Jahannam
In Islam, a term commonly used for Hell or a place of punishment in the afterlife. Interpretations of its nature and duration vary among Muslim traditions.
Glossary · J
Words that open a door to understanding.
Explore religious and spiritual terms beginning with the letter J. These concise entries provide context across Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and other traditions.
Alphabetical reference
Terms beginning with J
Definitions are written as introductory reference material. A term may carry different meanings in different communities, periods or languages.
Janna
An Islamic term for Paradise, often associated with nearness to God, peace and reward in the afterlife.
Jainism
An Indian religious tradition emphasizing nonviolence, disciplined conduct, care for living beings, karma and liberation from rebirth. Its teachings are associated with a succession of teachers, including Mahavira.
JEDP
An abbreviation sometimes used in discussions of the documentary hypothesis, an academic approach to studying the formation of the Pentateuch. See documentary hypothesis.
Jehovah
An English form historically used for the name of God represented by the Hebrew letters YHWH. Many contemporary scholars use forms such as Yahweh or simply refer to the divine name.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
A Christian movement that developed in the nineteenth century and is known for organized Bible study, public evangelism and distinctive teachings about God, Jesus, political neutrality and military participation.
Jerusalem
An ancient city regarded as sacred in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Its religious significance is connected with major historical sites and events remembered by all three traditions.
Jesus
The central figure of Christianity, known in historical and religious sources by forms including Yeshua. Christians understand Jesus in diverse ways, while Judaism and Islam place him within their own distinct religious frameworks.
Jesus Only Movement
A description associated with Oneness Pentecostal theology, which understands God as one and interprets Father, Son and Holy Spirit differently from Trinitarian Christianity.
Jewbu
An informal term for a person whose life or identity combines Jewish and Buddhist influences, whether through family background, conversion or personal practice.
Jewish Christians
A broad historical label for early followers of Jesus who retained aspects of Jewish identity and practice. The groups described by this label held varied views and should not be treated as a single uniform community.
Jewish Star
Another name for the Magen David, a six-pointed symbol widely associated with Jewish identity and communal life.
“Completed Jews”
A phrase used by some Christian groups for people who combine Jewish heritage or practice with belief in Jesus as Messiah. Because the wording can imply that Judaism is incomplete, many people consider it inappropriate and prefer more precise descriptions.
Jihad
An Arabic term meaning striving or exertion. In Islamic contexts it can refer to personal moral effort, collective effort for a just purpose or, in particular legal discussions, armed defense. Meaning depends on context and interpretation.
Jinn
In Islamic thought, an unseen class of beings described in the Qur’an and later traditions as distinct from humans. Accounts differ regarding their abilities, moral responsibility and relationship to the visible world.
Jnana
A Sanskrit word associated with knowledge or wisdom. It is used in several South Asian religious contexts, with its precise meaning shaped by the tradition in which it appears.
Jubu
An alternate form of Jewbu, an informal term describing a combination of Jewish and Buddhist influences.
Judaizers
A historical label used in Christian writings for groups or individuals thought to adopt Jewish practices or require them of other Christians. The term is context-dependent and can be polemical.
Judaism
A diverse religious and cultural tradition centered on covenant, Torah, interpretation, communal life and ethical responsibility. Jewish communities differ in theology, practice and cultural expression.
Messianic Judaism
A modern movement that combines elements of Jewish tradition with Christian belief in Jesus as Messiah. Jewish and Christian communities classify and understand the movement differently.
Judges
In the Hebrew Bible, leaders who are portrayed as guiding ancient Israel before the era of the monarchy. The term can also refer to the biblical book that records these narratives.
Justification
A Christian theological term concerning a person’s standing in relation to God. Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and other traditions explain its relationship to grace, faith, works, sacraments and transformation in different ways.
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Definitions become more useful when read alongside history, lived practice and the variety within each tradition.