brith

Brith is a transliteration variant of the Hebrew word brit (pronounced with a glottal stop), meaning covenant. In English-language Jewish contexts, the term is most closely associated with the concept of a covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people. The spelling Brith, Bris, and Brit all appear in different traditions and publications, reflecting variations in pronunciation and transliteration.

In common usage, Brith refers especially to Brit Milah, the ritual circumcision of a Jewish male infant. Brit Milah is traditionally performed on the eighth day after birth, provided the infant is in suitable health. The ceremony is conducted by a mohel and is regarded as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants. The rite typically includes blessings, the naming of the child, and communal celebration, though exact practices vary among denominations and families.

Beyond Brit Milah, the Hebrew brit appears in rabbinic literature to denote several covenants described in the Hebrew Bible, not solely the circumcision covenant. In modern English texts, the spelling Brith or Bris is often used as a variant of Brit, with the standard Hebrew-derived term Brit most common in scholarly writing. The different spellings reflect historical and linguistic differences rather than distinct meanings.

See also: Brit Milah, Bris, Covenant (Judaism).