Definition

1. Noun:
   • A possessing spirit in Jewish folklore: A "dibbuk" is a malevolent spirit or demon from Jewish mystical tradition that is believed to be the soul of a deceased person. It seeks to enter and possess the body of a living person, controlling their actions and behavior.
   • A concept of spiritual possession: The term specifically refers to the phenomenon of such a spirit attaching itself to a living host, often requiring a religious exorcism to be driven out.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The rabbi performed a ritual to exorcise the dibbuk from the tormented woman.
  • In the story, the character's sudden change in personality was attributed to a dibbuk.
  • The concept of the dibbuk is a common motif in Jewish folklore and literature.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural and literary context: The term is often used in discussions of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), folklore, and in literary or dramatic works that explore themes of possession, guilt, and unresolved spiritual matters.
  • The play "The Dybbuk" is a famous Yiddish theatrical work about spiritual possession.

Variants and Related Words

• Dybbuk: This is the more common alternate spelling of the word "dibbuk."
• Possession: The general state of being controlled by a spirit or demon.
• Exorcism: The ritual act of expelling a dibbuk or other possessing entity.

Synonyms

• Malevolent spirit
• Possessing demon
• Disembodied soul (in the specific context of seeking a host)

Idioms and Phrases

• To be possessed by a dibbuk: Used figuratively to describe someone acting in a wildly uncharacteristic or compulsive manner, as if controlled by an outside force.
  • After the shocking news, he acted as if possessed by a dibbuk, shouting and breaking things.

Noun

1. (Jewish folklore) a demon that enters the body of a living person and controls that body's behavior