Hebrew Alphabet
The Hebrew alphabet, employed by God when the Ten Commandments were written on tablets delivered to Moses, was used by Moses to write the books of the Jewish Law or Torah i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It has become known today as the Proto-Sinaitic script of 22 letters which evolved into Phoenician, Aramaic, Greek, Roman (i.e. Latin), and modern English.
See the letters with their numeric value, shape, sound, and early meanings (in Latin / Italian) below.
- aleph 1 "Unus" in Latin, Ox, One Dimension, in Hebrew a silent letter, representing Elohim God, a plural word with a singular meaning, the Judge of all, also Amen with the emphasis in pronunciation on the "men" syllable.
Click here for some thoughts on the shape of Aleph, a stroke running between two Yods (infinite dots)
- bet 2 "Duo" in Latin, Building, Two Dimensions, working together (or divided), in Hebrew Bara Create, Build (Banah), Son (Ben and Bar), Bless (Barak), Kneel (Berek), Covenant (Briyth)
- gimel 3 "Tre" in Italian, a Unit of Trade, Three Dimensions, rewarded (with good or disaster), in Hebrew Gamal, Weaned, Nourished, Weapon, Sling, Throwing stick, the letter C (in Roman) Camel
- dalet 4 from Dalit Doors and Gates based on Dal- Poor. "Quattro" in Italian, Cadre, Cut, Weak, Tested, Four-Dimensional in Space and Time.
"Four" in English is probably derived from "Fewer" than Five, the "perfect" number
- he 5 Latin "Quin", Greek "Gyn", V (Perfect 5th) Viva, Jubilation (full-hand), Responsibility, Ayu (Sanskrit), Eon (Greek), Eva (Latin), Ever Wif-man Queen
Rev 12:1-12 Hebrew Haya Hava "Be, Eve" via Ruach Breath of God.
- vav 6 "Sex", the letter F, becoming the letters U, V, W, Y in later alphabets, in Hebrew Vav a Hook or Peg-Connector, Man's number i.e. mortal
Its numeric meaning in Hebrew "shesh" H8337 is also translated H8336 as silk, fine linen, soft clothing as is found in king's houses e.g. material used when clothing Joseph.
Greek ("Hex") and Latin ("Sex") are their equivalent words for "Six".
"Sirikos" with a rolled r, was "soft silk" from trading caravans coming overland from Serica (Kashgar in north-west China).
- zayin 7 in Latin "Septem", the letter Z (Zee) in Greek and the letter G (Jee) in Latin
- in Hebrew Zayin is pictured like a Sword, an armed struggle
- Its numeric meaning signifies the word Sworn (i.e. Saba Sha-vahh) by myself I have sworn or sevened
- Zakar a major Hebrew verb means to Remember, properly, to Mark (so as to be recognized) using the noun Zakar meaning a Male or, literally, Penis
- cheth/cheit 8 in Latin "Octo", Laughter (Ha), the letter H, Wick twisted flax, in Hebrew it represents Chay meaning New Life (Chava-Eve, Laughter, Isaac) i.e. Christ's number
also noting the "Ch" is pronounced as in German or Scottish, a throat clearing noise, not as the "ch" in "chair"
- teth/teit 9 in Italian "Nove" New, Now, Hebrew "Tob" Perfect Good noting Jesus said in Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19, only God is good (i.e. a Nine).
It became the Greek theta θ and Gothic thorn þ characters. Transliterated as "T" and "TH" in later alphabets.
- yod 10 Yad meaning Hand (associated with strength, authority and power) also the letter i, the tiniest letter (jot or iota)
- In Hebrew the word for "Ten" is aw-sawr, related to the word aw-shar meaning "accumulation", "riches", i.e. the "next level".
- In Latin "X" or "Decem" or "Deck".
- But that Hebrew numeral for 10, this character "i", Yod, or Jot is the tiniest letter (and features the infinite dot).
- Without Jehovah (in Hebrew spelled iHVH), that "i" is like the bottomless pit, endless, with nothing inside.
- Note too the Hebrew phrase "yada yada yada" it means the person won't stop talking but their words mean nothing.
- kaf 20 Likeness or As, in Hebrew Kaf meaning Cup or Kawfar meaning Covering (atonement). If a final letter (500), displayed as
- lamed 30 shaped like a shepherd's prod, in Hebrew Lamad meaning Learn i.e. a disciple or follower
- mem 40 Water, Measure, Money, Mammon, in Hebrew Mayim meaning Waters. If a final letter (600), displayed as
- nun 50 Snake, fish
- in Hebrew Nun Joshua's parent (Propagate, swarm, continue). Displayed as an "Upright" character ן if the final character of a word (700). See Jeshurun, God's "upright" name for Israel.
- Other words starting with Nun are Nephesh (souls, creatures), Nahash (snake), Neshama (breath).
- In ancient Phoenician and Aramaic, Nun was the word for fish, eels, even snakes. In modern Arabic, Nun means a large fish or whale.
- samekh 60 Circle, stake, support, becoming the letter X in later alphabets. In Hebrew Samak meaning Lay Hands on for anointing, Surround, Sustain
- ayin 70 ע Eye, the letter O. In Hebrew Ayin meaning Eye or Fountain or Well (as the Eye of the landscape). Like the letter Aleph, it is a silent letter, the Ayin "sees" but does not speak
- pei 80 from Pe or Fe meaning Mouth. If a final letter (800), displayed as
- tzadi 90 from Tsadiq meaning "Righteous", also "Zadok" i.e. the priest. If a final letter (900), displayed as
Letter was not used in later Greek or Roman alphabets. In modern Hebrew, their word for "conscience" and "compass" is "mits-poon" from Tsawfone meaning "North", one's (hidden) place on the left, one's hidden treasure
- qof 100 Eye of a sewing needle. In Greek it became "K" (i.e. cup). In Hebrew it meant Bent over or Covered (qabbala), sepulchre (qeber), collected together (qabats), ape (qoph), before the east (qedem), consecrated (qodesh) and sodomite, prostitute (qadesh), vomit (qow). In Latin (and modern Italian) used to ask questions such as "Quod"-what, "Quo"-where, "Qui"-who, "Quando"-when.
- rosh or resh 200 from Rosh meaning "Head". See B'Roshiyth (In the Beginning) the first word in Genesis 1:1
- shin 300 from Shen meaning Teeth (consuming). Also Shemesh meaning Sun.
Now according to Judges 12:6, the tribe of Ephraim could not differentiate between the letters Shin and Samekh. When the Gileadites were at war with the Ephraimites, they would ask suspected Ephraimites to say the word shibolet (an ear of grain). An Ephraimite would say sibolet and thus be exposed. From this episode we get the English word shibboleth - a watchword.
- tav 400 Finality, all-encompassing truth. In Hebrew Tav meant Mark (seal).
Signs, Marks, Tokens, Hebrew letters of the alphabet , their numeric value, and their meaning.
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