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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.