The word "סליחה" (forgiveness) is very common in our daily lives—whether in actual apologies or in casual requests like "?סליחה, מה השעה" ("Excuse me, what time is it?"). The root "סל"ח" exists in ancient Hebrew and other Semitic languages. In Akkadian, it refers to the sprinkling of water for healing or purification, and it's possible that this is where the abstract meaning of forgiving sin and canceling punishment developed.
In the Jewish Bible, only God forgives (or has the power to forgive), as seen in the famous dialogue after the sin of the spies: "And Moses said to the Lord… 'סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה כְּגֹדֶל חַסְדֶּךָ…' ('Please forgive the sin of this people according to the greatness of Your loving-kindness...'). And the Lord said, 'I have forgiven as you have said'" (Numbers 14:13-20). In one of the well-known Psalms, forgiveness is explicitly portrayed as the exclusive domain of God: "כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא" ("For with You is forgiveness, so that You may be revered") (Psalms 130:4)—meaning: only You have the power to forgive, so that people may fear You. The word "תִּוָּרֵא" is the future tense form of "נורא" (awesome, revered), in the "nifal" form (like נולד – born, יוולד – will be born).
In the world of prayer, a special genre of prayers and hymns was created, centered on asking for forgiveness from God, called "סליחות" (Selichot). It is customary to recite these prayers during the month of Elul, the Ten Days of Repentance, and on fast days.
During the Middle Ages, the concept of "סליחה" expanded to human interactions. For example, the biblical expression "עמך הסליחה" (or "אתך הסליחה") is used in halakhic correspondences (responsa) as an apology—usually in the third person, such as "ועם האדון הסליחה" ("And with the master, forgiveness…"). In modern times, the word "סליחה" itself has become an apology, following the influence of European languages. Today, due to this influence, it is also used as a polite word to draw attention before asking a question or making a request.
A person who is inclined to forgive is called in Hebrew "סלחן" (forgiving), and the tendency to forgive is "סלחנות" (forgiveness). In prayers and hymns, the "סלחן" or "סולחן" is, of course, God. The corresponding biblical adjective is "סלָּח" (forgiving) on the same pattern as "קנָּא" (jealous, as in "אֵל קנָּא" – a jealous God).
The concept of "מחילה" (pardon) first appears in Second Temple literature, and unlike "סליחה", it is not exclusive to God. In many contexts, "מָחַל" means "to waive", as in "מָחַל על שטר החוב" (waived the debt), "מָחַל על כבודו" (waived his honor). In other contexts, the verb "מָחַל" is completely synonymous with "סָלַח"—both in the relationship between a person and God and between people themselves.
Various explanations have been proposed for the root of "מח"ל". Some suggest it is a development from "חל"ל" (making something profane, and thus permitted), as in Aramaic, there is scant documentation of the root "חל"ל" in the context of forgiveness. Another theory links "מח"ל" to the Arabic root "מה"ל", meaning gentleness and moderation. Others propose a connection to the related roots "מח"י" and "מח"ק", as "מחילה" is akin to the erasure and wiping out of sins.
In modern Hebrew, the common verb is "סָלַח", while "מָחַל" is used mainly in formal or literary language and in expressions like "מָחַל על כבודו" (waived his honor), "מָחוּל לך" (you are forgiven). Occasionally, the pair "סליחה ומחילה" is used for emphasis. This pairing comes from the language of prayer: "אבינו מלכנו כָּתְבֵנוּ בספר סליחה וּמחילה" ("Our Father, Our King, inscribe us in the Book of Forgiveness and Pardon").
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