עִבְרִית

Biblical Hebrew Level 1

Learning the Language of Scripture

Level 1: Aleph-Bet & Basics

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to Hebrew
  2. Aleph-Bet Part 1 (א-ה)
  3. Aleph-Bet Part 2 (ו-י)
  4. Aleph-Bet Part 3 (כ-ע)
  5. Aleph-Bet Part 4 (פ-ת)
  6. Vowels (Nikud)
  7. Basic Words
  8. Sacred Names
  9. Numbers 1-10
  10. Simple Phrases
  11. Review & Practice

Introduction: Why Learn Hebrew?

"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." - Zephaniah 3:9

Hebrew (עִבְרִית - Ivrit) is the original language of the Torah and most of the Scripture. By learning Hebrew, you can:

About Hebrew:

Learning Tip

Practice writing each letter 10 times. Say its name and sound as you write!

1Aleph-Bet Part 1: א-ה

א

ALEPH (Silent Letter)

Sound: Silent (carries vowel)
Pictograph: Ox head
Meaning: Strength, leader
ב

BET / VET

Sound: B (or V without dot)
Pictograph: House/tent
Meaning: House, family
ג

GIMEL

Sound: G (as in "go")
Pictograph: Camel/foot
Meaning: To lift up, carry
ד

DALET

Sound: D
Pictograph: Door
Meaning: Door, pathway
ה

HEY

Sound: H
Pictograph: Man with arms raised
Meaning: Behold, reveal

Practice Writing: א ב ג ד ה

Write each letter 5 times on the lines below:

2Aleph-Bet Part 2: ו-י

ו

VAV

Sound: V (or W, or vowel O/U)
Pictograph: Tent peg/hook
Meaning: And, connect, secure
ז

ZAYIN

Sound: Z
Pictograph: Weapon/plow
Meaning: Cut, nourish
ח

CHET

Sound: CH (guttural, like "Bach")
Pictograph: Fence/wall
Meaning: Separate, protect
ט

TET

Sound: T
Pictograph: Basket/snake
Meaning: Surround, contain
י

YOD

Sound: Y
Pictograph: Hand/arm
Meaning: Work, deed, make

Practice Writing: ו ז ח ט י

3Aleph-Bet Part 3: כ-ע

כ / ך
KAF / KHAF
K or CH
ל
LAMED
L
מ / ם
MEM
M
נ / ן
NUN
N
ס
SAMECH
S
ע
AYIN
Silent (guttural)

Final Letters (Sofit)

Five Hebrew letters have a different form when they appear at the END of a word:

כ→ך | מ→ם | נ→ן | פ→ף | צ→ץ

Letter Details:

Practice Writing: כ ל מ נ ס ע

4Aleph-Bet Part 4: פ-ת

פ / ף
PEY / FEY
P or F
צ / ץ
TSADE
TS
ק
QOF
Q/K
ר
RESH
R
שׁ / שׂ
SHIN / SIN
SH or S
ת
TAV
T

Letter Details:

The letter TAV (ת) was originally written as a cross (+) or X mark - the sign of the covenant! This is the mark Yahuah put on the foreheads of the righteous in Ezekiel 9:4.

Complete Aleph-Bet Review

Write the entire Aleph-Bet from memory:

5Vowels (Nikud)

Hebrew vowels are marks placed under, above, or beside the consonant letters. Originally, Hebrew was written without vowels - readers knew how to pronounce words from context!

Common Vowels:

בָ

KAMATZ (ָ) = "ah" sound

בַ

PATACH (ַ) = "ah" sound (short)

בֵ

TSERE (ֵ) = "ay" sound

בֶ

SEGOL (ֶ) = "eh" sound

בִ

CHIRIK (ִ) = "ee" sound

בֹ

CHOLAM (ֹ) = "oh" sound

בוּ

SHURUK (וּ) = "oo" sound

בְ

SHEVA (ְ) = very short or silent

Memory Tip

The dot in CHIRIK (ִ) looks like a small "i" - and makes the "ee" sound!

Practice: Read These Syllables

בָ בֵ בִ בֹ בוּ

bah, bay, bee, boh, boo

6Basic Hebrew Words

Hebrew Transliteration Meaning
שָׁלוֹם shalom peace, hello, goodbye
תּוֹרָה Torah instruction, law
אָמֵן amen so be it, truly
הַלְלוּיָהּ halleluyah praise Yah!
אָב av father
אֵם em mother
בֵּן ben son
בַּת bat daughter
מַיִם mayim water
לֶחֶם lechem bread
אֶרֶץ eretz land, earth
שָׁמַיִם shamayim heavens, sky

Write Each Word 3 Times:

שָׁלוֹם (shalom)

תּוֹרָה (Torah)

הַלְלוּיָהּ (halleluyah)

7The Sacred Names

"And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM... This is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations." - Exodus 3:14-15
יהוה

YAHUAH - The Father's Name

The Tetragrammaton: Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey

Meaning: "I AM" / "He who causes to exist"

Breaking Down the Name:

Letter Name Pictograph Meaning
י YOD Hand - work, deed
ה HEY Behold - reveal
ו VAV Nail/Peg - secure
ה HEY Behold - reveal

Pictograph message: "Behold the hand, behold the nail!"

יהושע

YAHUSHA - The Son's Name

Meaning: "Yahuah saves" or "Yahuah is salvation"

Other Important Names:

Hebrew Name Meaning
אֱלֹהִים Elohim Mighty One(s)
אֲדֹנָי Adonai Master, Lord
אֵל El Mighty One
רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ Ruach HaKodesh Set-Apart Spirit

Practice Writing the Sacred Names:

Write יהוה (YAHUAH) 5 times:

Write יהושע (YAHUSHA) 5 times:

8Hebrew Numbers 1-10

Number Hebrew Transliteration Letter Value
1 אֶחָד echad א = 1
2 שְׁנַיִם sh'nayim ב = 2
3 שָׁלשׁ shalosh ג = 3
4 אַרְבַּע arba ד = 4
5 חָמֵשׁ chamesh ה = 5
6 שֵׁשׁ shesh ו = 6
7 שֶׁבַע sheva ז = 7
8 שְׁמוֹנֶה shmoneh ח = 8
9 תֵּשַׁע tesha ט = 9
10 עֶשֶׂר eser י = 10

Hebrew Numerology (Gematria)

Each Hebrew letter has a number value! This is why 666 is written with Hebrew letters in Revelation.

Count in Hebrew!

Practice saying: echad, sh'nayim, shalosh, arba, chamesh, shesh, sheva, shmoneh, tesha, eser!

9Simple Phrases

Hebrew Transliteration Meaning
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה Baruch atah Yahuah Blessed are You, Yahuah
שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם Shabbat shalom Peaceful Sabbath
טוֹב מְאֹד tov me'od very good
תּוֹדָה רַבָּה todah rabbah thank you very much
בְּשֵׁם יהוה b'shem Yahuah in the name of Yahuah
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל Shema Yisrael Hear, O Israel
יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהוה אֶחָד Yahuah Eloheinu Yahuah Echad Yahuah our Elohim, Yahuah is One

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהוה אֶחָד

"Hear, O Israel: Yahuah our Elohim, Yahuah is One!" - Deuteronomy 6:4

Memorize the Shema!

This is the most important verse in Hebrew. Practice saying it daily!

Write it 3 times:

10Review & Final Practice

The Complete Aleph-Bet:

א
Aleph
ב
Bet
ג
Gimel
ד
Dalet
ה
Hey
ו
Vav
ז
Zayin
ח
Chet
ט
Tet
י
Yod
כ
Kaf
ל
Lamed
מ
Mem
נ
Nun
ס
Samech
ע
Ayin
פ
Pey
צ
Tsade
ק
Qof
ר
Resh
שׁ
Shin
ת
Tav

Final Test: Translate These Words

  1. שָׁלוֹם = ______________
  2. תּוֹרָה = ______________
  3. אָב = ______________
  4. אֵם = ______________
  5. יהוה = ______________
  6. יהושע = ______________
  7. מַיִם = ______________
  8. לֶחֶם = ______________
  9. אֶחָד = ______________
  10. שֶׁבַע = ______________

Next Steps

Congratulations on completing Hebrew Level 1! Continue to:

"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple." - Psalm 119:130

Answer Key

Lesson 10 Final Test:

  1. שָׁלוֹם = peace / shalom
  2. תּוֹרָה = instruction / Torah
  3. אָב = father
  4. אֵם = mother
  5. יהוה = Yahuah
  6. יהושע = Yahusha
  7. מַיִם = water
  8. לֶחֶם = bread
  9. אֶחָד = one
  10. שֶׁבַע = seven