Definition

1. Noun:
   • A possessing spirit in Jewish folklore: A dybbuk is a malicious or restless spirit from Jewish mythology that is believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person. It seeks to possess the body of a living person, attaching itself to the host's soul to control their behavior, often to fulfill an unfulfilled purpose or to escape punishment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The rabbi performed an exorcism to drive the dybbuk out of the young woman.
  • According to the legend, a dybbuk can only be expelled through a complex religious ceremony.
  • The play "The Dybbuk" by S. Ansky is a famous dramatization of this folklore concept.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural and Literary Context: The term is used almost exclusively within discussions of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), folklore, and related literature or drama. It represents themes of unresolved trauma, possession, and the boundary between life and death.
  • The concept of the dybbuk explores profound questions about guilt, repentance, and the afterlife.

Variants and Related Words

• Dibbuk: An alternative, common spelling of the same word.
• Possession: The general state of being controlled by a spirit, which includes but is not limited to a dybbuk.
• Exorcism: The ritual act of expelling a dybbuk or other possessing entity.

Synonyms

• Possessing spirit: A general term for an entity that takes control of a living being.
• Malevolent spirit: An evil spirit, which can describe the nature of a dybbuk.

Related Idioms or Phrases

(There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically formed with the word "dybbuk" due to its highly specific cultural and noun-based nature.)

Noun

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