# Possible explanation of

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-explanation-of/66129>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 21, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-explanation-of/66129 "2001-05-21T22:37:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nateJC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@nateJC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nateJC)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-explanation-of/66129/1 "2001-05-21T22:37:48Z")

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To comment on Cecil’s Sept. 11th, 1998 article [“What Does ‘kumbaya’ mean?”](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980911a.html), perhaps we should look to Hebrew to remedy our translation troubles:

“kumbaya” is very similar to the Hebrew words “kuma” meaning arise, “bo” meaning come, and “Yah” meaning God. So, in effect, we would have “Arise and come, Yah (God) my Lord.”

Just something to think about,  
Nate