Ancient Hebrew Education Center Instructions: Read and study the following to learn the mechanics of Ancient Hebrew nouns and verbs. Ancient Hebrew Nouns and Verbs The most basic Hebrew root words are formed by linking two Hebrew letters together and can be used as nouns or verbs. Because each letter has a meaning, the meaning of these letters will assist in providing the Hebraic meaning of a word. Below are a few examples of nouns and verbs whose meanings can be closely connected to the meanings of the letters contained within these words. ~~ Nouns ~~ אב The first letter is the ( אel - A), a picture of an ox. As the ox is strong, the letter also has the meaning of strong. The second letter, ( בbet - B), is the picture of the tent or house where the family resides. When combined these letters form the word AB meaning "the strength of the house" and represents the "father." אמ The first letter is the ( אel - A), a picture of an ox. As the ox is strong, the letter also has the meaning of strong. The second letter, ( מmem - M) representing water. The two letters give us the meaning of "strong water." The Hebrews made glue by boiling animal skins in water. As the skin broke down, a sticky thick liquid Copyright © 2009 Ancient Hebrew Education Center Please feel free to use, copy or distribute this material for non-profit educational purposes only. formed at the surface of the water. This thick liquid was removed and used as a binding agent - "strong water". This is the Hebrew word AM meaning "mother", the one who "binds" the family together. בנ The first letter is the ( בbet - B), a picture of a tent or house. The second letter, ( נnun - N) is the picture of a seed. The seed is a new generation of life that will grow and produce a new generation therefore, this letter can mean "to continue." When combined these two letters form the word BeN meaning "to continue the house" and is the Hebrew word for a "son." אח The first letter is the ( אel - A), a picture of an ox. As the ox is strong, the letter also has the meaning of strong. The second letter, ( חhhets - Hh), is the picture of a tent wall. The wall is a wall of protection which protects what is inside from what is outside. When combined these letters form the word AHh meaning "the strong wall" and represents the "brother" as the protector of the family. ~~ Verbs ~~ The first letter is the ( לlam - L), a picture of a staff. The second letter, ( כkaph - K), is the picture of the palm of the Copyright © 2009 Ancient Hebrew Education Center Please feel free to use, copy or distribute this material for non-profit educational purposes only. לכ hand. When the staff is placed in the palm one is going to go walk. The verb LaK means to walk or to go. The first letter is the ( רresh - R), a picture of the head of a man. The second letter, ( דdal - D), is the picture of the tent רד door. The roof of the nomad's tent was low and one needed to stoop down to enter or exit through the dooway and the verb RaD means to go down. The first letter is the ( עayin - A), a picture of an eye representing the idea of experience. The second letter, ( לlam על - L), is the picture of a staff but also represents a yoke as the staff on the shoulders. When combined, these two letters form the word AL meaning to experience the yoke and as the yoke is lifted up onto the shoulders this verb means to go up. When used as a noun this same two letter root means a yoke. The first letter is the ( קquph - Q) and is a picture of the rising or setting sun at the horizon meaning to come together, or gather, from the gathering of the light at the horizon. The second letter, ( חhhet - Hh), is the picture of a wall which separates. Combined, these two letters form the word QaHh meaning to gather what is separated, to take. Copyright © 2009 Ancient Hebrew Education Center Please feel free to use, copy or distribute this material for non-profit educational purposes only. קח The first letter is the ( שshin - Sh), a picture of the teeth meaning to press. The second letter, ( בbeyt - B), is the picture שב of the tent or home. Combined, these two letters form the word ShaB representing a pressing to the tent and means to return. The first letter is the ( קquph - Q) and is a picture of the rising or setting sun at the horizon meaning to come together, or קר gather, from the gathering of the light at the horizon. The second letter, ( רresh- R), is the picture of the head of a man. Combined, these two letters form the word QaR, a gathering of men, and means to meet or call out. The first letter is the ( דdalet - D) and is a picture of the tent door, used for going back and forth. The second letter, ע דע (ayin - A), is the picture of the eye. Combined, these two letters form the word DA, the going back and forth movement of the eye in the sense of taking it all in and means to know. In our modern western languages a verb is a word of action and a noun is an inanimate object. However, in Ancient Hebrew both verbs and nouns are words of action. The verb describes the action of something while nouns describe something of action. As an example, the word קרas verb means “to call someone or something out” while as a noun it can mean “someone or something that is called out.” Because Hebrew nouns are action oriented, verbs are not always required in every sentence as they are in English. Copyright © 2009 Ancient Hebrew Education Center Please feel free to use, copy or distribute this material for non-profit educational purposes only.