Shalom! (Shlama/Peace)

This site was developed for those who wish to undergo a gradual, self-study of Biblical Hebrew (not Modern Hebrew). The lessons are presented in such a way that will assist you in comparing both Hebrew and Aramaic (as used in the Peshitta text). Most lessons are presented using the square script accompanied with a simple transliteration with audio. In the introductory lessons you will learn how to read and write using the square script.

Biblical Hebrew, sometimes called "Classical Hebrew", is an older form of the Hebrew language, in which the Hebrew Scriptures was written, and which the ancient Israelites spoke. It is not usually spoken in its pure form today, although it is studied by religious Jews and Christian theologians, linguists and Israeli archaeologists -- for practical application and deeper understanding in the original Scriptures and its commentaries. Jews usually learn it when studying ancient Scriptures. Biblical Hebrew is taught in most if not all public schools in Israel.

Biblical Hebrew can be read by anyone familiar with modern Hebrew. The differences between Biblical Hebrew and modern Hebrew are mainly in grammar, modern vocabulary, and the distinct writing styles. Although the rules of grammar are often very different from each other, parts of Biblical Hebrew are often used in literary Modern Hebrew. Elements of Biblical Hebrew are also often heard in conversation in Israeli households. Biblical Hebrew is very similar to Aramaic. (Based on an article from Wikipedia)


The Hebrew Tanakh, standardized between the seventh and tenth or eleventh centuries C.E., is typically referred to as the "Masoretic Text" and written today in a square script. The Aramaic/Syriac Tanakh is translated from the Hebrew text that the Masoretic was based upon. The New Covenant, referred to as the Peshitta, was written in Aramaic and translated in the first century into Greek and then other languages. There have been very few translations of the New Covenant into Hebrew, and only one from the original Aramaic (as far as I know). Translations of the New Covenant into Hebrew probably began in the mid to late 1300's, but still, very few actual "versions" exist. There is no known "original" Hebrew autograph of the New Covenant.

Division of Lessons
The lessons are divided into three distinct courses which include the following:

1) Sections which deal with introduction to the language, alphabet, phonology, vowels, gender, nouns with adjectives, plurals, segholate nouns; verbs, demonstrative pronouns and adjectives, prepositions, imperfect tense, numbers, singular nouns, plural nouns, Biblical passages, verb patterns, etc. After sucessfully completing the first course, you should have a basic knowledge of Biblical Hebrew.

2) Sections which deal with reading the text of Genesis in Biblical Hebrew, verb patterns, plurals of some nouns used, etc. After sucessfully completing the second course, you should have a basic knowledge of how to read Biblical Hebrew and with ease.

3) Additional review and practice, including liturgical use of Hebrew and Aramaic. After completing the final course, you should be comfortable with praying and reading liturgical texts without a translation. The prayers are offered in Hebrew and Aramaic with an English translation along with transliteration (phonetic). The liturgy is based on my book "Hebrew Aramaic Prayers - With English Translation and Transliteration" (2005), and incorporates prayers and other forms of liturgy from Jewish (Sephardic Tradition) and Assyrian Aramaic Christian prayers.

Supplemental Materials
For extras I will be adding resources that will include Hebrew-Aramaic music, videos, cultural experience, etc. One of the best methods in which to learn any language is to absorb one's self into the culture that the language belongs to. I will provide a list of resources that will assist you to this end.

Each course has a comprehensive English-Hebrew-Aramaic glossary for quick reference. The glossary will be undergoing periodic development in order to expand it to its full potential. You will need some fonts for these lessons. To download fonts and for help to install these to your computer see this page. Other materials you will need are listed here.

A Final Note
Please note that the lessons presented in this site are not for learning Modern Hebrew. The lessons here are for those who wish to learn the basics of Biblical Hebrew and some Aramaic as used in the Holy Peshitta (Tanakh and New Covenant).

Take your time with the lessons. Go at your own pace. There's no teacher breathing down your back. I plan to offer a forum for the student to obtain additional support after I see how many individuals are interested in the lessons.

Biblical Hebrew
Main menu: (to return to this menu at any time, click on the banner "Biblical Hebrew" at the top of any page or the word "Home" at the bottom of any page)

Course 1

Course 2

Course 3




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