Introduction to Old Testament Hebrew

By Nate Wilson

I believe that it is important to see the source of the text of our Bible. For those not familiar with Hebrew, it is a fairly simple language. Let me begin with a simplified pronunciation guide:

Hebrew Consonants:

א = a

ב = b/v

ג = g

ד = d

ה = h

ו = v/w

ז = z

ח = ch

ט = t

י = y

כ = k (or ך at end of word)

ל = l

מ = m (or ם at end of word)

נ = n (or ן at end of word)

ס = s

ע = ’ (glottal stop)

פ = p/f (or ף at end of word)

צ = ts (or ץ at end of word)

ק = q

ר = r

שׁ = sh

שׂ = s

ת = t

NOTE: a dot in the middle of a consonant (a “dagesh”) means it is doubled or, in the case of ב and פ that you close your lips to form the “b” or the “p” sound instead of the “v” or “f” sound.

Hebrew Vowels are placed under the consonants they follow:

ah = ָ or ַ

ay = ֵ

ĕ = ֶ

ĭ = ִ

oh = ֹ or וֹ

u = ֻ or וּ

ְ = abbreviated vowel sound

So, for example, וַיִּקְרָא . אל־מֹשֶׁה . וַיְדַבֵּר would be pronounced (remember, Hebrew reads backwards from English - Right-to-Left)“vay-yiq-ra el-mo-sheh va-y-dab-bayr.”

VERBS

Verb stems:

• Qal = Simple verb where the subject is acting

• Niphal = Simple verb where the subject is acted upon

• Piel = Intensive action where the subject is acting (May not always be intense action, though)

• Pual = Intensive action where the subject is being acted upon

• Hitpael = Reflexive action, where the subject is acting on itself

• Hiphil = Causal verb where the subject is causing an action to happen (May not always be by indirect action)

• Hophil = Causal verb where a third party has caused an action to happen to the subject

Verb Aspects:

• Perfect (completed action usually in past time)

• Imperfect (Incomplete action usually in future time unless prefixed by a vav, in which case it is a narrative/consecutive past-tense.)

• Infinitive (noun form of an action)

• Participle (adjective form of an action, often translated as an English Gerund - “ing”)

• Imperative (Command)

Verb formatives

• This would include prefixes (such as prepositions) and suffixes (such as indicators of the subject or object of the verb). 3ms/fs, etc. = If there is a number in the combination, it is speaking of first, second, or third person. The m/f indicates male or female. And the s/pl indicates singular or plural.

• Construct form (the word is linked to a preposition - “to” - or to the next word as a genitive - “of”)

• Absolute (the word stands by itself without a construct link)

• Vav Consecutive (When a series of Imperfect verbs are prefixed with a Vav, I take it as a consecutive sequence of events in the past. When a Perfect is prefixed by a Vav, it is considered in the future.)

Weaknesses

Hebrew words generally have three root letters. “Pe” designates the first letter of the Hebrew root word, “Ayin” designates the second letter of the root word, and “Lamed,” the third letter of the root word. However, certain letters of the Hebrew alphabet, such as the Aleph, Vav, He, Che, and Ayin are “weak” and either change or disappear.

Click here to learn some vocabulary words!