Israel marks
Hebrew Language Day
every year on the
21st of the
Jewish month of Tevet,
the Hebrew birthday of Eliezer Ben Yehuda,
father of Modern Hebrew.
Even though it is one of the oldest languages in the world (if not the oldest), and although it has evolved in different ways throughout the millennia, Hebrew speakers today can still read the Biblical Hebrew of ancient texts perfectly well. It’s a little different from Modern Hebrew, perhaps just as Shakespeare is a challenge for English speakers, but it’s
still readable and understandable
THE UNIQUENESS OF HEBREW
Even though it is one of the oldest languages in the world (if not the oldest), and although it has evolved in different ways throughout the millennia, Hebrew speakers today can still read the Biblical Hebrew of ancient texts perfectly well. It’s a little different from Modern Hebrew, perhaps just as Shakespeare is a challenge for English speakers, but it’s still readable and understandable. The root words are packed full layers of meaning and some even believe the shapes of the letters hold significance. There are profound peculiarities in some of the grammatical structures, including the'
very name of God
Read more about treasures in Biblical Hebrew =>
Hebrew is the language of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings, but in the New Testament, we see that Jesus and Paul also spoke Hebrew. It’s true that the New Testament was penned in Greek, and that we read of Jesus speaking Aramaic, but the text says that Jesus spoke to Paul in Hebrew on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:14). Later, Paul addresses his fellow brethren in Jerusalem in the Hebrew language (Acts 21:40, 22:2)1. Hebrew was still alive and kicking as the language of the Jewish people even after the various exiles and conquests.
Not only is Hebrew an extremely special language but it is the only language in the world that has ever been resurrected from the dead.
It has been continuously used throughout the ages in Jewish liturgy, like a fabric weaving the people of Israel together with common prayers and blessings, but it was considered a holy language – not for everyday use.
God, however, had other plans.
For then I will restore to the peoples a pure [or clear / clarified] language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord [literally, shoulder to shoulder, as one]. (Zephaniah 3:9)
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The LORD bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!’ (Jeremiah 31:23)
Indeed, the Jewish people will one day call out together to welcome Jesus in Hebrew, “Baruch ha-ba be Shem Adonai!” which means, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 23:39).