First Words in Hebrew

First Words in Hebrew

This page contains some of the most important and most used Hebrew words from the Bible. Therefore, an individual who desires to learn Hebrew in order to better know the Almighty's Torah (Instruction) and thus better serve Him, will do well to learn these words first.

"the LORD" = YHWH (yud-heh-waw-heh) - original pronunciation currently unknown. Traditionally pronounced as Adhonoy (ah'tho'noy), which means Divine Master. The name YHWH is the only term which is absolutely always a reference to the Creator of all things. (The term Adhonoy also applies only to the Creator, but it is spelled with the same exact letters as the word "adhonai" - a word that can apply to human-beings.) The name YHWH is included in the names of certain places and individuals as well, but only in reference to the Creator in names which magnify the Creator, such as "YHWH is righteous" or "YHWH is salvation." Such names always include adjectives. The name YHWH is never applied alone, without adjectives, to anything other than the Absolute Creator.

The uniqueness of the name YHWH is in that it is constructed from all the forms of being in the Hebrew language: hayah, howeh, yeh'yeh = was, is, will be / past, present, future. This is representitive of the fact that ONLY the Creator - YHWH - transcends time and does not change, for YHWH is the Source/Creator of time; YHWH is therefore "above" time. Since change only occures in time, and YHWH is not subject to time, therefore YHWH does not change. Since dimensional forms / physical / corporeal forms all came into being at a certain point "in time," are all subject to change, in contrast to YHWH who is not subject to change, consequently it follows that YHWH also lacks dimensional, physical, or corporeal form. Since YHWH does not change, that means that this fact shall aways be. Since division, distinction, or numerical plurality of any type only exist within time or space, it stands to reason that YHWH lacks any plurality of any type, for YHWH transcends time and space, and this shall always be the case. Therefore, the name YHWH instrinsically testifies to the reality that the Creator - YHWH - is Transcendent, Independent, Incorporeal, Immutible, Absolute, ONE - without any internal distinctions between these terms, for "with" "Him" they are all one and the same Absolute-Being.

Hear O' Israel, YHWH is our Venerable-Authority, YHWH alone / is ONE. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

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"God" = Elohim (A'lo'heem). This term is often used in reference to the Creator, but is also used in reference to created beings as well. Although the term appears to be plural, it may be applied both to singular individuals or to groups. This is because the term does not describe the essential or "internal" nature of a thing. Rather, it describes a relationship of respect and authority between a being(s) and something or someone else. When a person is said to be "elohim," such as Moses was in Exodus 7:1, it means that the individual has authoritive powers over another party in such a manner that conjures awe and fear. Hince, when this term is used in reference to the Creator, I often translate it as Mighty-Venerable-Authority.

"Elohim" is not the only word in Hebrew which appears plural but is also used in singular. The Hebrew words for "life" (hhai'yeem) and "water" (mai'yeem) are similar examples. Likewise, there are words in English which are both plural and singular, such as sheep, deer, or fish.

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Truth = a'ma'th / emet.

Faith = a'mu'na / emunah. The Hebrew words for Truth and Faith both come from the same root-word meaning assured. "Faith" in Hebrew can not mean "blind-faith." The Hebrew concept of "faith" refers to confidence and assurance in a matter.

Love = ah'ha'va / ahavah.

Service = a'vo'da. This word means both work and service. In the sense of service it is used as the Hebrew word for "worship" with regard to YHWH or false-deities.

Charity = sa'da'qa / tzadaqa. This word literally means righteousness.

Prayer = ta'fee'la. Tafila is the service of the heart.

Heart = leh'v. In the Bible it also appears in the poetic form leh'vav.

Soul = nah'fash. Nefesh usually refers to the entire existence of man, his physical body included; however, at times it may simply mean the unseen essence of an individual.

Prostration = heesh'ta'hha'waya / hishtachavaya. In the Torah this term always mans to bow down all the way down to the ground stretched out flat with arms and leggs spread outwards.

Genuflection = ka'ree'ah / kriah. This word describes the action of bending down.

Kneeling = ba'ree'kha. This word means kneeling on the ground on one's knees - the completion of bending down (kriah).

Blessed = ba'ru'kh. From the same root-word as knee (berekh) and kneeling (bareekha), this word means "praised" in the sense of "welcomed" and "accepted." When used in worship, the term implies praise together with the concept of kneeling down [humbling oneself] in acceptance of authority being praised. In connection with human-beings the term means that a coming individual should be joyfully and humbly accepted by another person, accepted with "open-arms," so to speak. "Welcome" in Hebrew is "barukh ha-bah" (literally: blessed is the one coming).