Hebrew Words in the Bible

Hebrew is the original language of the Old Testament, spoken and written by the patriarchs, prophets, and poets of ancient Israel over a span of roughly one thousand years. Unlike modern Western languages, biblical Hebrew is a Semitic language that reads right to left, uses a consonantal alphabet of 22 letters, and conveys meaning through a system of three-letter root words. Each root carries a core idea that branches into dozens of related forms -- verbs, nouns, adjectives -- all interconnected by a shared semantic thread.

This interconnected root system means that studying even a single Hebrew word often reveals connections across the entire Old Testament. For example, the root sh-l-m (שׁלם) gives us shalom (peace, wholeness), shalem (complete), and Yerushalayim (Jerusalem, "city of peace"). Understanding these relationships transforms your reading of Scripture from surface-level comprehension to deep, layered insight into the mind of God as expressed through His chosen language.

The Hebrew words cataloged below represent the most theologically significant vocabulary in the Old Testament. Each entry includes the original Hebrew script, a transliteration for pronunciation, the English meaning, and links to the corresponding Strong's Concordance numbers for further study. Whether you are a seminary student, a pastor preparing sermons, or a devoted believer seeking deeper understanding, these word studies will open windows into the richness of God's revelation in His original tongue.