I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards.
My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.
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How would you like to read the Psalms in the original Hebrew? Wouldn’t it be fantastic to hear the Psalms the way Jesus heard them? Here’s a way you can – even if you don’t know Hebrew!
Israel365 publishes the Israel Bible Book of Psalms. They’re an organization that partners with Christians to connect those who know God’s heart for Israel with a practical way to support this precious Nation. As we watch prophecy unfold in the Jewish peoples’ return to Israel, we unfortunately also see them experience hardship in their return to the Land.
Violence and persecution mark what should be a joyous reunion, but Israel365 is helping to make the return to Israel easier for the Jewish people. Holocaust survivors and their families, children, widows, and others are the recipients of aid provided by Israel365. Israel365 also provides a dependable source for Israeli news and other ways for Christians to support Israel.
The Book of Psalms
I love the Hebrew language and feel strongly that Christians should strive to study it, but it can be difficult and time-consuming to learn a new language. We are so blessed to live in a time when we have access to technology that makes it easier to understand the Bible’s original languages, such as Blue Letter Bible and Bible Hub.
The Book of Psalms is another resource that allows you to read the Bible in its original language – without knowing Hebrew! It’s a unique book that contains the Hebrew, English translation, and English pronunciation of the Hebrew for the entire Book of Psalms. The pronunciation (transliteration) will have you reading the Psalms in Hebrew immediately, even if you don’t know any Hebrew at all!
Like others published by Israel365, this book is of high quality, with clear fonts and Hebrew vowel pointing, so it’s also valuable to those new to Hebrew. The chapter divisions are clear, with chapter numbers in both English and Hebrew. There’s also a chart of the Hebrew alphabet at the front of the book so the reader can learn as they read through the Psalms.
This book makes a remarkable gift to anyone who loves the Bible, a Hebrew student, or even a fluent Hebrew speaker! It would be an excellent devotional, an aid to verse memorization, or a way to practice reading in Hebrew.
I have many books on the Bible and many that contain Hebrew, but this is on my list of favorites! What a beautiful way to study the poetry of the Psalms!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Learning the Hebrew language will be a significant benefit when you incorporate your Hebrew roots into your Christian faith, and here are the reasons I say that. The list of advantages of learning Hebrew is endless!
Most of us lead healthy and full lives, making it challenging to add learning a new language to our schedules. Hebrew is very different from English, and it can be intimidating to tackle because of that. For starters, the letters are different! It’s also a language with sounds we don’t even make when speaking English!
But English speakers can and do learn Hebrew, even if we have little time to spare. I have been increasing my knowledge of Hebrew over the last ten years while also managing a large family, raising little ones, and homeschooling. It’s tough, but it can be done, and here are a few things I’ve used that may help you.
Biblical Hebrew or Modern Hebrew?
When seeking to learn Hebrew, you’ll find two basic categories – Biblical and Modern Hebrew. Biblical focuses on the words and language used in the Bible, and Modern is the language spoken in Israel today. While both have significant benefits, deciding which of these to concentrate on will accelerate you toward your goals. Biblical Hebrew will aid in Bible study, which is the goal of most Christians when they set out to learn Hebrew. Focus on Biblical or Modern and target your studies in whichever area you choose.
Take Small Bites
Even when you’re very busy, you have a few minutes here and there in your day. Just like many things, daily discipline will lead to new habits. Studying even a small amount of Hebrew daily will keep it at the forefront of your mind and significantly increase your chances of remembering what you learn.
Make daily goals for yourself. For example, make a goal to practice your Hebrew flashcards daily or do one lesson from your Hebrew book daily. Discipline yourself to keep up with your goal in the same way you keep up with your Bible study or even your laundry. You’ll be impressed with the results over time!
Prioritize
Also, like other things in life, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. There are (and should be) many more important things in your day than learning Hebrew, but if it has no place in your life, you won’t progress in your understanding of it. Put studying Hebrew on your to-do list or plan it into your daily routine.
Many people say they don’t have time for things they want to do in life but spend plenty of time playing video games, watching TV, or browsing social media. These things aren’t negative in and of themselves, but they do tend to be time-suckers, activities that can absorb hours and take available time away from the more important and beneficial things in life. Make yourself study Hebrew for a certain amount of time or get a specific amount done before entertainment or social media, and you’ll find it easier to accomplish your Hebrew learning goals!
Use Apps
Since we all have our phones on us almost always, it’s convenient to use an app for at least the basics of the Hebrew language. Here are a few I’ve used. Most are free or of little cost.
Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary (Biblical Hebrew) – This free app covers the most commonly used words in the Old Testament. It’s simple and easy to use. It’s like having digital flashcards; you can even put the cards you need to review back in the “pile.”
Daily Dose of Hebrew (Biblical) – Here’s another free app with outstanding video lessons progressing from the very beginner level of Hebrew and advancing quickly, yet logically.
Rosetta Stone (Modern) – Access to this app comes with a paid online subscription. It uses the immersion method of teaching language and is very user-friendly.
Duolingo (Modern) – Another app using the immersion method is free and includes badges and rewards, which work well for motivating older children.
Drops (Modern) – This is a fun and free app with short (5-minute) daily lessons that cover essential Hebrew words.
Nemo Hebrew (Modern) – This free app teaches commonly used Hebrew words and phrases. The student chooses daily goals, and the app has reminders to help reach those goals.
I’ve learned so much and enjoyed taking courses through the Israel Institute. They offer classes in Biblical languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) and Biblical studies through the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with degree and non-degree options. Their courses meet weekly online and have homework throughout the week. This class is more of a time commitment than other options, but it’s SO worth it! If you are busy, you must manage your time well to ensure you keep up. I do some homework daily to stay current on the lessons, even in my busy life.
Each Messianic Synagogue I’ve been to has quite a bit of Hebrew speaking during the service and otherwise. Much of what you’ll hear there is repeated each week, so you’ll not only hear it spoken but also start to familiarize yourself with the words and their meanings, even if you don’t purposely set aside the time to do so. You almost can’t avoid learning some Hebrew if you hang around Messianic synagogues long enough!
Practice Reading the Bible in Hebrew
A great way to do this is with an interlinear translation. I have this one, which has a Hebrew Old Testament and a Greek New Testament. It’s a handy tool for both study and practice.
I recommend the Blue Letter Bible app for a more portable option, a resource I use almost daily. Having it on my phone makes it easy to quickly look up Hebrew and Greek words and read along with the Hebrew and Greek. After downloading the app, choose the “Manage Bible” option and pair the Hebrew Old Testament/Greek New Testament (WLC/WH) with your favorite English translation. Click on a verse or word for more study options.
Teach Someone Else
When I first learned Hebrew, I taught my older children what I was learning. As my level of Hebrew surpassed theirs, I continued to help them as they learned levels below mine. Teaching as I learned helped the basics to solidify in my mind, even as the material was quite primary. Teaching others also encourages me to keep up with my Hebrew. As they do their daily lessons, I am both reminded and inspired to keep up on my own.
Listen to Hebrew Speakers
While learning to read, write, and speak is essential to learning a new language, hearing it spoken is also necessary. You can read about pronouncing a word or forming a specific sound, but there’s no substitute for hearing a native Hebrew speaker speak.
Rosetta Stone incorporates this into their curriculum, but there are other ways to hear it. Search YouTube for people speaking in Hebrew or find a movie in Hebrew to watch. My children watch children’s shows, nursery rhymes, etc., in Hebrew, which helps us all in our studies!
Like everything in your life, especially if you’re learning Hebrew to aid your Bible study, bring it to God. Ask Him to show you where to make time for your Hebrew studies and what methods are available. Ask for the wisdom to retain and apply your knowledge to His glory.
Although it can seem daunting at first glance, learning the Hebrew language is achievable, even in our full and busy lives. It takes discipline and focus in the long term, but the rewards are great! Here’s the link to my Hebrew resources page for more. Get started today!
Here is a book I’ve used to study Biblical Hebrew. I like it because it starts at the very beginning level but has a logical progression through the steps necessary to achieve understanding quickly.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Learning the Hebrew language is of great value to Christians in their study of the Bible. It helps us to better understand the Old Testament (and some New Testament) scriptures, which can ultimately lead to a deeper relationship with the God of the Bible Himself!
When studying Biblical Hebrew, students often concentrate on learning the words most commonly used in the Bible to aid in interpreting the texts. Familiarizing yourself with these 20 words will get your Hebrew reading skills off to a great start!
Note when you see Hebrew words below that Hebrew is read from right to left. I included pronunciation in parentheses for all Hebrew words to help sound them out.
The: הַ (pronounced ha)
Unsurprisingly, “the” is the most commonly used word in Biblical Hebrew, as it is the most frequently used in English. What’s interesting about “the” in Hebrew is its placement. It does not stand alone but is a prefix to the attached noun.
Side note: A common use of this word is in the name of our Savior himself! In Hebrew, it’s Yeshua Hamashiach, where “Yeshua” means Jesus and “Hamashiach” means “the Messiah” or, more literally, “the anointed one.”
2. And: וְ (vuh)
Like “the,” the Hebrew word for “and” doesn’t stand alone. It’s attached to the word it precedes but functions like “and” in English.
For example: In Genesis 1:2, “And darkness” is וְהֹשֶׁךְ (vuh-ho-shekh), just one word.
In Genesis 1:2, we also find the phrase “and the earth,” which shows us another neat thing about the Hebrew language. We can combine prefixes to make a single word from this phrase. The Hebrew word replacing “and the earth” is וְהָאָרֶץ (vuh-ha-ah-retz), where “ah-retz” means earth.
These four letters together are known as the Tetragrammaton or the Tetragram.
Example: This is the word used as the name of God in Exodus 3:15 when God tells Moses to tell the Israelites who sent him (Moses). It’s the 3rd person version of “I AM” (Ex. 3:14), so it’s more literally “He is”.
God giving Moses the 3rd person version of His name eliminated the confusion the Israelites would have had when Moses told them who sent him. On the other hand, can you picture the conversation that would have been if God hadn’t given Moses the 3rd person alternative? The “He is” instead of just the “I AM”? Israelites: “So, Moses. Who sent you?” Moses: “I am”. Israelites: “Wait, what? You are what? I said who sent you?” And so on. That always makes me laugh. But don’t you love how God equips Moses with precisely what he needs for the job? You need a name? Here it is. You need a name to tell others? Here’s that, too.
4. God or gods: אֱלֹהִים (e-lo-heem)
Another word for God, Elohim, could also mean gods in general. It’s a lot like the English word “god” since it could mean just any god or THE God.
Example: From Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God (אֱלֹהִים Elohim) created the the heavens and the earth”.
5. King: מֶלֶךְ (meh-lekh)
One unique and exciting thing that significantly helps in understanding Hebrew is the concept of root words. A root, usually consisting of three Hebrew letters, gives you a clue into the word’s meaning. Related words typically have the same root.
For example: While מֶלֶךְ (meh-lekh) means “king,” מָלַךְ (ma-lock) means “to reign” or “he reigns”. And from that same root, the letters מ and ל, and כ (which becomes ך when at the end of a word) also make up מַלְכָּה (mall-kah), which means “queen” and מַלְכוּת (mal-khoot), meaning “kingdom.”
“Then the king (מֶלֶךְ meh-lekh) said to her, “What is troubling you, Esther, the queen (מַלְכָּה mall-kah)? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom (מַּלְכוּת mal-khoot), it shall be given to you.” Esther 5:3
This one’s pretty straight forward, but important since it’s used a lot in the Hebrew Bible.
Example: “Hear, O Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל Yis-ray-el)…” Deut. 6:4
7. To, for, or in regard to: לְ (luh)
Like the Hebrew words for “the” and “and,” this word is also a prefix attached to the word it precedes. Note in the below verse that the vowel pointing (tiny dots or marks) under the letter in this word changes when attached to certain words.
Note: אֶל (el) can also be used as “to” or “toward”. While it’s sometimes interchangeable with the prefix לְ (luh), this word appears by itself rather than as a prefix.
Examples: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes (לָעֵינַיִם luh-ae-nah-yeem)…” Gen. 3:6
8. From: מִן (meen)
This word can stand alone or be used as a prefix. It’s מִן when by itself, but when attached to another word, the letter ן (noon) drops off and appears as a dot (dagesh) in the word it connects to. A third way this word can appear is as a prefix with different vowel pointing – מֵ.
Example: “So Abram went up from Egypt (מִמִּצְרַיִם mee-meets-rah-yeem) to the Negev…”. Gen. 13:1
9. Which or that: אֲשֶׁר (ah-share)
While certainly not one of the more exciting words in the Bible, this one is used quite often. Whether it’s translated as “which” or “that” depends on the translation and context.
Example: “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that (אֲשֶׁר ah-share) he had done in creation” Gen. 2:3
10. All or whole: כֹּל (coal)
Here’s another word you’ll find frequently in the Hebrew Bible; its meaning is pretty straightforward. It’s usually attached to the word it precedes with a hyphen, and the vowel markings change when connected to a word.
Example: “And the whole congregation (כָּל־עֲדַת coal adat) of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness…” Ex. 16:2
11. Direct object marker: אֵת (ate or et)
This word isn’t translatable because its only purpose is to indicate that the word following it is the direct object of the preceding verb. That may be confusing since we don’t use this in English, but this is frequently used in the Hebrew Bible.
For example: “You shall love the Lord your God (אֶתיְהוָה et-Yahweh) with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deut. 6:5
12. Day: יוֹם (yōm)
In addition to being used often in the Hebrew Bible, yom is also used in the names of the days of the week in Hebrew. Yom Shabbat is Saturday, Yom Rishon is Sunday, etc.
Example: In this verse, the prefix for “the” is attached to the word for sabbath (shabbat). “Remember the sabbath day (אֶת־יוֹםהַשָּׁבַּת et-yom-ha-shabbat), to keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8
אִישׁ (eesh) is the word for “man,” and the word for “woman” or “wife” is very similar – אִשָּׁה (ee-shah).
Example: “So Haman answered the king, “For a man (אִישׁ eesh) the king wants to honor…” Esther 6:7
14. House: בַּיִת (ba-yeet)
This word can be pronounced “ba-yeet” but is often pronounced “beth” as well. It’s the first part of a word you already know, Bethlehem – בֵּית לָחֶם, which means “house of bread.”
Example: “By wisdom a house (בַּיִת ba-yeet) is built, And by understanding it is established;” Prov. 24:3
15. People: עַם (ahm)
This can mean the plural for “person” or can also mean “a people” as in a nation or people group.
Example: “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people (הָעָם ha-ahm) go.” Ex. 7:14
16. He said: אָמַר (ah-mar)
Verbs in Hebrew are conjugated depending on the gender and number of people doing the action, just like in Spanish, Arabic, or any grammatically gendered languages. The vowel pointing in אָמַר is the most common form for a verb and is 3rd-person masculine singular meaning “he” performed the action. So אָמַר means literally “he said.”
When changing who’s doing the action, both the letters and vowel pointing change. When using the verb “to say,” we change it to “she said” like this אָמְרָה (ahm-rah) and to “they said” like this אָמְרוּ (ahm-roo).
In the Old Testament, “he said” often appears as “and he said” or “then he said,” which is וַיֹּאמֶר (vie-oh-mehr).
Example: “The king said (וַיֹּאמֶר vie-oh-mehr, literally “and said the king”)…” Esther 6:3
This word can be translated a few different ways in addition to “word” and “thing.” It can also mean “speech,” “matter,” “anything,” “saying,” “utterance,” and other similar words or concepts.
Like other nouns, דָּבָר (dah-var) can be conjugated depending on whether it’s plural. דְּבָרִים (duh-var-eem) is the plural form of “words.”
Example: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word (דָּבָר dah-var) spoken in right circumstances” Prov. 25:11
18. He or it: הוּא (who)
My children always laugh about this one. “He” is pronounced “who” while “she” (הִיא) is pronounced, “he”.
Example: “He (הוּא who) shall build a house for My name…” 2 Sam. 7:1319.
19. To walk or he walked: הָלַךְ (hah-lock)
The word הָלַךְ (hah-lock) can mean “to walk” but also “go,” “come,” or “enter,” and is even used as the verb when Noah’s ark is floating on the water.
This word is another verb, so it may appear differently depending on who’s doing the walking. “She walked” is הָלְכָה (ha-leh-khah), and “they walked” is הָלְכוּ (hall-khoo).
Example: “…And the Lord helped David wherever he went (הָלַךְ hah-lock).” 2 Sam. 8:6
20. Son: בֵּן (beyn)
The plural form of בֵּן (beyn) is בָּנִים (ba-neem). On the other hand, daughter is similar – בַּת (bot), and its plural form is בָּנוֹת (ba-note).
Example: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son (בֵּן beyn)…” Isaiah 7:14
If you’re interested in learning Hebrew, visit my resources page for various ways to learn. If you’d like to use the method of studying frequently used Biblical vocabulary words, Building Your Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary: Learning Words by Frequency and Cognate is a book by George Landes that is great for that. There are also numerous apps (both iOS and Android) that can be very helpful for studying this way.
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When you really want to delve into your studies of the Bible, a knowledge of its original languages is indispensable! Aside from the obvious biblical advantages, there are other benefits to a Christian’s faith when learning Hebrew.
If you’re just starting out, welcome! I encourage you to first become familiar with the Hebrew alphabet, as well as the vowels as a starting point.
The Hebrew language is written from right to left. This may be difficult to get used to but you can train your brain to immediately recognize this in no time! Because of this, books written in Hebrew will be opposite of those in English, with the spine on the right instead of the left and they’ll open toward the right instead of the left as well.
A Hebrew word is read by saying the consonant first, then the vowel that accompanies it, then the next consonant, and so on. You can easily sound the words out, similar to the Phonics method of learning to read English.
Note on pronunciation: I use the letters “ch” to indicate not the English “ch” sound as in “chew” but the Hebrew guttural sound as in the name “Bach”.
אָב (father)
This word means “father” and is pronounced “ahv”. אַבָּא, pronounced abbah, is a more familiar term for “father”, similar to the use of “dad” in English.
נַעַר (young man)
The word for “young man” is pronounced “nah-ar”. Related to this is the word for “young woman”, נַעֲרָה, pronounced “nah-ah-rah”.
אַבְרָהָם (Abraham)
One of the most significant names in the Bible, Abraham, is pronounced “av-rah-hahm”.
דַּוִד (David)
Another of the people we know in the Bible, David, is pronounced “dah-veed”.
שַׁמָע (hear)
Pronounced “sha-mah”, this is the word for “to hear” or “he heard”. Conjugation of Hebrew verbs is gender-dependent, so “she heard” would be שָׁמְעָה, pronounced “sham-ah”. They heard, if you’re talking about a group of males, would be שָׁמְעוּ, pronounced “sham-oo”.
Nouns have masculine or feminine gender in Hebrew. For example, the word for table, שֻׁלְחָן (“shul-chan”) is masculine, while the word for family, מִשְׁפָחָה (“meesh-pa-chah”) is feminine.
“Hoo” is how you pronounce the word for “it” (הוּא above) when you’re describing a masculine noun. For feminine nouns, הִיא pronounced “hee”, is used. So, “he” is “she” and “who” is “he”. That’s how my children remember it!
מִצְוָה (commandment)
Pronounced “meetz-vah”, this is the word for “commandment”. A mitzvah can also be a good deed or act of obedience to God’s Law. Plural, mitzvah would become mitzvot (מִצְוֺת).
יְרוּשָׁלַםִ (Jerusalem)
Jerusalem is pronounced “yuh-roo-sha-la-eeem”. This is one case where a vowel sound precedes a letter it’s under. The chiriq under the final mem at the end of the word is said before the mem, making the sound “eem” rather than “mee”.
Another case where the vowel sound precedes its letter is when Chet is found at the end of a word and accompanied by the vowel patach (חַ). In this case, instead of being pronounced “cha”, it’s pronounced “ach”. An example is the word רוּחַ, which means “spirit”. It’s pronounced “roo-ach”.
מִצְרַיִם (Eqypt)
Here’s another familiar place in the Bible. Meaning “Egypt”, Mitzrayim is pronounced “meetz-ra-yeem”.
בְּהֵמָה (animal)
Pronounced “buh-hey-mah”, this is the Hebrew word for “animal”. It can also mean “cattle”. Plural, בְּהֵמָה would be בְּהֵמוֹת, pronounced “buh-hey-moat”.
זַכַר (to remember)
This verb means “to remember” or “he remembered”. It’s pronounced “za-char” and is conjugated depending on the subject. “She remembered” would be זָכְרָה, pronounced “zach-rah” and “they remembered” would be זָכְרוּ, pronounced “zach-roo”.
לִפְנֵי (before)
Pronounced “leef-nay”, this is the word for “before” as in “he appeared before the king”.
עַמַד (to stand)
Here’s another verb. This one means “to stand” and is pronounced “ah-mahd”. It’s conjugation is similar to other Hebrew verbs, so “she stood” would be עָמְדָה (“am-dah”) and “they stood” would be עָמְדוּ (“ahm-doo”).
עִיר (city)
“City” in Hebrew is pronounced “eer”. “Cities” would then be עָרִים, pronounced “ah-reem”.
עֶבֶד (servant)
“Eh-ved” is the word for “servant” or “slave”. Plural, it’s עֲבָדִים, pronounced “ah-vah-deem”.
אָח (brother)
The word for “brother” is pronounced “ach”. Plural, it’s אַחִים (“ach-eem”) and the word for “sister” is אָחוֹת and is pronounced “ach-oat”.
“Le-chem” means “bread”. As Christians, we’re familiar with the name of the place of Jesus’s birth, Bethlehem. Bethlehem is a Hebrew word (בֵּית לֶחֶם), meaning “house of bread” or “beit-le-chem” (more commonly pronounced “beth-le-chem”).
מַיִם (water)
“Water” in Hebrew is pronounced “mah-yeem”. The ending of the word mayim indicates that it’s plural, so it’s more literally translated “waters”, such as in Genesis 1, when God’s Spirit hovered over the waters.
לֵב (heart)
The word for “heart” is pronounced “layve”. It can also appear as לֵבָב, which would be pronounced “lay-vave”.
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Learning the Hebrew Language can be beneficial to the faith of a Christian. In studying the Bible, a knowledge of Biblical Hebrew will clarify the meaning of the text in a way that simply studying from translations cannot.
Although Hebrew can be intimidating at first appearance, English speakers can grasp it well with practice. In An Introduction to the Hebrew Alphabet, I introduced each of the 22 Hebrew letters. Now I’ll provide a very simple intro to the vowels as well.
The Hebrew vowels are not letters as they are in English but a series of markings called nikkud. The major difference between the vowels in English and those in Hebrew is that they’re optional in Hebrew. They’re added to the letters to make reading easier but a lot of Hebrew (both modern and Biblical) is written without them.
The concept that Hebrew would appear without vowels was at first very intimidating to me. But our familiarity with the English Language makes us able to read when the vowels are removed and the same happens in Hebrew as well.
Don’t believe me? What does this say?
Rdng wtht vwls sn’t tht dffclt!
It’s a bit challenging, but your mind fills in the blanks and you can make sense of a sentence with no vowels. This is the same for those familiar with Hebrew.
You can see the function of the vowels and how they dictate the pronunciation of a word by looking at the first word in my vowel-less sentence above. You may have read it as “Reading”, which was my intent but your mind may have substituted an “i” instead of the “ea” in reading. This would have led you to read the first word as “Riding” instead. The context gave away the correct pronunciation of the word but this example shows why vowels are added to Hebrew and how they clarify.
Vowels are found above (to the left) or below a letter. The consonant sound is made first and is followed by the vowel sound that’s below or above it.
In the explanations below, I use the letter aleph (א) to carry the vowels but they can accompany any of the other letters in the Hebrew alphabet as well.
אַ and אָ
These two vowels are different in appearance but make the same sound. Patah and kametz both make the “a” sound like in the word “yacht”. For example, the word אָמַר (meaning “to say” or “he said”), is pronounced “ah-mar”.
אֶ
Segol makes the “eh” sound as in “bed”. An example of a word containing segol is “אֶרֶץ“, meaning “land” or “earth”. It’s pronounced “eh-retz”.
אֵ
The vowel tsere, whose name is pronounced ser-ay, sounds like the “ay” in the word “hay”. It can also be pronounced “eh” as in “bed”, depending on accent. In Israel, the pronunciation agreed upon is “eh”. Example: לֵב is pronounced “layve” or “lev” and is the word for “heart”.
The name for this vowel is chiriq (with the “ch” pronounced in your throat, like the “ch” in “Bach). The sound it makes is like the “ee” in the word “bee”. Chiriq is often followed by the letter yod (י), which lengthens its sound. For example, the word “אִישׁ” is pronounced “eesh” and it means “man” or “husband”.
אֹ
Cholem appears as a dot above and just to the left of the letter it’s with. Just like chiriq, the word “cholem” is pronounced with the “ch” sound in your throat, as in Bach. When it appears with a consonant, cholem makes the “o” sound like the letter O in “foe”. An example is כֹּל, which means “all” or “whole” and is pronounced “coal”.
אֻ
Kubbuts is the name of this vowel. It has a “oo” sound, as in the name “Sue”. Kubbuts is used in סֻכָּה, which is pronounced “sue-kah”, and means “hut” or “temporary shelter”.
בְ
Shva (pronounced sh-va) is a more complicated vowel. Firstly, I put it under the letter vet above instead of aleph because shva cannot appear under gutterals and aleph is considered one.
Secondly, shva sounds differently, depending on where it’s found in a word. It can either make the “uh” sound, as in “buck” or it can be silent, indicating a pause.
In לְ, a word meaning “to”, “for”, or “in regard to”, the shva makes the “uh” sound and the word is pronounced “luh”. But, when in the middle or end of a word, shva is usually silent.
In a word like , with two shvas in a row, the first is silent and the second is pronounced. So, the word for “families” in Hebrew, מִשְׁפְּחֹת would be pronounced “mish-puh-chote”. And in the word יִשְׂרָאֵל, meaning Israel, the shva is silent, causing it to be pronouced “yees-ra-el”.
That’s a bit confusing so I’ll sum up the basic shva rules.
At the beginning of a word, it’s pronounced “uh”.
In the middle of a word, it’s a silent pause.
Two next to each other: first is a silent pause, second is pronounced “uh”.
אֲ and אֱ
When patach and Segol are combined with shva, they basically make the same sound as without the shva. So, אֲ is pronounced “a” as in “yacht” and אֱ is pronounced with the “eh” sound, as in “bed”.
Examples of this are אֲשֶׁר, meaning “which” (pronounced “ah-share”) and אֱלֹהִים, which means “Elohim” (pronounced “El-o-heem”).
This vowel is called chatef kametz but it doesn’t take the sound of the kametz or the shva, but has its own sound. It makes the “o” sound, as in “foe”. An example is the word שֳׁרָשִׁים, which is pronounced “show-ra-sheem” and means “roots”.
וֹ and וּ
These vowels use the Hebrew letter vav but the vav is not pronounced. Cholem vav (which is a vav with a dot above it, like this וֹ) sounds just like the cholem would above another letter. It makes the “o” sound as in “foe”.
Shurek, which is a vav with a dot inside of it like this וּ, is pronounced with the “oo” sound in the name “Sue”. Again, the sound of the letter vav is not used in this case.
Examples of these are the words יוֹם and רוּת (day and Ruth), which are pronounced “yohm” and “root”, respectively.
Since many of the vowels make similar sounds, it’s not very difficult to memorize all of them with a little practice. For more resources to help you in your studies of Biblical Hebrew, check out my resources page!
Many Christians learn the Biblical Hebrew language to illuminate their Bible studies. Knowledge of the original languages brings an understanding of the Bible that we can’t quite reach through a translation.
Hebrew can be intimidating to English speakers because it’s a different alphabet. Not only do we have to learn the language, but we also have to start by learning an entirely different alphabet!
It’s not as difficult as it sounds, though. There are only 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and 12 vowels, called nikkud. Most Hebrew students start by learning the letters and their sounds, which isn’t very difficult with a bit of practice.
The Hebrew alphabet is often called the aleph-bet because the first two letters are aleph and bet. Most letters have the same sound as the beginning of their name. For example, bet makes the “b” sound. That makes most letters easy to remember.
There are also some sounds in Hebrew that we don’t have in English, called gutturals. The letter Chet makes the same sound as the “ch” in “Bach.” You make this sound in the back of your throat like you’re clearing your throat.
Here’s a song commonly used to memorize the Hebrew alphabet. Putting the letters to music makes them so easy to remember!
א Aleph
Aleph is one of two silent letters in the Hebrew alphabet. When pronounced, it takes the sound of whatever vowel it accompanies.
בּ Bet
Bet is pronounced “b,” just like the letter B in English.
ב Vet
A vet is just a bet without the dot inside. The dot is called a dagesh, and vet is pronounced “v” like the letter V in English.
Gimmel makes a hard G sound, as in “goat.” It may have a dagesh inside like this גּ, but it makes the same sound with or without the dagesh.
ד Dalet
Dalet is pronounced “d,” like the letter D in English. It can also carry a dagesh, which doesn’t change its sound like this דּ.
ה Hay
Hay is pronounced “h” like the letter H in English. When it appears at the end of a word, it’s silent. It sometimes has a dot inside (הּ), called a mappiq, instead of a dagesh that appears in other letters. It indicates that the hay should be pronounced as a consonant, even though it may occur in a place in a word where it would usually be silent.
ו Vav
Vav makes the “v” sound, exactly like the letter vet above. What makes vav interesting is that it can also function as two different vowel sounds. When it appears as וֹ (called holem vav), it’s pronounced “oh,” like the sound at the end of “mow,” and when you see וּ (called shurek), you’d pronounce it “ooo” like the sound at the end of “blue.”
ז Zayin
Zayin is pronounced “zzz,” like the letter Z in English. It can carry a dagesh (זּ), which doesn’t change the pronunciation.
ח Chet
Chet is one of the guttural letters in Hebrew. As I said above, it is pronounced in the back of your throat and sounds like the “ch” in the name “Bach.”
ט Tet
Tet is pronounced “t” like the letter T in English. It will sometimes appear with a dagesh (טּ), which doesn’t change its pronunciation.
י Yod
The tiny letter yod sounds like the English letter “y,” as in “yellow.” Like others, it can carry a dagesh (יּ), which doesn’t change its pronunciation.
כּ Kaf
Kaf is pronounced “k” like the English letter K. It’s always pronounced this way when the dot (dagesh) is present. Without the dagesh, it sounds like the following letter on this list: Chef.
The “ch” in the name of the letter chaf is pronounced as a guttural, similar to the “ch” in “Bach,” like the letter chet above. It makes the same sound as chet the “ch” sound. When this letter has a dagesh, it makes the sound “k,” as described above.
What’s unique about Chaf that I haven’t discussed yet is that it looks different when it appears at the end of a word. Five Hebrew letters do this, and this end form of a letter is called the final (or sofit) form. When at the end of a word, chaf will look like this: ך.
ל Lamed
Lamed makes the same “l” sound as the letter L in English. Lamed may have a dagesh and look like this (לּ) but is pronounced the same.
מ Mem
Mem is pronounced “mmm,” like the letter M in English, and its sound is not changed when it appears with a dagesh (מּ). Mem also has a final form, ם, which is almost always found only when a mem is at the end of a word.
נ Nun
Nun (Pronounced both noon and nun) is pronounced “n” like the English letter N. It can have a dagesh, which would look like this (נּ), but the pronunciation remains the same. Nun has a final form for when it’s found at the end of a word, which looks like this: ן.
ס Samech
Samech is pronounced like the English letter S and is pronounced “s.” It can also have a dagesh (סּ) and is pronounced the same if it does.
ע Ayin
Like aleph, ayin is a silent letter. It only makes the sound of the vowel that accompanies it.
פּ Pey
Pey is pronounced “p,” like the letter P in the English alphabet. If it has a dagesh, it’s pronounced “p,” and if it doesn’t, it’s pronounced “f,” further explained below.
פ Fey
Fey is, like the English letter F, pronounced “f.” This sound is made only when it doesn’t have a dagesh because if it does, it’s pronounced “p.” Fey also has a final form, ף, for when it appears at the end of a word.
צ Tsade
This letter’s name is pronounced tsa-dee, with the “ts” being a consonant blend sound like the sound at the end of the word “nuts.” The “ts” sound is also the way the letter is pronounced. It’s said the same when it contains a dagesh and has a final form (ץ) at the end of a word.
ק Qof
Qof makes the “q” sound like the English letter Q. It can also appear with a dagesh, pronounced the same.
Resh is pronounced “rrr” like the English letter R. It’s a guttural, so it’s said from the back of your throat and is rolled like the letter R in Spanish.
שׁ Shin
Shin is pronounced “sh” like the commonly-used consonant blend in English, and it sounds the same when it has a dagesh. Which side the dot on top is on indicates whether it’s pronounced “sh” or “s.”
שׂ Sin
The name of this letter is pronounced sin or seen. It makes the same sound as the letter S in English, “sss.” This sound is the same as the letter samech, and sin makes the same sound when it has a dagesh. Pay careful attention to which side the dot is on, as this is what differentiates between shin and sin.
ת Tav
Tav, the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, is pronounced “t” just like the English letter T. It sounds the same when it has a dagesh, like this: תּ.
That’s it! Pretty simple, right? With a bit of practice, you can master the Hebrew alphabet and, in doing so, conquer the first step to your knowledge of the Hebrew language!
For more helpful resources for learning Hebrew, visit my Resources page!
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Learning the Hebrew Language can be very beneficial to our faith as Christians. It’s through Hebrew that we can gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and, ultimately, the roots of our faith! When we can know more clearly what the Bible says, we can grow closer to the God of the Bible and our Savior, Jesus!
While understanding Hebrew will help you in your studies throughout the Bible (even the New Testament!), here are ten places I’ve found the Hebrew to make a big difference.
1. Genesis 1:1 – Elohim
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
There’s no better place to start than at the very beginning. Many note that the word used for God here is “Elohim”. The “im” suffix in Hebrew indicates that the word is in its masculine plural form. This appearance of a plural noun form leads some to conclude that this verse shows that it wasn’t just God the Father present before creation, but the whole Trinity – the Father God, the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
The first thing to note is that there are words in Hebrew that appear to be plural, like the word for water, מַּיִם, and the word for face, פָּנִים. Although they have the “im” suffix, they are not always plural.
But when you know the Hebrew language enough to conjugate verbs, you can see that the verb just preceding Elohim, בָּרָא, is conjugated in the masculine singular form. This verb form shows that only one male was creating, not three.
That said, I won’t comment on the truth of whether the other persons of the Trinity were present at creation or not. If that’s your belief, the verse in Genesis below may better support your discussion on the subject, along with others in the New Testament (John 1:1-3, 1 Cor. 8:6, and Col. 1:16-17).
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 (Emphasis added)
2. Exodus 15:2 – Yeshua
And while we’re on the subject of names, let’s look at the use of the name of our Savior! We know that Jesus’s name is used in the New Testament, as the stories about his life and ministry are found there.
But Jesus’s name is used throughout the Bible, not just in the New Testament. His Hebrew name, Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ), is found throughout the Old Testament as well. The Hebrew language is based mainly on root words. The root word of Yeshua is ya-shah (יָשַׁע) and means “to save” or “to deliver.” So, we can see why God told Mary to give Jesus this name. He came to save us – to be our deliverer!
When we find Yeshua in the Old Testament, we can see how the attributes of our savior are foreshadowed even before he came to earth.
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my yeshua
Exodus 15:2a, emphasis mine
The name “Joshua” (Ye-ho-shua – יְהוֹשֻׁעַ) is similar in Hebrew spelling to that of yeshua, which also indicates that the actions of Joshua in the Old Testament also foreshadows Jesus.
Other interesting places to find the word yeshua in the Old Testament are:
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18
This verse is sometimes used to show that a wife is less capable or significant than her husband. She’s merely his “helper”. But when we look at the Hebrew word used here for “helper,” it changes the perspective.
The word used here is “ezer” (עֵזֶר, pronounced “eh-zer”). “Helper” isn’t an inaccurate word to use when translating ezer from Hebrew to English, but let’s look at some other places where this same Hebrew word is used.
This word is used 21 times in the Old Testament, most of which refer to God as the helper. So this story in Genesis isn’t telling us that a wife is a helper in the respect that we would allow a toddler to be our “helper” in the kitchen but as a necessary and indispensable source of support.
Without God’s help, we’re absolutely nothing. So when we see the same word for “helper” used for a wife as it is used for God, we can conclude that God’s view of a wife is that she’s of great importance in a marital relationship!
4. Psalms 1:2 – Torah
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2
The word “law” is typically considered a negative thing among Christians. It’s believed that the grace given to us through Jesus and the Law given to us by God cannot coexist. Therefore, we must throw out any idea of the Law applying to us to accept the grace given to us through Jesus.
But the word that’s translated here and elsewhere as “law” in some translations is the word “Torah” (תּוֹרָה). So, this verse says:
Knowing the Hebrew changes the overall meaning of the verse, doesn’t it? Other translations translate “Torah” as “instruction,” which emits an entirely different emotional response than the word “law.” Rather than a bad thing God’s given to control us, the “law” or the “Torah” is instruction to lead, educate, and help us know right from wrong.
If the Law is a positive thing, that explains how we can “delight” in it, as the Psalm says. When we understand the Hebrew, we can see God’s love and guidance that He’s given us in His Word and even in His commands. He knows what’s best for us, and we’re blessed that He has instructed us on how to live.
5. Exodus 20:13 – Murder
“Thou shalt not kill.”
Exodus 20:13
This verse is from the King James Version of the Bible, but it’s worded differently in most other versions. Most say, “You shall not murder” or something similar.
The word “murder” is a much better translation of the Hebrew word in this verse. The Hebrew says ratz-ah (רָצַח), which means “to slay” or “to dash to pieces” and is used in the Bible mainly in the context of homicide. In contrast, the Hebrew word for “to kill” is ha-rog (הָרַג) and is used in situations such as killing others in war or killing an animal for food.
The usage of this word is significant because the commandment not to kill (or murder) is often used to imply that war is a sin. While a quick read of the Old Testament will reveal that there are times God does condone war, this command uses a different word than the one used in the case of war to make sure we don’t confuse the two.
So, while killing may at times be murder, the word murder implies more than just killing. Murder reveals a condition of the heart. It shows actions resulting from malice, pride, hate, bitterness, and selfishness. It implies that the victim is innocent or at least doesn’t deserve the consequence of death by another.
6. Psalm 34:7 – Malak
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
Psalm 34:7
Along with the other places in the Old Testament where angels are mentioned, the Hebrew word translated into “angel” is mal-ak (מַלְאָךְ). Malak isn’t a word for a specific type of being, though. A better translation is “messenger” or “deputy.”
In Scripture, the word “malak” is usually followed by “of the LORD,” meaning the being described is sent from God to deliver a message or do some work God sent it (or him? or her?) to do. Knowing the Hebrew here helps us understand that the word isn’t meant to describe the being itself but its purpose in interacting with humans in these situations.
7. Job 2:2 – Satan
The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
Job 2:2
While we don’t like to dwell on Satan (Sah-tahn – שָׂטָן) as we study our Bibles, it’s helpful to understand his character so we know what we need to avoid and rid our lives of. And we don’t have to go further than his name to understand who he is.
The word “satan” comes from a Hebrew verb meaning ” to accuse” or “to be an adversary” (also pronounced sah-tahn – שָׂטַן). In the Bible, names have significant meanings. Names weren’t just to identify but to describe one’s identity or purpose. Satan’s name tells us he’s “the adversary” or “the accuser.”
So, who is Satan an adversary of, and who does he accuse? God? Humans? Jesus? We can find examples to back up each of those in the Bible, so the answer is all of the above. When we can see Satan for who he is – an adversary of our God – we know that he’s our adversary as well. We know that siding with Satan or anything he stands for puts us on the wrong side.
8. Acts 2:2-4 – Spirit
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 2:2-4
Hebrew in verses from Acts, you say? But the New Testament isn’t translated from Hebrew! True (mostly), but the New Testament was written by those with a knowledge of Hebrew and a mindset based on their Hebrew culture.
Take, for example, the Hebrew word for “spirit,” ruach (roo-ach – רוּחַ). While it does mean “spirit,” it also can mean “wind” or “breath.” The Hebrew language contains words that represent more than one thing. Because these words come from the same root word, they don’t just sound alike; they’re related concepts.
In the verses above, the Holy Spirit is being given to the apostles, and they hear a sound like a violent wind filling their house. It was at that time that they became filled with the Holy Spirit! The Spirit sounded like a rushing wind because wind is an aspect of God’s Spirit. The following verse is another place we see the Ruach – God’s Spirit:
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Gen 1:2
9. Genesis 2:7 – Soul
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
Here’s another word for “spirit”. Neshama (נְשָׁמָה) can mean “spirit,” but it can also be translated as “breath”. And the remainder of this verse has the beautiful Hebrew word for “soul” in it – nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ), which is translated as life.
So, when God “breathed life” into Adam, he gave him a “soul breath.” Doesn’t that give you chills? The God of the universe has soul breath, breath that contains His very spirit that, when shared with a human, gives them a soul! What a truly awesome God we have!
10. Matthew 1:16 – Messiah
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 1:16
The word “Messiah” is derived from the Hebrew word “mashiach” (ma-shee-ach – מָשִׁיחַ), and so is the word “Christ.” Mashiach means “anointed one,” so “messiah” and “christ” do also. But did you know that this Hebrew word for “messiah” is also found in the Old Testament?
Levitical priests are frequently described as mashiach, or anointed, as in the following verse, as well as in Leviticus 4:
“The anointed priest who will be in his place among his sons shall offer it. By a permanent ordinance it shall be entirely offered up in smoke to the LORD.
Leviticus 6:22
This verse could also say “the mashiach priest.” I’m pretty sure no version of the Bible translates this as “the messiah priest,” but it’s the same word. Most translate it as “the anointed priest.” Someone being anointed means they’re chosen by God and consecrated for a specific job, such as the priests being anointed for work in the Temple.
The knowledge of this word’s meaning is significant because it draws a parallel for us between our Messiah and the Levitical priests. The book of Hebrews describes how Jesus is the perfect High Priest (chapters 9 & 10) and how, because of that, he is able to atone for our sin fully. Our God chose him and sent him to save us from the desolate consequences of our sin. What amazing grace!
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Astonishingly, we live in a time when God’s Word is readily available in our language! The Bible is available in 670 languages, and the New Testament can be found in 1,521 languages! With the Old and New Testaments available in many different versions to English-speaking Christians, why would we need to learn Hebrew?
1. To strengthen our relationship with God.
As Bible-believing Christians, our highest priority is to have a relationship with the God of the Bible. As we study His Word, we learn of God’s character and thus get to know Him better. Since the Bible is where we learn about Him, we should be diligent students of it, and it should be our life’s work to understand and unpack its truths fully, and learning the Hebrew language aids us in that.
Picture a Shakespearean literary scholar. A Hindi-speaking one. Now imagine that he proceeds in his studies and teaches, writes, and speaks on the subject of his life’s work without ever learning English but instead uses a Hindi translation of the writings. Wouldn’t that be strange? We’d expect him to study the language these plays were written in. Beyond that, we’d expect that he would also become adept at understanding the details of Elizabethan English. His not doing so would cause us to question his authority and understanding of the subject.
It’s the same when we study the Bible. We could make better use of our years of bible study as we mature as Christians if we incorporated insight into the Hebrew language into our studies. To deepen our understanding of the Bible, we must immerse ourselves in the study of it. As we put years in on digging deeper into biblical truths, we should become at least some level of expert on the subject. Returning to my example of a literary scholar or an earnest student of any topic, Christians should become adept at more and more aspects of biblical study as we mature.
While some details will be lost in translation between any two languages, some translate more easily into English than others. Take the word peace, for example. In Spanish, it’s “paz,” meaning tranquility or peacefulness, much like what it means in English. So, paz = peace and vice versa. But in Hebrew, shalom is the word for peace. Shalom doesn’t just mean peace, though. Its full Hebrew meaning encompasses completeness, welfare, prosperity, perfection, soundness, safety, health, and more. Yet when translated into English almost everywhere it appears in the Bible; in nearly every English bible translation, it is merely translated as “peace.”
The inaccurate translation is not the fault of bible translators. They are brilliant and well-educated, using their knowledge to replace Hebrew with the best possible English words to preserve the meaning. The confusion comes from the vast differences between the two languages. Even with such valuable resources as we have in the development of today’s numerous bible translations, some meaning will still be lost.
The other source for potential confusion is how a word or phrase is translated, depending on the translator. Without their own understanding of the scripture’s original language, the reader must lean on the translator’s interpretation. Take 1 Sam 2:30 (emphasis mine in both verses).
The ESV version of the verse reads this way:
“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
Yet the NIV
version is this:
“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.”
So, which is it? Will those who despise God be disdained or merely lightly esteemed?
We can find the answer in the Hebrew. The root of the word used here is qalal. Its meaning includes lightly esteemed and disdained but also trifling, treated with contempt, dishonored, cursed, and insignificant. Neither of these translations is wrong, but neither fully conveys the word’s meaning.
The Christian student of the Hebrew language will shed light on this inevitable confusion. By learning to understand Hebrew – both the word meanings and how the words relate to the context, one gains a greater overall understanding of the scriptures concerning their original intended language.
3. It helps us understand Jewish culture.
While I don’t subscribe to all of Martin Luther’s beliefs and reject some of his teachings, he advocated for Christians to learn Hebrew. I love the following quote from his book Table Talk about Christians learning Hebrew.
“The Hebrew language is the best language of all, with the richest vocabulary… If I were younger I would want to learn this language, because no one can really understand the Scriptures without it. For although the New Testament is written in Greek, it is full of Hebraisms and Hebrew expressions. It has therefore been aptly said that the Hebrews drink from the spring, the Greeks from the stream that flows from it, and the Latins from a downstream pool.”
Martin Luther
Luther concludes, as do many Christians, that even the New Testament can be better understood through the Hebrew language. However, we need to know more than just the words to understand the Bible. Jewish culture in the time of both the Old and New Testaments was very different from our American culture. Learning Hebrew culture illuminates the Bible in a way that merely reading our English versions can’t.
Idioms – There are Hebrew idioms (sayings) in the Bible – even the New Testament. These are some of what Luther calls “Hebraisms” or “Hebrew expressions.” An idiom is a statement that conveys a message but must be previously defined to be understood. Some English idioms are “kick the bucket” or “see eye to eye.”
The meaning of some of these idioms, understood in ancient culture, is lost to us by translating from Hebrew word for word. For example, in Exodus 3:8, God tells of His plan to bring the Israelites out of Egypt to a “land flowing with milk and honey.” This phrase doesn’t mean a land where milk and honey are flowing literally but a fertile land that will meet their needs and even provide luxury.
In Romans 12:20, Paul uses an expression from his Hebrew culture by quoting Proverbs 25:21-22, “‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” From the standpoint of our modern American culture, heaping burning coals on someone’s head seems like a pretty horrific way to treat them! But Paul calls it overcoming evil with good. Proverbs says that God will reward people who treat their enemies this way.
Poem and Song – Poetic structure is also lost in translation. Much of the Old Testament was written in song or poem form to aid in memorization or clarify concepts, but these things are lost when these scriptures are translated into English, where the verses then lose their cadence. Old Testament scripture read in Hebrew has a beautiful sound that cannot be reproduced when translated from the original language. One prominent example of this is the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:7-9.
Separation of the words from the culture encompassing them results in a loss of meaning. An in-depth understanding of Hebrew can help us discover the scriptures’ implications beyond their mere translation..
4. It’s the language used in synagogues.
One of the most apparent differences between worship in a Messianic Synagogue vs. a traditional Christian church is the use of the Hebrew language. The Hebrew liturgy shocked me since I walked into the first synagogue I attended with a complete knowledge of maybe 20 words in Hebrew!
But over years of studying Hebrew and attending Messianic Synagogues, it’s no longer shocking; it’s beautiful! I love hearing the blessings, prayers, and scripture readings in their original language. What may be lost in translation to English is retained, and all can appreciate the beauty of the language combined with centuries-old traditions surrounding it.
Once considered a dead language, Hebrew is now the national language of Israel. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda is credited with reviving spoken Hebrew near the end of the 19th century. He created words for everyday use, making Hebrew user-friendly and a single language to replace the many languages used in that area at that time.
There are differences between Biblical Hebrew (the language used in Hebrew scrolls, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) and Modern Hebrew (spoken in Israel today), but learning one will excel the process of learning the other.
Many Christians travel to the Holy Land, and a grasp of Hebrew would greatly benefit a trip like this one. There are plenty of other reasons that it’s beneficial to learn Hebrew. Knowledge of another language is helpful in various areas of life, such as career and mission work.
6. Our Messiah Jesus learned Hebrew!
What a privilege we have to be able to learn the same language and study the very scriptures that Jesus did! Aramaic was the language he would have probably spoken, but Hebrew was the language of the synagogues in his day, much like today.
In the area where Jesus lived, the people spoke many languages. Judging from his activities and those he conversed with in the New Testament, he probably knew at least some Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and possibly others.
Since he was raised in a Jewish household, he would have learned the Torah (the first five Old Testament books) in Hebrew, as all Jewish boys did. He conversed with religious leaders in the synagogue when he was twelve (Luke 2:39-52). Due to the Hebrew language being used in the synagogue, even then, we can conclude that this conversation either took place in or contained much Hebrew.
What a unique way to learn about and from Jesus! To understand one of the same languages he used to study the scriptures is a gift we should readily accept!
7. Many resources for learning Hebrew.
The availability of information in our day can be for good or evil. There are plenty of both out there, but Christian students of the Hebrew language certainly have a significant advantage right now. There are numerous resources for learning Hebrew; many are custom-made for Christians interested in learning Hebrew. Check out my Hebrew Language resources page for some beginner-friendly resources.
Given the availability of sources for American Christians to learn Hebrew, it is now relatively easy for us to study Hebrew in our spare time and obtain a solid understanding of it. We can use this to deepen our faith and grow closer to God in the process.
If this question crosses your mind, you’re not alone! Much of the Old Testament is in Hebrew, but it also contains some Aramaic. The New Testament is in Koine Greek, so why wouldn’t I encourage Christians to learn those too?
Well, honestly, I would! Going back to my example of a Shakespearean scholar, I think we should employ all the resources God makes available to us to better learn His Word and His character.
However, if you’re going to start somewhere, the above seven reasons show that Hebrew is the best place to start. Once you get a firm grasp on Hebrew, make sure not to stop there! Continue to be a student of the Bible until God chooses to end your time on earth!
Whether or not you start down the path of learning the Hebrew language, make sure you are continually a diligent student of the Bible. Unlike any other book, it is alive with words from the Creator of the universe, written for you to get to know Him personally. Don’t miss the gifts He has in it for you!
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What does it mean to eat Biblically clean? Why have some made it a part of their faith? And weren’t the dietary laws disposed of with Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross? This post will explain a Biblically clean diet, answer the above questions, and more.
A diet change occurred for some Christians who have made their Biblical Hebraic Roots a part of their faith. They aligned their diet with the one prescribed by God in the Bible. This change is confusing to many from traditional Christianity as they believe all dietary laws were done away with when Jesus died for our sins.
First of all, does God care what we eat? Of course He does! He cares about every aspect of His people’s lives– small and large. In His mercy and patience, He knows we aren’t perfect and provides a Savior to cover all we do that disobeys Him.
But after we receive Jesus as our Savior, should we continue in our disobedience? Of course not! As we mature as Christians, we must examine every area of our lives and continually grow closer and closer to the way God wants us to live in all areas.
What It Is
Eating biblically clean comes from the command given in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. These chapters only cover animals and not vegetables, fruits, or grains. Although everything in these chapters about hooves, fins, and scales can be confusing, we can narrow it down pretty simply. Most animals we usually eat in the U.S. are fine. But pork and shellfish are out, as are any other fish without fins and scales. We don’t commonly eat other restricted animals – dogs, horses, rabbits, vultures, eagles, owls, snakes, etc.
Biblically Clean vs. Kosher
Although there are apparent similarities, an Orthodox Jew would not consider a Biblically clean diet Kosher. Basically, a Biblically clean diet follows the dietary laws given in Leviticus 11 literally. Biblically clean is different from what’s referred to as a Kosher diet according to today’s understanding. Eating Kosher includes not mixing meat with dairy products and other rabbinical additions to the statutes in Leviticus.
Why We Do It
Out of obedience
As we all recall the story of Adam and Eve, we always question why they ate the fruit. Why didn’t they just take God at His word and obey Him? It was such a small thing to avoid just one of the many trees in the garden. They were given such a beautiful place to live, peace, each other, and communion with God! What more could they need?
Biblically clean is similar to the way we view these dietary laws. God gives us all we have and has lavishly blessed us. He gives us numerous food choices outside of the restrictions he gives. We can (and many do) live free and happy lives without including the restricted foods in our diet. The cost of obeying these laws is minimal, but disobeying God always has negative consequences, even if we see the issue as insignificant.
To set us apart
In conclusion to His explanation of the dietary restrictions in Leviticus 11, God states the following:
“For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Lev. 11:45
As Gentiles grafted in to the promises given to Israel by God, this verse is for us, too! God doesn’t want us to blend in with those around us. He wants us to look different – to be His!
Dietary laws, along with the Sabbath and other commands, do set us apart from the rest of the world. If you keep the Sabbath or eat Biblically clean, you’ll soon learn how different your life will look from those around you.
God knows what’s best for us
Many people propose that God gave the dietary laws for health reasons. Whether or not this is true isn’t clear, but it’s also irrelevant. If God tells us to do anything, we know it’s for good – our good, the good of others, or for His glory. If He told the people of Israel, His chosen people, what not to eat, we can trust that it was not only best for them then but is best for us today.
Remembering who we serve 3 times a day
Sometimes it’s challenging to stay focused on what’s important, isn’t it? When eating according to the Biblical dietary laws, we’re reminded many times daily who we’re living for. If I were living for myself and ordering a pizza, I’d order a pepperoni pizza, but I have to stop and think before I order since I’m committed to eating Biblically clean. What would God prefer I order? Wouldn’t we rather please Him with even the little things in life, like what we order at a restaurant? Is it possible He doesn’t care about something that small? I don’t think so!
Spiritual discipline
We live in a culture in which there’s really no right or wrong. Where you draw the line on any issue is up to you, and you can change it anytime. But how does a Christian discipline him or herself to stay on God’s path in our culture? Discipline is like a muscle. Some call it the “no” muscle. If we live giving in to everything our flesh desires, how do we exercise this “no” muscle?
Keeping a Biblically clean diet is very helpful for building discipline in life – both yours and that of those around you, like your children! When we have uncompromising things to adhere to, we keep our “no” muscle in good shape. An exercise you must do three or more times daily will make spiritual discipline second nature as you must stop and think before each meal, ensuring that it aligns with your beliefs.
Did Jesus Say Dietary Laws Don’t Matter?
People often use the story in Mark 7:1-23 as a reason not to eat according to the laws in the Bible. Here, Jesus scolds the Pharisees for condemning those eating without first ritually washing their hands. However, a few points are beneficial in understanding what’s going on here.
First, Jesus notes that they are putting the traditions of man above the Commands of God. Ritual hand washing was a law made by the rabbis of the time and not a Command from God.
Second, Jesus didn’t refer to the food during this chapter but to ritual hand washing. One can apply the meaning to food, but Jesus didn’t say that.
Third, most English Bible translations include a sentence at the end of this story with a highly disputed translation. It’s in verse 19 and is often in parentheses: “Thus he declared all foods clean.” But that’s a loose translation from the original Greek. We can easily interpret the point of this story in the context Jesus indicated – that ritual hand washing doesn’t make foods clean or unclean.
What Would Jesus Eat?
Have you ever wondered what Jesus ate while he was here on earth? All of his meals would have been eaten according to specific rules, not just because he was Jewish by heritage but out of obedience to God – to avoid sin and obey the Laws God gave us.
Think about it. Had Jesus broken these dietary laws and disobeyed God, would he have been perfect? Would he have qualified to be our Savior and Messiah? Nope.
But What About Peter’s Vision?
Acts 10 is another place Christians look to to show we shouldn’t adhere to dietary laws. But, again, taken in context, this chapter isn’t talking about food at all but about people.
Read the whole story when you get a chance, but to summarize, Peter has a vision in which a sheet is lowered three times. On the sheet are all kinds of animals – both clean and unclean. A voice says, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat.” Peter protests, saying he’s never eaten anything unclean. He then hears the voice again. This time, it says, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider common.” (Side note – for an eye-opening view of this story, do a word study on the words used here for clean, unclean, and common.)
Instead of accepting the vision and the words at face value, Peter is perplexed. He’s pretty disturbed by it and tries to figure out what the vision could have possibly meant.
Many stop here and conclude that the vision meant two things – that followers of Jesus are to disobey the commands concerning food in Leviticus 11 and that Gentiles are allowed into the faith and able to receive the Holy Spirit. That could be one way to interpret this story, but later, Peter explains more than once (Acts 10:28 & 11:2-18) that he’s figured out what the vision meant and that it’s about people (Gentiles included in the faith). He doesn’t mention it being about food at all.
How Does Grace Factor in?
So, if we’re supposed to keep the dietary laws post-Jesus, doesn’t that mean we’re doing works to earn our salvation?
No – not at all. Let me explain. The Bible discussed two relevant concepts here – justification and sanctification. Salvation (or justification) is a one-time thing. It occurs when we repent of our sin and turn to Jesus, putting our belief in him as the one who paid for our sin.
When we discuss the things we do in our daily lives as we live obedient to God, we’re talking about a process called sanctification. A simple way to explain it is that we grow closer and closer to holiness as we mature in our faith.
So, eating unclean animals does not condemn us in the same way stealing doesn’t. We eat Biblically clean not to be saved but because we are saved and love and trust God. We want to live God’s way and obey Him. He has given us the way to live in His Word, and Jesus also upheld the authority of these instructions (Matt. 5:17-19).
Should You Eat Biblically Clean?
Like all the changes a Christian makes in his or her life, the first step is to consult God. Honestly seek what He has to say as you seek an answer to this question. Be sensitive to whether or not The Spirit is convicting you on this issue. If you’re still on the fence about it, check out the Holy Cow: Does God Care What We Eat? for more Biblically-based information on the subject of diet.
Challenge
If you’re thinking of going Biblically clean, try it out as you’re waiting for God’s answer. Eat Biblically clean for one month and see what happens. Did you think about God more or the same amount? Did you find yourself in the Word more or less? Did discipline in other areas of your life increase or stay the same? Does the thought of returning to the way you previously ate bother you?
