Hebrew Basics: The Language of Scripture

Course Overview

Hebrew is the original language of most of the Old Testament and the language spoken by Yahusha and His disciples. Learning Hebrew basics opens up deeper understanding of Scripture, the sacred names, and the richness of Yahuah's Word. This course introduces the Hebrew alphabet, vowels, basic vocabulary, and word studies.

Zephaniah 3:9 - "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Yahuah, to serve him with one consent."

1. Why Learn Hebrew? 2. The Aleph-Bet (Part 1) 3. The Aleph-Bet (Part 2) 4. Vowels (Nikkud) 5. Reading Hebrew 6. Hebrew Numbers 7. Vocabulary: Creation Words 8. Vocabulary: People & Family 9. The Sacred Names 10. Hebrew Word Studies

Lesson 1: Why Learn Hebrew?

📖 RECEIVE: The Language of Yahuah

Hebrew is more than just a language—it's the language Yahuah used to give His Torah, the language of the prophets, and likely the "pure language" that will be restored.

Reasons to Learn Hebrew:

Deeper Scripture understanding: Many meanings are lost in translation
Sacred Names: Properly pronounce Yahuah, Yahusha, and other names
Word studies: Discover rich meanings in original words
Pictographic meaning: Ancient Hebrew letters tell stories
Prophecy: Hebrew may be restored as the universal language

Example: Lost in Translation

The English word "love" is one word. Hebrew has several:

אַהֲבָה

Ahavah (אַהֲבָה) - deep, committed love

Each Hebrew word carries specific meaning that English can't capture.

Hebrew Basics

Hebrew reads right to left (opposite of English)
The alphabet has 22 letters (all consonants)
Vowels are shown with dots and dashes called nikkud
Each letter has a numerical value
Ancient Hebrew letters were pictographs (pictures)

✏️ RECALL: Practice Questions

1. Which direction does Hebrew read?

2. How many letters are in the Hebrew alphabet?

3. What are the dots and dashes that show vowels called?

4. Name two reasons to learn Hebrew:

Lesson 2: The Aleph-Bet (Part 1)

📖 RECEIVE: Letters 1-11

The Hebrew alphabet is called the Aleph-Bet (from the first two letters). Let's learn the first 11 letters:

א Aleph Silent / 'A' = 1

ב Bet/Vet B or V = 2

ג Gimel G (hard) = 3

ד Dalet D = 4

ה Hey H = 5

ו Vav V / O / U = 6

ז Zayin Z = 7

ח Chet CH (guttural) = 8

ט Tet T = 9

י Yod Y = 10

כ ך Kaf K or CH = 20

Pronunciation Tips

Chet (ח): Like clearing your throat—"Bach" composer
Bet/Vet: With a dot (בּ) = B; without dot (ב) = V
Kaf (ך): Final form used at end of words

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet?

2. Which letter makes the "Y" sound?

3. What is the numerical value of Gimel (ג)?

4. Which letter can make either B or V sounds?

Lesson 3: The Aleph-Bet (Part 2)

📖 RECEIVE: Letters 12-22

Now let's learn the remaining 11 letters:

ל Lamed L = 30

מ ם Mem M = 40

נ ן Nun N = 50

ס Samech S = 60

ע Ayin Silent / 'A' = 70

פ ף Pey/Fey P or F = 80

צ ץ Tsade TS = 90

ק Qof Q/K = 100

ר Resh R = 200

שׁ שׂ Shin/Sin SH or S = 300

ת Tav T = 400

Final Forms (Sofit)

Five letters have different forms when at the END of a word:

Letter	Regular	Final (Sofit)
Kaf	כ	ך
Mem	מ	ם
Nun	נ	ן
Pey	פ	ף
Tsade	צ	ץ

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet?

2. Which letter makes the "SH" sound?

3. How many letters have "final forms"?

4. What is the numerical value of Shin (ש)?

Lesson 4: Vowels (Nikkud)

📖 RECEIVE: The Vowel System

Hebrew consonants need vowels to be pronounced. Nikkud (נִקּוּד) are dots and dashes placed above or below letters to show vowels.

Main Vowels

Name	Symbol	Sound	Example
Patach	בַ	"a" as in father	אָב (av)
Kamatz	בָ	"a" as in father	שָׁלוֹם
Segol	בֶ	"e" as in bed	אֶרֶץ (eretz)
Tsere	בֵ	"ey" as in they	בֵּן (ben)
Chirik	בִ	"i" as in machine	עִם (im)
Cholam	בֹ	"o" as in go	שָׁלוֹם
Shuruq	בוּ	"oo" as in boot	שׁוּב (shuv)
Kubutz	בֻ	"oo" as in boot	חֻקָּה

Reading with Vowels

Vowels appear below or above the consonant they follow:

בָּרוּךְ

Baruch = "Blessed" (bah-ROOKH)

Read right to left: ב (B) + kamatz (a) + ר (R) + shuruq (oo) + ך (ch)

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What is the Hebrew word for the vowel markings?

2. Where do vowel markings usually appear?

3. Which vowel makes the "oo" sound (like boot)?

Lesson 5: Reading Hebrew

📖 RECEIVE: Putting It Together

Now let's practice reading Hebrew words! Remember: right to left.

Practice Words

Hebrew	Pronunciation	Meaning
שָׁלוֹם	Shalom	Peace
אָמֵן	Amen	So be it / Truth
תּוֹרָה	Torah	Law / Instruction
אָב	Av	Father
אֵם	Em	Mother
בֵּן	Ben	Son
בַּת	Bat	Daughter
מֶלֶךְ	Melech	King
אֱלֹהִים	Elohim	God (plural majesty)
קָדוֹשׁ	Kadosh	Holy

Common Hebrew Phrases

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem = "Peace be upon you"
בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם - Baruch HaShem = "Blessed be the Name"
הַלְלוּיָהּ - HalleluYah = "Praise Yah!"
תּוֹדָה רַבָּה - Todah Rabbah = "Thank you very much"

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What does "Shalom" mean?

2. What does "Torah" mean?

3. How do you say "king" in Hebrew?

4. What does "HalleluYah" mean?

Lesson 6: Hebrew Numbers

📖 RECEIVE: Letters as Numbers

In Hebrew, letters double as numbers. This is called gematria. Each letter has a value:

Number	Hebrew	Letter Name
1	א	Aleph
2	ב	Bet
3	ג	Gimel
4	ד	Dalet
5	ה	Hey
6	ו	Vav
7	ז	Zayin
8	ח	Chet
9	ט	Tet
10	י	Yod

Larger Numbers

20 = כ (Kaf), 30 = ל (Lamed), 40 = מ (Mem), 50 = נ (Nun)

100 = ק (Qof), 200 = ר (Resh), 300 = ש (Shin), 400 = ת (Tav)

Example: 15 would be י (10) + ה (5) = יה, but this spells "Yah" so 15 is written טו (9+6)

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What is the numerical value of Aleph?

2. Which letter represents the number 10?

3. What is Hebrew letters-as-numbers called?

Lesson 7: Vocabulary - Creation Words

📖 RECEIVE: Words from Genesis

Let's learn vocabulary from the creation account:

Hebrew	Transliteration	Meaning
בְּרֵאשִׁית	Bereshit	In the beginning
בָּרָא	Bara	Created (from nothing)
שָׁמַיִם	Shamayim	Heavens / Sky
אֶרֶץ	Eretz	Earth / Land
אוֹר	Or	Light
חֹשֶׁךְ	Choshech	Darkness
מַיִם	Mayim	Water
רָקִיעַ	Raqia	Firmament / Expanse
יוֹם	Yom	Day
לַיְלָה	Laylah	Night
טוֹב	Tov	Good
אָדָם	Adam	Man / Mankind
חַוָּה	Chavah	Eve (Life-giver)

Genesis 1:1

בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ

"In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth."

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What does "Bereshit" mean?

2. How do you say "light" in Hebrew?

3. What does "Eretz" mean?

4. What does "Tov" mean?

Lesson 8: Vocabulary - People & Family

📖 RECEIVE: Family and Relationship Words

Hebrew	Transliteration	Meaning
אִישׁ	Ish	Man / Husband
אִשָּׁה	Ishah	Woman / Wife
אָב	Av / Abba	Father
אֵם	Em / Ima	Mother
בֵּן	Ben	Son
בַּת	Bat	Daughter
אָח	Ach	Brother
אָחוֹת	Achot	Sister
מִשְׁפָּחָה	Mishpachah	Family
עַם	Am	People / Nation
יִשְׂרָאֵל	Yisrael	Israel
יְהוּדִי	Yehudi	Jew / Jewish

Hebrew Names Often Have Meaning

Benyamin (בִּנְיָמִין) = "Son of the right hand"
Sarah (שָׂרָה) = "Princess"
David (דָּוִד) = "Beloved"
Miriam (מִרְיָם) = "Bitter / Rebellious" or "Wished-for child"

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. How do you say "father" in Hebrew?

2. What does "Ben" mean?

3. How do you say "family" in Hebrew?

4. What does "Am" mean?

Lesson 9: The Sacred Names

📖 RECEIVE: The Names of the Almighty

Understanding the Hebrew names of the Father and Son helps us know them more intimately.

The Father's Name

יהוה

YHWH - The Tetragrammaton (four letters)

Pronounced: Yahuah (YAH-hoo-AH)

Meaning: "I AM" / "He who exists" / "The Self-Existent One"

From the Hebrew root הָיָה (hayah) = "to be/exist"

The Son's Name

יהושע

Pronounced: Yahusha (YAH-hoo-SHAH)

Meaning: "Yahuah is Salvation" / "Yah saves"

Composed of: יהו (Yahu) + שע (sha = saves)

Hebrew	Transliteration	Meaning
יהוה	Yahuah (YHWH)	The Father's personal name
יהושע	Yahusha	The Messiah's Hebrew name
אֱלֹהִים	Elohim	God (plural of majesty)
אֵל	El	God (singular)
אֲדֹנָי	Adonai	Lord / Master
אֵל שַׁדַּי	El Shaddai	God Almighty
יָהּ	Yah	Short form of Yahuah

Exodus 3:14-15 - "And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM... YHWH (יהוה), Elohim of your fathers... this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."

✏️ RECALL: Practice

1. What are the four Hebrew letters of the Father's name (YHWH)?

2. What does "Yahusha" mean?

3. What is the short form of Yahuah found in "HalleluYah"?

4. What does "El Shaddai" mean?

Lesson 10: Hebrew Word Studies

📖 RECEIVE: Deeper Word Meanings

Hebrew words often have richer meanings than their English translations. Let's study some important words:

שָׁלוֹם (Shalom)

Usually translated "peace," but means much more:

Completeness, wholeness
Safety, soundness
Welfare, prosperity
Health in body and mind
Harmony in relationships

Shalom is not just absence of conflict—it's total well-being!

תְּשׁוּבָה (Teshuvah)

Often translated "repentance," it literally means "return"

Repentance is not just feeling sorry—it's returning to Yahuah and His ways!

אֱמֶת (Emet)

Means "truth" but also "faithfulness, reliability, stability"

Made of א (Aleph), מ (Mem), ת (Tav) - first, middle, and last letters

Truth encompasses everything from beginning to end!

חֶסֶד (Chesed)

Often translated "mercy" or "lovingkindness"

Means: loyal love, covenant faithfulness, steadfast devotion

This is Yahuah's unwavering commitment to His people!

🎯 RESPOND: Apply Your Learning

1. How does knowing "teshuvah" means "return" change your understanding of repentance?

2. Why is "shalom" a richer concept than just "peace"?

3. Write three Hebrew words you learned and their meanings:

4. How will learning Hebrew help you understand Scripture better?

Answer Key

Lesson 1

1. Right to left | 2. 22 | 3. Nikkud | 4. Any two: deeper Scripture understanding, sacred names, word studies, pictographic meaning, prophecy

Lesson 2

1. Aleph | 2. Yod | 3. 3 | 4. Bet

Lesson 3

1. Tav | 2. Shin | 3. Five | 4. 300

Lesson 4

1. Nikkud | 2. Below (or above) the consonant | 3. Shuruq or Kubutz

Lesson 5

1. Peace | 2. Law / Instruction | 3. Melech | 4. Praise Yah!

Lesson 6

1. 1 | 2. Yod (י) | 3. Gematria

Lesson 7

1. In the beginning | 2. Or (אוֹר) | 3. Earth / Land | 4. Good

Lesson 8

1. Av or Abba | 2. Son | 3. Mishpachah | 4. People / Nation

Lesson 9

1. Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey (יהוה) | 2. "Yahuah is Salvation" or "Yah saves" | 3. Yah | 4. God Almighty

Course Overview

Table of Contents

Lesson 1: Why Learn Hebrew?

Reasons to Learn Hebrew:

Example: Lost in Translation

Hebrew Basics

Lesson 2: The Aleph-Bet (Part 1)

Pronunciation Tips

Lesson 3: The Aleph-Bet (Part 2)

Final Forms (Sofit)

Lesson 4: Vowels (Nikkud)

Main Vowels

Reading with Vowels

Lesson 5: Reading Hebrew

Practice Words

Common Hebrew Phrases

Lesson 6: Hebrew Numbers

Larger Numbers

Lesson 7: Vocabulary - Creation Words

Lesson 8: Vocabulary - People & Family

Hebrew Names Often Have Meaning

Lesson 9: The Sacred Names

The Father's Name

The Son's Name

Lesson 10: Hebrew Word Studies

שָׁלוֹם (Shalom)

תְּשׁוּבָה (Teshuvah)

אֱמֶת (Emet)

חֶסֶד (Chesed)

Answer Key

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9