Difference between revisions of "Biblical Hebrew"
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Biblical Hebrew (Classical Hebrew) is an archaic form of the [[Hebrew]] language, in which the [[Old Testament]] was written, and which the ancient Israelites spoke. It is not spoken in its pure form today, although it is studied by religious Jews and Christian theologians, linguists and Israeli archaeologists. Biblical Hebrew is easily read by anyone familiar with modern Hebrew. The differences between Biblical Hebrew and modern Hebrew are mainly in grammar and Biblical Hebrew's distinct writing style. | Biblical Hebrew (Classical Hebrew) is an archaic form of the [[Hebrew]] language, in which the [[Old Testament]] was written, and which the ancient Israelites spoke. It is not spoken in its pure form today, although it is studied by religious Jews and Christian theologians, linguists and Israeli archaeologists. Biblical Hebrew is easily read by anyone familiar with modern Hebrew. The differences between Biblical Hebrew and modern Hebrew are mainly in grammar and Biblical Hebrew's distinct writing style. | ||
− | From a linguistic point of view, the Classical Hebrew language is usually divided into two periods | + | From a linguistic point of view, the Classical Hebrew language is usually divided into two periods: Biblical Hebrew, and Roman Era Hebrew, having very distinct grammatical patterns. |
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
Line 72: | Line 72: | ||
|{{hebrew|ח}} | |{{hebrew|ח}} | ||
|kh | |kh | ||
− | | | + | |χ |
− | |This is a sound that English doesn't have. It | + | |This is a sound that English doesn't have. It sounds like the ch in the German name Bach or in the Scottish word loch. It is the throat clearing guttural sound. |
|- | |- | ||
|Tet | |Tet | ||
|{{hebrew|ט}} | |{{hebrew|ט}} | ||
|t | |t | ||
− | | | + | |t |
− | | | + | |Sounds like t as in tetris. |
|- | |- | ||
|Yod | |Yod | ||
Line 103: | Line 103: | ||
|kh | |kh | ||
|x | |x | ||
− | |Sounds just like | + | |Sounds just like Het, except that it isn't guttural. |
|- | |- | ||
|Khaf Final | |Khaf Final | ||
Line 150: | Line 150: | ||
|{{hebrew|ע}} | |{{hebrew|ע}} | ||
| - | | - | ||
− | | | + | |ʔ |
− | | | + | |A glottal stop. |
|- | |- | ||
|Pe | |Pe | ||
Line 180: | Line 180: | ||
|tz | |tz | ||
|ʦ | |ʦ | ||
− | |Sounds like the zz in pizza | + | |Sounds like the zz in pizza. |
|- | |- | ||
|Tsadi final | |Tsadi final | ||
Line 191: | Line 191: | ||
|{{hebrew|ק}} | |{{hebrew|ק}} | ||
|k | |k | ||
− | | | + | |k |
− | |Sounds like Kaf in modern Hebrew, but was originally pronounced with | + | |Sounds like Kaf in modern Hebrew, but was originally pronounced with pressure in the throat ([q]). |
+ | |- | ||
|Resh | |Resh | ||
|{{hebrew|ר}} | |{{hebrew|ר}} | ||
|r | |r | ||
|ɾ | |ɾ | ||
− | |Sounds like the letter R, but is not pronounced exactly the same as in English. At the beginning or in the middle of a word it is slightly rolled so that its sound is somewhere between the English "R" and the Spanish rolled "R". The tongue bounces off the roof of the mouth just once. (The Ashkenazi | + | |Sounds like the letter R, but is not pronounced exactly the same as in English. At the beginning or in the middle of a word it is slightly rolled so that its sound is somewhere between the English "R" and the Spanish rolled "R". The tongue bounces off the roof of the mouth just once. (The Ashkenazi pronunciation is [ʁ].) |
|- | |- | ||
|Shin | |Shin |
Revision as of 07:31, 1 February 2009
Biblical Hebrew | |
RELATED TOPICS |
|
SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS |
|
CONTENTS | Contents |
Biblical Hebrew (Classical Hebrew) is an archaic form of the Hebrew language, in which the Old Testament was written, and which the ancient Israelites spoke. It is not spoken in its pure form today, although it is studied by religious Jews and Christian theologians, linguists and Israeli archaeologists. Biblical Hebrew is easily read by anyone familiar with modern Hebrew. The differences between Biblical Hebrew and modern Hebrew are mainly in grammar and Biblical Hebrew's distinct writing style.
From a linguistic point of view, the Classical Hebrew language is usually divided into two periods: Biblical Hebrew, and Roman Era Hebrew, having very distinct grammatical patterns.
Alphabet
Name | Letter | Transliteration | IPA | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aleph | א | - | - | One of two silent letters. Usually appears at the start of a syllable to make the syllable start with a vowel sound. |
Bet | בּ | b | b | Sounds just like the English letter B. |
Vet | ב | v | v | Sounds just like the English letter V. |
Gimel | ג | g | ɡ | Sounds like a hard g as in give |
Dalet | ד | d | d | Sounds like d as in dog. |
He | ה | h | h | Sounds like the English letter H when it's in the beginning or middle of a word. At the end of a word, it is silent. |
Vav | ו | v | v | Sounds like v as in vacuum. Also used to make a couple of vowel sounds. |
Zayin | ז | z | z | Sounds like z as in zoo. |
Het | ח | kh | χ | This is a sound that English doesn't have. It sounds like the ch in the German name Bach or in the Scottish word loch. It is the throat clearing guttural sound. |
Tet | ט | t | t | Sounds like t as in tetris. |
Yod | י | y | j | Sounds like y as in yard. It can also change the sound of the vowel that precedes it. |
Kaf | כּ | k | k | Sounds like k as in kitten. |
Kaf Final | ךּ | k | k | Rarely used (almost no words end with Kaf). |
Khaf | כ | kh | x | Sounds just like Het, except that it isn't guttural. |
Khaf Final | ך | kh | x | - |
Lamed | ל | l | l | Sounds like l as in lamb. |
Mem | מ | m | m | Sounds like m as in mother |
Mem final | ם | m | m | - |
Nun | נ | n | n | Sounds like n as in name. |
Nun final | ן | n | n | - |
Samech | ס | s | s | Sounds like s as in safe. |
Ayin | ע | - | ʔ | A glottal stop. |
Pe | פּ | p | p | Sounds like p as in port |
Pe final | ףּ | p | p | - |
Fe | פ | f | f | Sounds like f as in fame |
Fe final | ף | f | f | |
Tsadi | צ | tz | ʦ | Sounds like the zz in pizza. |
Tsadi final | ץ | tz | ʦ | - |
Qof | ק | k | k | Sounds like Kaf in modern Hebrew, but was originally pronounced with pressure in the throat ([q]). |
Resh | ר | r | ɾ | Sounds like the letter R, but is not pronounced exactly the same as in English. At the beginning or in the middle of a word it is slightly rolled so that its sound is somewhere between the English "R" and the Spanish rolled "R". The tongue bounces off the roof of the mouth just once. (The Ashkenazi pronunciation is [ʁ].) |
Shin | שׁ
or ש
|
sh | ʃ | Sounds like sh as in ship |
Sin | שׂ | s | s | Sounds like s as in soon |
Tav | ת | t | t | Sounds like t as in tomato |
Quotes
Links
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