The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alephbet
Chapter Six



    The Hebrew text which lies buried behind our English translations, provide us with a deeper insight into the people who recorded it and the heart of God. The study of the ancient Hebrew language and alephbet in the context of ancient Hebrew thought and culture is an important aspect of Biblical study and unfortunately is often ignored.

    The author is currently in the process of developing the "Dictionary of the Ancient Hebrew Language and Alephbet" which utilizes the foundations of this book to bring about a new understanding of God's word based on the language and culture in which it was written.

    The following is a sample entry from the "Dictionary of the Ancient Hebrew Language and Alephbet".


A Distant Shining    

The Pictographic Parent Root

/h Behold or look, as a man who extends his arms out in the direction of what is to be beheld.
/l A Shepherd staff which directs the flock toward a direction
/h.l Look toward, as a sight in the distance that stands out.

    The article "the" is written in biblical and modern Hebrew as a "" prefixed to a word. The ancient word for "the" is the parent root " "52. The phrase "the house" would have been written as "   " (hal beyt) but was replaced with the simpler form " " (habeyt).

Child Roots

/h.l.l53

To shine in the distance (as something to look to), to boast (make oneself shine), to praise54 (make another shine).

The most common use of this word is in the idea of "praise". The act of praising God is the looking toward the great light of his glory, it is also the act which causes others to see that great light.


/a.h.l

To shine in the distance, tent (the fire cuases the tent to glow and can be seen at a great distance), moon (as glowing in the distant sky).

The most common use of this root is for a tent. A tent is more than an object to a Hebrew, it is a feeling. Often a shepherd would be away from his tent all day with the flock and is returning to his family late in the night tired, cold, hungry and lonely. In the distance he sees his tent glowing in the darkness from the cooking fires. Suddenly the feeling of comfort comes over him because he knows that there he will find rest, warmth, food and the love of his family.




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