biography He was a student of Rav, and resided at Nehardea of Babylonia. He was the teacher and father-in-law of Rav Nac ...

. Did not head his own yeshiva, but was a regular participant in the discussions at the Yeshivot of Sura and

Mahuza Al-Mada'in ( ar, المدائن, , ; ) was an ancient metropolis situated on the Tigris, Tigris River in modern-day Iraq. It was located between the ancient royal centers of Ctesiphon and Seleucia, and was founded by the Sasanian Empire, Sassanid ...

. * Rabbi Abbahu (d. early 4th century), disciple of Rabbi Yochanan. Dean of the Yeshiva in

Caesarea Caesarea () ( he, קֵיסָרְיָה, ), ''Keysariya'' or ''Qesarya'', often simplified to Keisarya, and Qaysaria, is an affluent town in north-central Israel, which inherits its name and much of its territory from the ancient city of Caesare ...

. *

Hamnuna Hamnuna (Hebrew: המנונא) is the name of several rabbis from the period of the Talmud, among them: * Hamnuna Saba ("the elder"). Second generation Babylonian amora (mid third century CE). A pupil of Rav. After Rav, he became the head of th ...

— Several rabbis in the Talmud bore this name, the most well-known being a disciple of Shmuel (fl. late 3rd century). *

Judah III Judah III (or Nesi'ah II; Hebrew: יהודה נשיאה; יודן נשיאה), Yudan Nesiah, was a prominent Jewish sage, who held the office of ''Nasi'' of the ancient Jewish Sanhedrin between about 290 and 320 CE (fourth generation of amoraim). ...

(d. early 4th century), disciple of Rabbi Johanan bar Nappaha. Son and successor of Gamaliel IV as NASI, and grandson of Judah II. *

Rabbi Ammi Rabbi Ammi, Aimi, Immi (Hebrew: רבי אמי) is the name of several Jewish Talmudists, known as amoraim, who lived in the Land of Israel and Babylonia. In the Babylonian Talmud the first form only is used; in the Jerusalem Talmud all three forms ...

* Rabbi Assi *

Hanina ben Pappa Hanina ben Pappa ( he, חנינה בר פפא) was a Jewish Talmudist living in the Land of Israel, halakhist, and aggadist who flourished in the 3rd and 4th centuries (third generation of amoraim). His name is variously written "Ḥanina", "Han ...

Raba bar Rav Huna Rabbah bar Rav Huna was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the third generation (died 322). He was the son of Rav Huna, the head of the Academy of Sura. In the Talmudic Academy He was a man of true pietyShabbat 31 ...

Rami bar Hama Rami bar Hama (Hebrew: רמי בר חמא; ''Rami'' = ''R. Ami'') was a Babylonian amora of the third generation. Biography He was a pupil of Rav Chisda, and a fellow student of Rava, who was somewhat his junior. He frequently addressed questi ...

Rav Shmuel bar Yehudah Rav Shmuel bar Yehudah (Hebrew: רב שמואל בר יהודה) was a Babylonian amora of the third generation. Biography He was born to a family of converts, and studied under Rabbi Judah bar Ezekiel in Babylonia. Judah said of him that he re ...

* Rav Kruspedai (כרוספדאי; referred to in the Jerusalem Talmud as קריספא), student of Rabbi Yochanan.

Fourth generation (approx. 320–350 CE)

* Abaye (d. 339), disciple of Rabbah, Rav Yosef, and

. Dean of the Yeshiva in Pumbedita. * Abba b. Bizna, haggadist * Rava (d. 352), disciple of Rabbah, Rav Yosef, and Rav Nachman, and possibly Rabbi Yochanan. Dean of the Yeshiva at Mahuza. * Hillel II (fl. c. 360). Creator of the present-day

Hebrew calendar The Hebrew calendar ( he, הַלּוּחַ הָעִבְרִי, translit=HaLuah HaIvri), also called the Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today for Jewish religious observance, and as an official calendar of the state of Israel. I ...

. Son and successor as Nasi of Judah Nesiah, grandson of Gamaliel IV. * Abba the Surgeon *

Bebai ben Abaye Bevai bar Abaye ( arc, ) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the fourth and fifth amoraic generations (fourth century CE). Biography He was the son of the celebrated Abaye, and presiding judge in Pumbedita, wher ...

(fl. c. 4th century)

Fifth generation (approx. 350–371 CE)

Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak :''You might be looking for Nachman bar Huna or Nachman bar Yaakov.'' Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak (Hebrew: רב נחמן בר יצחק; died 356 CE) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fourth and fifth generations of amoraim. It is generally accepted tha ...

(d. 356), disciple of Abaye and Rava. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita. *

Rav Papa Rav Pappa ( he, רַב פַּפָּא) (c. 300 – died 375) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fifth generation of amoraim. Biography He was a student of Rava and Abaye. After the death of his teachers he founded a school at Naresh, a city near ...

(d. 371 or 375), disciple of Abaye and Rava. Dean of the Yeshiva at Naresh. * Rav Kahana, teacher of Rav Ashi * Rav Mesharshiya, student of Rava, son-in-law of Rav Kahana; colleague of Rav Papa. * Rav Hama * Rav Huna berai d'Rav Yehoshua

Sixth generation (approx. 371–427 CE)

* Rav Ashi (d. 427), disciple of Rav Kahana. Dean of the Yeshiva in Mata Mehasia. Primary redactor of the

. * Ravina I (d. 421), disciple of Abaye and Rava. Colleague of Rav Ashi in the Yeshiva at Mata Mehasia, where he assisted in the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.

Seventh generation (approx. 425–460 CE)

Mar bar Rav Ashi Mar bar Rav Ashi ( he, מר בר רב אשי), (d. 468) was Babylonian rabbi who lived in the 5th century (seventh generation of amoraim). He would sign his name as Tavyomi (or ''Tabyomi'', Hebrew: טביומי), which was either his first name or ...

Eighth generation (approx. 460–500 CE)

* Ravina II (d. 475 or 500), disciple of Ravina I and Rav Ashi. Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura. Completed the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.

Stammaim

''Stammaim'' is a term used by some modern scholars, such as David Weiss Halivni, for the rabbis who composed the anonymous (''stam'') statements and arguments in the Talmud, some of whom may have worked during the period of the ''Amoraim'', but who mostly made their contributions after the amoraic period. See also '' Savoraim''.

References

External links

Gemara in the Talmud Map
– University of Calgary
Jewish Encyclopedia article for Amora
{{Authority control 3 Chazal Articles which contain graphical timelines