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Jeff Benner

The Modern Hebrew alphabet is only about 2,000 years old, but the Hebrew alphabet has a very long and interesting history that goes back another two thousand years. Prior to this modern alphabet, the Hebrew language was written with a more pictographic script, similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs, where each letter was a picture. These pictures help to define the letter within its original Hebrew culture and thereby help to define the words that these letters are written with.

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The Modern Hebrew alphabet is only about 2,000 years old, but the Hebrew alphabet has a very long and interesting history that goes back another two thousand years. Prior to this modern alphabet, the Hebrew language was written with a more pictographic script, similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs, where each letter was a picture. These pictures help to define the letter within its original Hebrew culture and thereby help to define the words that these letters are written with.

This course will examine the history and evolution of the Ancient Semitic/Hebrew alphabet from its early pictographic origins to its modern forms as well as its adoption into the Greek and Latin alphabets.

You will learn the origins of our numbering system in the Hebrew alphabet, the meanings of each Hebrew letter, how to recognize the letters in ancient inscriptions and writings and have a basic knowledge of Hebrew word structure.

You will also learn about the root system of Hebrew words, how to interpret them and how the Ancient Hebrew philosophy and culture influence their definition and meanings.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Know the different stages of the hebrew alphabet from its ancient origins to its modern form.
  • Recognize the letters in ancient semitic and hebrew inscriptions
  • Know the meanings of each hebrew letter based on their original pictograph
  • Learn the different forms of hebrew root words and how words are formed out of these roots.
  • Learn how the ancient hebrew culture and philosophy is closely related to the hebrew language.

Syllabus

The relationship between the Hebrew alphabet and other alphabets of other peoples including the Samartians, Phoenicians, Arameans and the Greeks.
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An introduction to Ancient Semitic alphabets including the Hebrew alphabet.

The historical evidence for the connection between the Hebrew and Samaritan alphabets.

The historical evidence for the connection between the Hebrew and Phoenician alphabets.

The historical evidence for the connection between the Hebrew and Greek alphabets.

The historical evidence for the connection between the Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets.

In the early 20th century scholars discovered ancient inscriptions that revealed the origins of the Hebrew alphabet.

The date and location of the discovery of some Hebrew inscriptions and the date of many ancient inscriptions and texts.

In this 10 question quiz you will evaluate your knowledge about the history of the Hebrew alphabet.

In this section we will learn the history of the Hebrew alphabet from its ancient pictographic script to its modern form as well as its connection to the Greek alphabet and our numbers.

A quick overview of what you will learn in this section in regards to the history and evolution of each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter aleph (א)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter beyt (ב)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter gimel (ג)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter dalet (ד)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter Hey (ה)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter Vav (ו).

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter Zayin (ז)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter hhet (ח)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter tet (ט)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter Yud (י)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter kaph (ך / כ)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter lamed (ל)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter mem (ם / מ)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter nun (ן / נ)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter samehh (ס)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter ayin (ע)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter pey (פ)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter tsade (צ)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter quph (ק)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter resh (ר)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter shin (ש)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter tav (ת)

The history and evolution of the Hebrew letter ghayin (ע)

In this 10 question quiz you will be evaluating your knowledge of the Ancient Hebrew alphabet.

In this section you will be provided an overview of the differences between Western (Greek) and Eastern (Hebrew) philosophy and the culture of the Ancient Hebrew peoples.

In this article you will learn about the differences between how the Ancient Hebrew thought and how we think in our Modern Greco-Roman culture.

In this demonstration we will learn that not everyone in the world thinks the same way we do.

While our Greek minds need to "know," the Hebrew mind is comfortable saying "I don't know."

How we view time, the past and the future, is very different from how the Hebrews viewed time, which demonstrates that the Ancient Hebrews did not think the same way we do.

The way we would describe someone or something is very different from the descriptions of Ancient Hebrews.

Using the word "believe," we will examine the different ways we and the Ancient Hebrews work with abstract and concrete words.

In this lecture we will understand the importance of knowing the Ancient Hebrew Culture.

In this lecture we will learn a little about the Ancient Hebrew culture
and the importance of knowing this culture when interpreting the
Biblical text.

In this 10 question quiz you will evaluate your knowledge about the Ancient Hebrew philosophy and culture.

In this section you will learn how to configure your computer to type the Ancient and Modern Hebrew alphabet.

A short overview of this section on how to type in Ancient Hebrew.

In this article are the instructions for enabling the Hebrew keyboard on different operating systems.

In this lecture you will learn how to install the ancheb.ttf font in order to view and type Ancient Hebrew.

There is an alternative to setting up the keyboard for Hebrew and typing with the Ancient Hebrew font if you are unable to set this up on your computer.

In this section we will cover Hebrew Parent Roots, what they are and how new words are formed out of the root.

The most basic Hebrew words are the two-letter, or parent, root words.

This lecture is an overview of the pronunciation of stops and spirants and vowels.

Specific letters are added to root words to create new words that are closely related in meaning to the root word. By learning these related Hebrew words, it is easier to build ones vocabulary.

In this lecture you will be provided a dictionary of many of the Parent Roots used in the Hebrew Bible.

In this 10 question quiz you will be evaluating your knowledge about Hebrew parent roots.

In this section you learn how child and adopted roots are formed out of the parent root and how words are formed out of these roots.

We previously learned about the parent roots and now we will learn about the child roots, which are formed out of the parent roots.

The Adopted Roots are formed by attaching another consonant to the two-letter Parent Root.

Hebrew nouns are formed by adding a specific letter to the child or adopted root.

In this lecture we will look at the five common prefixes that are added to Hebrew words.

In this lecture you will be introduced to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, which will be an invaluable tool for studying Ancient Hebrew Parent Roots, Child and Adopted Roots and Hebrew words.

In this 10 question quiz you will be evaluating your knowledge about Child and Adopted roots and how words are formed.

Now that we have a foundation of the Ancient Hebrew alphabet and langauge, let's examine some Hebrew words to uncover their original meanings.

While this Hebrew word is usually translated as "Praise the Lord," there is much more to this word when it is examined in its Hebrew setting.

The Hebrew word for wisdom has a deep and rich meaning when it is viewed through the Hebrew culture.

In this lecture we will examine the Hebrew word tsiytsiyt, usually translated as "fringes," and define this word within its original Hebraic contextl

In this section we will examine the parent roots and prefixes found in the book of Genesis.

In this lecture we will examine the parent roots and prefixes found in Genesis 1:1.

In this lecture you will be given Genesis chapter one with all of the parent roots and prefixes highlighted.

In this 5 question quiz you will evaluate your knowledge of parent roots and prefixes found in Genesis chapter one.

In this section we will look at several ancient inscriptions and practice reading them and translating them.

In this lecture we will decipher and translate this almost 4,000 year old Hebrew inscription.

I am going to show you a two-letter word in an ancient inscription and your objective is to determine this word.

In this lecture we will reveal the letters in this inscription and what they mean.

Here we will examine another two-letter word in an ancient inscription and your objective is to once again determine this word.

In this lecture we will reveal the letters in this inscription and what they mean.

Review the inscription and attempt to identify each letter in the inscription.

In this lecture we will examine each letter in the inscription.

Now that we have identified each of the letters in this inscription, you objective is identify the three parent roots in this inscription.

Now that we have identified the parent roots in this inscription we will be translating it.

In this lecture we will look at the "Temple Ostraca," which is written in the Paleo-Hebrew (or Middle Hebrew) alphabet. Your objective is to determine what each letter is.

In this lecture we will review the letters in this inscription and then we will translate the text.

In this lecture we will take a look at the Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library and look at a scroll fragment and decipher the text using the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet Chart.

In this 10 question quiz you will evaluate your ability to read an Ancient Hebrew inscription.

Now that you have completed this course, where do you go from here?

In this lecture I will provide you some recommended reading material to further your education in the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet, language and culture.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops reading, writing, and interpreting skills of Ancient and Modern Hebrew, which is useful for personal growth and development
Explores the historical origins and evolution of the Modern Hebrew alphabet in a multi-modal format, which is standard in industry
Taught by Jeff Benner, who is recognized for their work in the history of the Hebrew alphabet
Suitable for students with no prior language or cultural background knowledge
May require additional resources or educational materials, as it recommends reading material that may cost money and be difficult to access
May require that students come in with background knowledge of Hebrew, as a small amount is assumed to be known from the beginning

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet and Language with these activities:
Gather your resources
Having all of your resources prepared before starting the course will reduce friction and allow you to focus on learning.
Show steps
  • Gather all of the materials you will need for the course, such as a notebook, pens, and highlighters.
  • Set up a dedicated study space.
  • Make sure you have access to all of the required software and online resources.
Read Ancient Hebrew for Beginners by Bruce Kaye
Provide a strong foundation before the course begins. Review the book, especially Chapter 2, 'The Hebrew Alphabet.'
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 2 of the book.
  • Take notes on the key points.
Practice the modern Hebrew alphabet
To effectively learn the ancient Hebrew alphabet, a foundation with the modern alphabet is important.
Show steps
  • Identify each letter in the modern Hebrew alphabet.
  • Practice writing each letter.
  • Identify the sounds associated with each letter.
  • Practice reading Hebrew words.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Practice recognizing Hebrew letters
Practice of letter recognition will improve the ability to build vocabulary.
Show steps
  • Find an online resource, app, or book that provides Hebrew letter recognition exercises.
  • Practice recognizing the letters as often as possible.
Attend a workshop on Ancient Hebrew
This will provide insights that could enhance your learning experience.
Show steps
  • Find a workshop on Ancient Hebrew.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop.
Tutor other students in Hebrew
Teaching others will solidify your own understanding of the material.
Show steps
  • Develop lesson plans.
  • Offer to tutor other students in Hebrew.
  • Meet with students regularly.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet and Language will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Biblical Scholar
Biblical Scholars study the Bible and its history. They may also study the culture and history of the ancient Hebrews. This course may be useful for Biblical Scholars as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding the original text of the Bible.
Linguist
Linguists study the structure and use of language. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for understanding and using language. This course may be useful for Linguists as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and using ancient Hebrew.
Historian
Historians study the past and its impact on the present. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for understanding and preserving history. This course may be useful for Historians as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and preserving the history of the ancient Hebrews.
Language Teacher
Language Teachers teach students about different languages and their cultures. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for teaching and learning languages. This course may be useful for Language Teachers as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language.
Egyptologist
Egyptologists study the culture and history of ancient Egypt. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for understanding and preserving Egyptian cultural heritage. This course may be useful for Egyptologists as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and preserving the cultural heritage of ancient Egypt.
Ancient Hebrew Language Instructor
Ancient Hebrew Language Instructors teach students about the ancient Hebrew language and its history. They may also teach students about the culture and history of the ancient Hebrews. This course may be useful for Ancient Hebrew Language Instructors as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language.
Ancient Hebrew Language Professor
Ancient Hebrew Language Professors teach students about the ancient Hebrew language and its history. They may also teach students about the culture and history of the ancient Hebrews. This course may be useful for Ancient Hebrew Language Professors as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language.
Digital Archivist
Digital Archivists preserve and manage digital information. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for preserving and accessing digital information. This course may be useful for Digital Archivists as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for preserving and accessing digital information from ancient Hebrew texts.
Cultural Anthropologist
Cultural Anthropologists study the culture and history of different societies. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for understanding and preserving cultural heritage. This course may be useful for Cultural Anthropologists as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and preserving the cultural heritage of the ancient Hebrews.
Museum curator
Museum Curators oversee the care and display of museum collections. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for preserving and displaying museum collections. This course may be useful for Museum Curators as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and displaying ancient Hebrew artifacts.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyze data and extract meaningful insights. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data. This course may be useful for Data Scientists as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and analyzing data from ancient Hebrew texts.
Cryptographer
Cryptographers develop and use codes and ciphers to protect information. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for encrypting and decrypting information. This course may be useful for Cryptographers as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for understanding and developing new codes and ciphers.
Lexicographer
Lexicographers compile and edit dictionaries. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for creating and using dictionaries. This course may be useful for Lexicographers as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for creating and using dictionaries of ancient Hebrew words.
Translator
Translators convert written or spoken text from one language to another. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for translating languages. This course may be useful for Translators as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet and language, which can be helpful for translating ancient Hebrew texts.
Interpreter
Interpreters facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. They may also work with other experts to develop new methods for interpreting and translating languages. This course may be useful for Interpreters as it provides a foundation in the ancient Hebrew alphabet, which can be helpful for interpreting and translating ancient Hebrew texts.

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Learn the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet and Language.
A groundbreaking work on the semantics of Biblical Hebrew, providing a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the meaning and usage of its words and phrases. is an essential reference for anyone serious about studying the meaning of the Hebrew Bible.
A classic work on the theology of the Old Testament, providing a comprehensive and insightful overview of its major themes and doctrines. is an essential reference for anyone serious about studying the theology of the Hebrew Bible.
A highly acclaimed and influential translation of the Hebrew Bible, with extensive commentary and notes. Alter's translation is notable for its literary and poetic qualities, and his commentary provides a wealth of insights into the text and its historical and cultural context.
A classic work on the syntax of the Hebrew verb, providing a comprehensive and detailed analysis of its various forms and constructions. is an essential reference for anyone serious about studying the grammar of Biblical Hebrew.
A classic work on the history and culture of the ancient Near East, providing avaluable context for the study of the Hebrew Bible. valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and archaeology of the ancient Near East.
A comprehensive and accessible introduction to the history of ancient Israel, providing a valuable context for the study of the Hebrew Bible. valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of ancient Israel.
A classic work on the history of the Hebrew language, providing a comprehensive overview of its development from its earliest origins to the present day. is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of the Hebrew language and its relationship to other Semitic languages.
A comprehensive and well-illustrated guide to the history and development of the Hebrew script, from its earliest origins to the present day. valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of writing and the development of the Hebrew alphabet.
A concise and well-illustrated introduction to the history and development of the Hebrew alphabet, focusing on its paleographic aspects. valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of writing and the development of the Hebrew alphabet.
A clear and concise introduction to the grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew, aimed at students with little or no prior knowledge of the language. valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn to read and understand the Hebrew Bible in its original language.
A concise and accessible introduction to the grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew, aimed at students with little or no prior knowledge of the language. valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn to read and understand the Hebrew Bible in its original language.

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