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In addition to the seven biblically commanded feasts in Leviticus 23, some Christians observe Purim and Hanukkah. While these celebrations have been primarily Jewish throughout history, they offer a rich supplement to the faith of a Christian. They also serve to pass traditions on to the next generation that increase biblical understanding and, ultimately, understanding of God Himself!
Purim
The back story of Purim is the book of Esther. It’s an exciting story with plotting, scheming, suspense, and an unlikely hero. To summarize, God saved the Jewish people from destruction through Queen Esther, a young Jewish orphan, and Mordecai, the cousin who raised her. In Esther 9:20-22, Mordecai instituted Purim as an annual celebration to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the evil Haman who had plotted to destroy them. He said it would be a day of feasting, rejoicing, sending food gifts to one another, and giving gifts to the poor.
Purim doesn’t seem to have changed much since then. Lasting two days, it is still a joyful time of feasting. Gifts are still given to others, and charity is given to the poor. One of the most memorable Purim traditions is dressing up like characters from the story or wearing masks. Our Messianic Synagogue once had an Esther costume contest, and all the young women put on their best Queen Esther costume.
Another Purim tradition is reading the Megillah or the book of Esther. This reading is often done dramatically or theatrically, including omitting Haman’s name or booing each time his name is read.
Hamantachen are a traditional Purim dessert. They’re tri-cornered pastries with a sweet filling and are a tasty addition to the celebration. There are many different explanations for Hamantaschen being the official dessert of Purim, and the most common is that they’re made to represent Haman’s hat, ear, or pockets.
Aside from being fun to celebrate, why would a Christian be interested in celebrating Purim? What message does the book of Esther and, thus, Purim have for Gentiles? The simple answer is two-fold.
Having been grafted into God’s kingdom (Rom. 11:11-24), Christians are the Gentile version of God’s people, the Jews. The importance of the Jewish people to God cannot be overlooked when studying the Old Testament. It was God’s clear intention to send the Messiah to them (Rom. 1:16). Because many Jews rejected him as the Messiah, Gentiles, whose faith was in Jesus as Messiah, were then included in the Kingdom of God as well. This inclusion means that God’s promises, protection, and provision given to the Jewish people also apply to Christians. We celebrate His deliverance of the Jews in Esther’s time as our deliverance as God’s people.
The second reason Christians celebrate Purim is that it celebrates God’s faithfulness. As Christians, we are the living testimony to God’s eternal faithfulness, and that’s the hope we have to offer the Godless world. The story of Esther is just one of an endless list of examples of God’s protection and provision at a time that seemed hopeless for His people.
With many different spellings in English, Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple following a miraculous victory by a small number of Jews against a large army determined to extinguish them. Jewish traditions were outlawed under the Hellenistic Syrian rule of Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanes). The Temple scrolls were confiscated, and Sabbath observation, adherence to a Kosher diet, and circumcision were punishable by death!
When forced to eat pork or offer sacrifices to foreign gods, many Jews were tortured and put to death. Idols were placed in the Temple. In the writings of Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, it’s recorded that pigs were sacrificed on the Temple altar. Some Jews protected themselves by simply assimilating with the Hellenistic culture. A few hid from the Syrians in caves in the hills of Judea.
A few Jews led by Judah called Maccabee decided to fight for the Torah and their God. Of course, Antiochus sent men to defeat them, but they were instead victorious! Antiochus sent another group, again defeated, and then organized a larger war effort of 40,000 men. Judah and his men were again victorious over a series of battles, though the odds were against them.
Upon their return to Jerusalem, they removed the idols from the Temple. The story goes that they found the Temple menorah gone and had to make another one. There was only one day’s worth of oil to light the menorah, and it would take eight days to make more. Since the menorah is supposed to stay lit, this posed a problem. They lit the menorah with the oil they had, and it stayed lit for the eight days it took to make more oil – a miracle.
Hanukkah’s most noticeable symbol today is the Hanukkiah, a modified menorah with nine lights. One more light is lit each night of Hanukkah until all lights are lit on the last night of Hanukkah. The ninth light is used to light the other candles. Traditional foods during Hanukkah are cooked in oil (in reference to the Temple Menorah story). Latkes, a fried potato pancake, and jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot are popular during Hanukkah. Another common symbol for this festival – the dreidel – represents the dreidel game played during the eight-day celebration.
The story behind Hanukkah is not in the Protestant bible. It’s found in the first and second books of the Maccabees and combined with Jewish legend. Observing an occasion found in an extrabiblical source makes many Christians uncomfortable, but the historical story’s main conclusion is one Christians can fully embrace. Like the time of Esther, the Jewish people were again faced with extinction and seemingly impossible circumstances. And yet again, God preserved them through His own means, by His own plan, to show His glory.
Another reason Hanukkah holds meaning for Christians is that we, as God’s people, also face persecution. American Christians are comfortable now due to our freedom to worship, but it may not always be that way, and that isn’t the case currently for Christians elsewhere in the world. God’s people have been and will be persecuted throughout history, but the faithful of us will stand for our God despite even horrific circumstances.
Hanukkah celebrates the cleansing and rededication of the Temple. It was cleansed of idols and desecration and rededicated to God as it was meant to be. This concept should cause a Christian to look inward. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, our bodies are temples. As Christians, we should live our entire lives as a Hanukkah celebration – lives that celebrate our cleansing from sin through Jesus and our rededication to God as we accept him as our Savior and His Spirit lives in us! The Hanukkah story is a beautiful picture of the change that’s taken place in the souls of each Christian!
Furthermore, John 10:22-33 records Jesus celebrating the Feast of Dedication. If it was important enough to be observed by our Savior, it should also be important to us! On the Temple porch, he chooses this day to announce that he is the Messiah.
These two Jewish celebrations have much to offer when integrated into the Christian faith. Since Christians share a place with Jews in the Kingdom of God, Jewish religious festivals can also be meaningful to our faith. The messages of God’s sovereignty, deliverance, faithfulness, cleansing, and rededication are portrayed through stories and the celebrations they’re based upon. Observing Hanukkah and Purim has grown my family spiritually, and I believe it will benefit yours as well!
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The traditionally Jewish celebration of Purim commemorates God’s
deliverance of the Jewish people as recounted in the historical book of Esther
in the Bible’s Old Testament. It’s an
exciting story but more than that, it has an important message for Christians. It tells of God’s faithfulness and His love
for His people and of His plan for their deliverance through the courage and faith
of a young woman.
The Story of Esther
The celebration of Purim doesn’t mean much if you’re not familiar
with the story of Esther, found in the book of Esther. The themes of this holiday tie very directly
into this exciting story with queens and kings, an evil villain, and an
unexpected hero. The paraphrased story
follows but don’t neglect to read the real version! There’s no substitute for the Word of God!
The Bash of the Century
The story begins with a party.
A big one. It was thrown by King
Ahashverosh. That’s his Persian name but
he’s called King Xerxes or Artaxerxes
depending on which Bible translation you read.
For 6 months, King Ahashverosh
of the Medes and Persians, who ruled 127
provinces total, partied with his army and the leaders of surrounding
provinces. The afterparty was a smaller
party, but this time with more drinking.
And this one lasted 7 days!
It was during this afterparty that a very inebriated King
Ahashverosh called for his queen, Vashti, to “display her beauty” at the
party. He also asked her to wear her
crown, which some interpret to mean that he wanted her to appear wearing only
her crown!
Queen Vashti refused, which greatly angered her husband. It also raised the eyebrows of the men close to him. They convened, deciding that Vashti’s punishment must be severe lest other wives follow suit, disobeying their husbands as well.
Queen Vashti was dethroned and prohibited from being in the
presence of the king. It wasn’t long
before King Ahashverosh
decided to replace her. It’s here that
we meet Esther, winner of a 127 province-wide beauty pageant, thrown by the
king. He
chose and married Esther after seeing her magnificent beauty.
Orphaned at a young age, Esther was being raised by her uncle, a
Jewish man named Mordecai. He’d advised
her to keep Jewish heritage a secret from her new royal acquaintances, so they
didn’t know she was Jewish and she carried on with her new royal life, Mordecai
looking on during his daily walks in front of the harem courts.
Mordecai Saves the King
In his usual position at the king’s gate, Mordecai overheard a
plot between two guards to assassinate King Ahashverosh and reported them through Queen Esther. The guards’ plan was discovered, and they
were hanged for their crime. Hailed as a hero, Mordecai’s actions won him
a place in the king’s Book of Chronicles, a historical account of the kingdom.
Enter the Villain
King Ahashverosh chose Haman of Amalekite decent, as his second
in command. Historically, the Amalekites
hated the Jewish people. Descendants of
Esau (and subsequently Amalek), these are the same people who went out of their
way to attack the Hebrew people in the desert after their Exodus from Egypt.
Because of his position, all were to bow before Haman when in his presence. Mordecai, knowing Haman’s background, refused to bow before him which drew intense animosity toward Mordecai. Haman not only wanted to kill Mordecai but also the Jewish people as a whole.
Haman’s Plot
Haman convinced King
Ahashverosh that it was in his best interest to get rid of the Jewish
people. At the time of this
conversation, neither man knew the true identity of their queen. The king granted Haman the authority to
extinguish the Jewish people and the decree was sent out to all provinces.
The Jewish community grieved deeply upon hearing the news and
word of the decision eventually reached Queen Esther. She sought out Mordecai and he encouraged her
to approach the king and plead for her people.
Knowing her appearance before the king without being summoned may be a
death sentence for her, she told him to have all Jews fast and pray for 3 days,
along with Esther and her maidens. Then
she courageously said that she’d go before the king, even though it was against
the law and, quote, “if I perish, I perish”.
Esther’s Invitation
When Esther appeared before King Ahashverosh, he not only spared her life, he said she could
have whatever she wanted – even up to half the kingdom! We can conclude he likes her a whole
lot! She
then invited the king and Haman to a banquet.
When they attended, King
Ahashverosh again asked her what she requested, offering her up to half the
kingdom and she invited them to a second banquet.
That evening, when Mordecai again had refused to bow before
Haman, the villain went home and vented his frustration with Mordecai to his
wife. Haman’s wife suggested he have gallows
constructed and hang Mordecai on it before the banquet the following evening.
That night, the king had a bout of insomnia and ordered that the
Book of Chronicles be read to him. Miraculously,
the part about Mordecai thwarting the assassination plan against King Ahashverosh was read. The king asked his servants what had been
done to reward Mordecai for his allegiance and they replied that nothing had
been done.
King Ahashverosh
had Haman brought in and asked him his opinion of what should be done for a man
the king wants to honor. Not-so-humbly
thinking it was himself, Haman suggested the honored man should be paraded
around the kingdom, riding the king’s horse and wearing royal robes and a
crown.
Just imagine the horrified look on Haman’s face when King Ahashverosh told him it was
actually Mordecai he intended to honor in this way. It was Haman himself that had to lead the
horse around with Mordecai on it!
Esther Accuses Haman
Then the time arrived for Esther’s second banquet. It was at this event that the tables turned. Esther revealed two pivotable bits of information that changed history. The first was that she was Jewish. The second was Haman’s plan to extinguish her people.
The king was angry at Haman and hanged
him on the very gallows Haman had intended to hang Mordecai on. King
Ahashverosh then promoted Mordecai to the position once held by Haman
and learned of the relationship between Mordecai and Esther.
At the request of Queen Esther, King Ahashverosh allowed Esther and
Mordecai to write letters in his name that revoked the previous decree for the
destruction of the Jews. It said that
they could defend themselves and even avenge themselves against their enemies. Haman’s 10 sons were hung and many of those
who had intended to destroy the Jews were killed as well.
Purim Established
There was great joy among the Jewish people because the king’s
decree had been lifted. They feasted and
celebrated, and Mordecai established Purim as the day that the Jewish people
would forever commemorate their preservation in the face of destruction.
The End. And God’s people
lived happily ever after. Well, we will
eventually. But that’s another story.
While it makes for a very entertaining story, how does the book
of Esther apply to us as Christians?
Does God have a message in this story and in the celebration centered
upon it?
Themes of Purim
On Purim, we celebrate the sovereignty of God’s plan over
man’s. Just like when Joseph told his
brothers “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20), God
took this seemingly tragic situation and turned it into a victory for His
people.
We also see that it was as Israel united that they were able to
overcome their enemies. If Esther had
accepted the king’s offer of half the kingdom (it would be tempting, no?)
instead of courageously pleading for her people, it appears that they would
have been destroyed!
Faith and Courage
Like Esther, we should have the faith and courage to do the work
God has for us. If we’re listening
closely in His Word, in prayer, and among His people, the Holy Spirit will make
what God has for us to do on Earth clear to each of us. He has uniquely gifted each of us for the job
he has for us. What a blessing that He
allows us to participate in His plans!
One thing that makes the book of Esther unique from others in the
Bible is that it doesn’t mention the name of God at all. Not once.
It shows that God was glorified through the actions of His people. When we step out in faith, God works through
us to show His power and glory to a watching world!
God’s Faithfulness
God’s faithfulness to and deliverance of His people is clearly
shown in the story of Esther. He not
only preserved the Jewish people through Esther, but He was with them before
this story and has been with them ever since.
Despite great persecution throughout history, the Jewish people don’t just
merely exist but are thriving!
As Christians, we’re grafted in to the promises God gave to His people in the Old Testament through Jesus, our Messiah, and we’re God’s people as well! He has been, is now, and will forever be faithful to us, just as He was to the Jews in the book of Esther. We know this because it’s shown in His word, in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us!
How Christians Celebrate Purim
Christians can celebrate Purim in much the same way the Jewish people have for thousands of years. While not one of the Biblical Feasts, Purim holds great significance for Christians also. The only difference is that we can also celebrate the deliverance from sin God has provided in Jesus as our savior. God’s always faithful, even when we’re not! Below are a few ways Purim can be celebrated in a Christian home and here’s a calendar of future Purim dates.
Read the book of Esther
This relatively short, yet fun to read book in the Old Testament
will bring to light the reasons for celebration on Purim. Many make this fun by booing or shaking an
unpleasant-sounding instrument called a “gragger” whenever Haman’s name is read
in the story or by cheering for Esther and Mordecai. These things also help keep children
entertained throughout the story.
Make
hamantaschen
This is not only the traditional dessert served on Purim, it’s a great gift to give on that day as well (see below). It’s a lot like a cookie or small pastry with fruit filling inside. Its three-cornered shape is supposed to represent Haman’s hat or even his ears! Tori Avey’s hamantaschen recipe is not only delicious, it also includes folding instructions and hints for success that other recipes don’t.
Give
gifts
Giving gifts was one of the ways Mordecai from the story of
Esther recommended we celebrate. These
are often edible gifts, with hamantaschen
topping the list of possibilities.
Give
to charity
Another of Mordecai’s suggestions, a gift to charity is a great idea any day but on Purim, it shows we’re grateful for the faithfulness of our God!
It’s not what you serve at this meal that’s Purim-specific. It just needs to be a joyful meal! This is not the time to be health-conscious
or anything. Make something everyone
loves and plenty of it – with hamantaschen for dessert!
Act
it out
A favorite of both children and adults, this is also a great way
to learn the story! Kids are suckers for
any dress-up game and this one is no exception.
You’ll need a Queen Esther, an evil Haman, a King Ahashverosh, a
Mordecai, and maybe even a Queen Vashti!
Fast
on Purim Eve
Also called the Fast of Esther, many fast the day before Purim in
remembrance of Queen Esther asking her people to fast and pray for three days
before she appeared before the king.
This is a great time to both praise God for what He’s done as well as
petition for His people. And don’t
worry! You can make up for those lost
calories with hamantaschen the next day!
*wink*
Greet
with Happy Purim!
While you could also say “Happy Purim”, you could kick it up a
notch with “Chag Purim Sameach”
(pronounced khog pur-im suh-may-ach).
That means “happy Purim festival”.
It’s literally festival Purim happy, but you get the idea!
Praise
God!
This is another thing you could do any day of the year but on
Purim, we praise Him specifically for His faithfulness, deliverance, and His never-ending
love for His people.
If you’d like to learn more about how Esther’s story relates to
the Gospel or to yourself, as a woman in this century, below are two books for
further study.
Enjoy your Purim celebration and give all the glory to God! Chag Purim Sameach!
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Below are a few Hebrew words that can be better understood in their original language and context. Not nearly an exhaustive list, these few words, better understood from a Hebrew perspective, will illuminate some familiar Christian concepts and bring us closer to the God of the Bible.
1. Shalom שָׁלוֹם (pronounced sha-lōm)
This is a common greeting in Hebrew. Upon meeting someone, you’d say “Shalom,” and they’d respond with the same. Many Hebrew speakers say, “Shalom Aleichem” (peace be with you) instead. On the Sabbath, we wish each other “Shabbat shalom” (Peaceful Sabbath).
The word shalom is often translated simply as peace. While this is partly what shalom means, it only partially conveys its meaning. The concept of shalom goes deeper than that and brings us to realize the perfection in our holy God!
Shalom is a noun with many meanings. Its definition includes completeness, soundness, and welfare, along with harmony, prosperity, and tranquility. We’re left without an English word to convey all these, but searching the Bible for the word shalom can illuminate its more profound significance. Believe it or not, understanding shalom can help us better understand our God’s character!
A Name for God
Shalom is part of one of the names for God in Judges 6:24. Having met God himself and seen firsthand His supernatural power, Gideon built an altar and named it “Jehovah Shalom” or “The LORD is peace” to let everyone know that our God is shalom. He is peace and wholeness, completeness and perfection, harmony and prosperity – all of it!
The Way Things Ought to Be
In his book, Not the Way it’s Supposed to Be, Cornelius Plantinga of Calvin Theological Seminary says the following about shalom:
“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”
CORNELIUS PLANTINGA
Jesus and Shalom
By examining the word shalom, we can also better know Jesus, our Messiah. Isaiah calls Jesus the “Prince of shalom” in verse 9:6. Of all the terms above that are used to define shalom, Jesus has those qualities and is the Prince of them!
We can also use other words from the same root word to better understand what Jesus is Prince of. “Whole,” “it was worth it,” “perfect,” “was paid for,” and “paid for in advance” are meanings of words that come from the same root as shalom. It’s no coincidence that those concepts are part of our story as well. The perfect Prince of Shalom found us worth it and paid for our sin, making us whole!
You already know this one. It’s a word we use in song and otherwise to praise God all the time! Hallelujah is made up of halal and Jah. Halal means “to praise,” “to shine,” “to be boastful,” “to act foolish,” and other similar terms. Jah or Yah is short for the name of God in the Bible, Yahweh. So, hallelujah is to praise God, make Him shine, boast in Him, or even go crazy worshiping Him!
Crazy Worship?!
Is that too much? Well, that depends. Are we just saying words when we praise God, or are we approaching the Creator of the universe to tell Him just how amazing we think He is? Those in heaven know more than we do about God’s awesomeness, and this is the word they use to worship Him!
“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…’ And a second time they said, ‘Hallelujah! …’ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’ …Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.’”
I don’t know about you, but reading these verses always gives me chills. Sometimes, we subconsciously fit God into our itty-bitty human box and forget that He’s the most awesome supernatural God ever. Try to picture this scene. God, on His heavenly throne, in His holy throne room, surrounded by heavenly elders and frightening creatures, is being worshiped by them. All the glory is His. The awe of the scene and God Himself is not lost on them, and they burst out with nothing other than repeated hallelujahs!
The powerful meaning behind hallelujah in our hearts when we worship might show Him at least a tiny shred of the praise He’s worthy of. What could we possibly say? It’s one of the best words our mortal mouths can offer. Hallelujah!
3. Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ(pronounced yeh-shoo-uh)
This word is often translated as “Joshua” in the Hebrew Old Testament. It’s also the name of Jesus, our Savior! So, wait. If his name is actually Yeshua, why do we call him Jesus? Where did that come from?
Why Do We Call Him Jesus?
Where Yeshua is found in the Hebrew Old Testament, it is translated into English as Joshua. It was a male name in Bible times, and there are a few different Joshuas or Yeshuas in the Bible. When translated from Greek to English in the New Testament, it underwent a couple of transitions and then became Jesus.
Many now argue that the name Jesus is incorrect and, therefore, should not be used, but we should be careful not to get sidetracked by this. Jesus lived in a multilingual area, and he would have also been. He probably taught and conversed in different languages as necessary. What’s important here and in Jesus’s teachings is to preserve the word’s meaning.
More Than Just a Name
Beyond being a name, the word Yeshua is used throughout the Hebrew scriptures, meaning “salvation.” It was derived from the Hebrew word yasha, which means “to deliver” or “to rescue.” There are many well-known examples of where it’s used in the Old Testament, but here are a couple of my favorites:
“The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation [yeshua];
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” Exodus 15:2
“He only is my rock and my salvation [yeshua],
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2
Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus’s name was the very thing he would do for us? Others with this same name in the Bible were also saviors of some type. Joshua led the Israelites during a time of numerous victories while conquering the land of Canaan. Yeshua, the High Priest, was the first High Priest in the rebuilt Temple following its destruction by the Babylonians. Isn’t it amazing that this important High Priest, the bridge from the Israelites to God, shares a name with our High Priest (Heb. 4:14) and way to God (John 14:6)?
4. Chesedחֶסֶד(pronounced che-sed, with the “ch” sound coming from the throat, as in Bach)
Known for its difficulty translating into English, this word contains a “chet,” a letter with a sound called a guttural. Since we don’t have true gutturals in English, it can be difficult to say this word correctly. Go ahead and practice. Say “Bach” – like the composer. Say it out loud. Listen for the sound at the end of the word, then say it at the beginning of chesed.
Chesed’s Meaning
Now that we know how it sounds, what does it mean? It’s commonly translated as mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, and goodness. It’s often used to convey God’s love toward His people, but, somewhat like God, it is much more complex than our first impression shows. Here are some very different examples of chesed’s use in the Bible.
“Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness [chesed] and truth; who keeps lovingkindness [chesed] for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.'” Exodus 34:6-7
“If there is a man who takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace [chesed]; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears his guilt.” Leviticus 20:17
Which is it?
In the above verse from Exodus, chesed is commonly translated as “lovingkindness .” God declares chesed an attribute of Himself. But then, the very same word is used to describe incestuous behavior, translated into English as “disgrace.” The contexts of both verses suggest two meanings for the same word, but this is not so.
Chesed translated as lovingkindness, mercy, charity, or even disgrace, doesn’t do justice to its whole meaning. This complex word conveys instead an attitude or behavior that shows an overflow of zeal or a lack of boundaries. Chesed comes from the Hebrew root meaning “eager and ardent desire .” It can mean both God-sized lovingkindness and disgrace worthy of great punishment because it is not a specific action but the passion or motivation behind it.
God’s
Infinite Love
When God describes His love for us using the word chesed, He’s telling us that He has a boundless, overflowing love for us! Inside His love for us is His infinite grace, immeasurable love, inexhaustible forgiveness, and unlimited charity. And seriously, Guys? None of us deserve that. I don’t care how great you think you are. We’re nothing but selfish, disobedient specks in this universe. What an awesome God we have that He would extend His chesed to us!
5. Shema שְׁמַע (pronounced shuh-ma)
This word is the first one in The Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is recited regularly by Orthodox Jews and by many Christians. It’s also the verse Jesus refers to when asked what the greatest commandment is.
“Hear [Shema], O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
To Hear?
Shema is generally translated as “hear .” But right now, I can hear birds singing out the window, my daughter’s TV show in the background, and the keystrokes on my laptop. If the word shema is used to call the attention of the people of Israel and is followed by informing them that their lives should be a walking testament to God Himself, the word “hear” doesn’t quite convey what’s being said. In addition to “hear,”shema is also translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as “report,” “fame,” “tidings, “loud,” and “speech.”
It Requires Action
If you take the word with its context, however, it means more than the culmination of these words. In Deuteronomy 6, Shema is a command to not only hear God’s words but to act on them. I think of it in the same way as when I tell my children to listen. I don’t only mean for them to stop what they’re doing and hear what I say. I mean for them to hear and internalize what I say so that they remember and obey it.
This meaning is the same as shema can have. We need to pay attention—always studying God’s Word and spending time in prayer with Him so we can hear His words in the first place. Then, we need to internalize what He says, not just read or hear it and forget it. We need to remember it and, when required, obey it and apply it to our lives.
6. Amen אָמֵן (pronounced ah-meyn)
I know, I know – everyone knows this one. But did you know that it was a Hebrew word? Also, look at the above pronunciation. We can argue all day whether or not it’s pronounced ah-men or ay-men or when to use either, but for those who want to be purists about it, it’s neither!
The Deeper Meaning
This Biblical Hebrew word is unique because its primary meaning has not been lost in translation and cultural differences. “So be it” is the usual translation for amen. Amen is used correctly when we use it to affirm something someone says or after a prayer. Its root is aman, meaning “to confirm or support .” A related word is amanah, which means truthfulness, confirmation, credence, or belief. By saying amen, we’re stating that we confirm what has been said, believe in it, and find it true.
We say it to conclude our prayers and signify when we pray in unison with other people. We also use it in song to affirm the words and the message of our worship. Some even yell it out in church when a pastor says something that resounds with them.
The Conclusion of God’s Word
Our entire Bible concludes with this word. The last verse in the Bible sums up the whole Word, then affirms this message of truth with the “so be it” we know so well:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21
Amen is also translated as “truth,” as in the following verse.
“Because he who is blessed in the earth
Will be blessed by the God of truth [amen];
And he who swears in the earth
Will swear by the God of truth [amen];
Because the former troubles are forgotten,
And because they are hidden from My sight!” Isaiah 65:16
Each word “truth” in this verse comes from amen in Hebrew. It says twice here that God is the “God of amen,” so this is one of God’s attributes or characteristics. He is the God of truth but also of confirmation, faithfulness, support, and affirmation of that truth. How privileged are we to have someone like this as our God?!
7. Mashiach מָשִׁיחַ (pronounced ma-shee-ach)
This word can be translated as “messiah,” but more literally means “anointed one.” In most places in the Bible, the English is “anointed one .” Only two verses translate it as “Messiah .” When used to refer to Jesus as the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach is used. Yeshua HaMashiach means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.”
Why Anoint?
The process of anointing someone with oil served to set that individual apart for service to God. It was used in the Old Testament to appoint priests (Ex. 29:7) and to establish kings over God’s people. Saul and David were appointed in this way (1 Sam. 10:1 and 2 Sam. 16:12-13), and prophecy in the Old Testament speaks of Jesus as Mashiach, “anointed one.”
“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah [Mashiach] the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.” Daniel 9:25
In this verse, Mashiach is usually translated as “Messiah” instead of “Anointed One,” but the Hebrew word is the same. Jesus is truly our Mashiach! He has been anointed by God, chosen, and appointed to be our king and high priest!
8. Davar דָּבָר (pronounced duh-var)
The most basic translation of davar is that it means “word .” It can also mean “speak,” “pronounce,” “formalize,” “thing,” or “establish .” Here are some examples of its use in the Old Testament.
“And the Lord spoke [davar] to Moses, saying, “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” Exodus 6:10-11
“‘ Is anything [davar] too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.'” Genesis 18:14
“Then behold, the word [davar] of the Lord came to him…” Genesis 15:4
Although davar is translated as three different English words in the verses above, it means all of them. The context of each is used to derive the word’s meaning in each situation in which it’s used so that the essence of the scripture is not lost.
Its Use in the New Testament
But things get exciting when davar is translated from Hebrew into Greek in the New Testament. This word is translated into two different Greek words: logos, which refers to a written word, and rhema, which refers to the utterance or the thing that was said.
Jesus, Our Written Word
At the beginning of the book of John, Jesus is referred to as “the Word .” Logos is the Greek word used here, so we can conclude that Jesus is a type of written word. He was here on earth in a physical form and could be “read” as people could watch him and listen to him teach about God and himself. Some of these people recorded the events of his life on earth so we, too, can “read” him.
“In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God.” John 1:1
The Power of God’s Word
Later in the New Testament, Hebrews 11:3 tells us that God’s word created something out of nothing.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word [rhema] of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3
In this verse, the Greek rhema is used in place of “davar,” which is translated into English as “word .” But the implication of this verse is to show us just what kind of power there is in God’s spoken words! God spoke davar into nothingness and created order, an entire universe, and even us!
Davar teaches us that we can “read” Jesus, our “written” Word. He has been there all along, from before creation, but came to earth so we could learn from him and rescue ourselves from certain destruction. It also shows the power of God’s very utterances. He’s so awesome that things that previously didn’t exist spring into existence, just at His word!
It’s unsurprising when these two concepts come together further into the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 calls Jesus “the power and the wisdom of God .” The Word, God’s davar, IS His very power and wisdom! Our Savior is the magnificent power and the infinite wisdom of God!
9. Ra’ רַע (pronounced rah)
There are many different words for sin in the Bible, but ra’ is used more than 600 times! It comes from another Hebrew word, ra’a, meaning evil or bad. When you remove the “a” sound at the end, its meaning encompasses “evil,” “harm,” “displeasure,” or “misery,” but it also conveys an aspect of brokenness. It can mean “broken into pieces,” like when something’s completely ruined, or “blemished,” like things unfit for presentation to God, such as for sacrifice.
Use in Scripture
The ugly, gaunt cows from Pharaoh’s dream in Genesis 41 are described using this word, as is the wild beast that Joseph’s brothers claimed devoured him in Genesis 37. It’s also translated into “evil” in describing the tree in the Garden of Eden. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Ra’.
Brokenness
While we know that sin is disobedience to God, without the aspect of brokenness, we have no reason to turn to our Savior. Everyone knows there’s sin in their life, but not everyone realizes their brokenness in it. We all know someone who says, “Sure, I’ve done bad things, but I’m a good person overall.” They imply that sin is just part of who we are, but God will compare us to one another and forgive the good people for being less evil than the really evil ones.
It sounds great, but that’s just not how it works. The Bible says that we ALL have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). He’s just too glorious, too perfect, and too holy for us – even the good ones – to ever measure up to Him. HE is what we’ll be compared to in judgment, so we all need Jesus, the only person to have kept all of the Law perfectly, as our substitute.
Without realizing that the ra’ in our hearts has left us blemished, unacceptable, and broken before God, we cannot see our need to accept the gift of Jesus. When we get to the point of being devastated by our ra’, we can then humbly approach God, genuinely repentant, and be made unblemished, acceptable, and perfect in the eyes of our Creator, fit for communion with Him!
These are just a few Hebrew words that can enrich our faith by understanding them in their original form. Imagine what can come to light while learning even more of the Hebrew language! As lifelong students of the Bible, learning its primary original language will deepen our faith and our relationship with the God of the universe!
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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!
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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.
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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!
