The Hebrew Language

The transformation from pictorial expression to written communication is a science that has taken on many facets as linguistics scholars have sought to show how language has developed since the world’s inception until now.  While written communication has developed from ancient hieroglyphics and cuneiform into more sophisticated writing systems it becomes difficult to determine which language has had the greatest impact on the world today.

From a spiritual standpoint the Hebrew language is the linguistic system that has left the most lasting impression as it represents the infrastructure of the three major religions of the world today.  The genesis of Judaism, Christianity and Islam saw their foundations birthed from the Scriptural canon of the Old Testament.  The original tongue of the Old Testament is Hebrew.

If your goal is to understand and follow the path left by GOD through scriptural reference or if you are a student of the Bible seeking to unlock the mysteries therein the original tongue of the Bible remains the key.  It was important for ancient scholars to learn to translate the hieroglyphics to better understand Egyptian culture; the same for the ancient societies that communicated through cuneiform writing.  So, it is with the original Hebrew.  To gain the true essence of the message that GOD has for mankind it is important to embrace the Holy Scriptures through the Hebraic understanding of its mother tongue.

Reading and researching the Old Testament through its original Hebrew language sheds a new light on many of the scriptures that the world has accepted for so long. Scriptures that have molded many understandings can be understood in a more candid and authentic light when read within the context that comes with a Hebraic understanding of scripture. For example, many Latin-based renditions of Exodus 20 provide the translation “Thou shalt not kill.” The purer translation of that verse is “Thou shalt not murder.” While a slight variation between the two words the connotations of each are vastly different.

Killing is an act that is done in self-defense or to mete out judgment for an act that has an associated death penalty. People also kill animals for food.

Another example is the translation found in the Book of Isaiah 7. Latin based adaptations state “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and call his name Immanuel.” However, the more appropriate translation based on the Hebrew verbiage used is “Behold, the young woman is pregnant, and she will bear a son and call his name Immanu-EL.” Again, while the variations are slight, the connotations are vastly different.

The first difference being a “virgin” as opposed to a ‘young woman.”

The second difference being “shall conceive” as opposed to “has conceived.” In the first translation a virgin “shall conceive” gives the impression of some forthcoming conception by a virgin at some future point. However, the translation based on the Hebrew text the young woman, a specific woman, has already conceived and she will be bearing a son.

The intention of these elaborations is not intended to raise controversy within any religious group, but to endorse the clarity that comes from reading the Holy Scriptures with the understanding that comes with the native tongue in which it was written.

Learning Hebrew, especially Biblical Hebrew, can unlock an understanding of spiritual word to which many have not been exposed. Understanding Hebrew allows scriptural readers to gain the essence of GOD’s word without the filters that come from multiple layers of translations through linguistic stems. Therefore, we do not have to depend on others to to interpret for us, we can learn to do it for ourselves. This will afford us the opportunity to build our own spiritual connection to better understand HIS word in the purest form.

– ZBD

Image from https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/language/short-history-of-the-hebrew-language.htm