The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet: Understanding the Ancient Hebrew Language of the Bible Based on Ancient Hebrew Culture and Thought [Paperback]

Jeff A. Benner (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1589395344 | ISBN-13: 978-1589395343 | Publication Date: January 5, 2004

The Hebrew Bible, called the "Tenach" by Jews and "Old Testament" by Christians, was originally written in the Hebrew language using an ancient pictographic, or paleo-Hebrew, script. Through the study of this ancient language and script the words of the Bible will come alive to the reader in a way never seen before. When we read the Bible from our modern western perspective the original meanings of the words within the text are lost to us. Only by understanding these words in their original Hebraic context can we read the Bible through the eyes of the original authors. This book will examine the origins and history of the ancient Hebrew language and script and their close relationship to the culture of the ancient Hebrews. Included are detailed charts of the evolution of the ancient Hebrew script as well as many other related Semitic and non-Semitic scripts. Also included are the details of the root system of the Hebrew language, and a lexicon of ancient Hebrew roots to assist the reader of the Bible with finding the original cultural context for many Hebrew words.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Origins of the Hebrews, the Hebrew language and the alphabet. An in depth history of the Ancient Hebrew pictographic alphabet, the relationship between the pictographic letters and word definitions and extensive script charts. Lessons to learning to read the ancient pictographs. The Ancient Hebrew Parent Root dictionary with cross reference to Strong's numbers.

About the Author

Jeff Benner has had a long interest in the Hebrew language of the Bible and in 1996 he began researching the ancient pictographic alphabet used by the Hebrew people and other Semitic tribes. He has made many significant discoveries linking the ancient Hebrew culture with the ancient Hebrew language and alphabet. In 1999 Jeff founded the "Ancient Hebrew Research Center" to research and teach Biblical understanding through the alphabet and language to those with little or no Hebrew background. Jeff's current project is the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible. This Lexicon defines Hebrew words of the Bible according to their cultural context revealing the original Hebraic meanings of Biblical passages and words.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (January 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589395344
• ISBN-13: 978-1589395343
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

More About the Author

Mr. Benner, founder of the Ancient Hebrew Research Center (www.ancient-hebrew.org) and the Mechanical Translation of the Hebrew Bible Project (www.mechanical-translation.org), has authored many books on the subject of the Ancient Hebrew alphabet, language and culture and speaks around the country on this same subject. Mr. Benner's goal is to teach proper Biblical interpretation by providing others with the tools needed to read and understand the Bible from its original Hebraic context.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most excellent intro to ancient hebrew, December 24, 2004

By 

Justthe Factsmaam "retired" (out west) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet: Understanding the Ancient Hebrew Language of the Bible Based on Ancient Hebrew Culture and Thought (Paperback)

I loved this book. The rare opinion stated as fact and the few faith based comments do not change my feeling that this is a good intro to the subject.

I am a borderline agnostic with a sincere interest in Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian Hieroglyphs, early Phoenecian scripts, etc. I don't care about anyone else's religious beliefs and I don't care if the occasional prejudice slips through between the lines now & then when I am reading the works of authors with a passion for their faith, as long as I am learning something in a subject of interest.

Sure, I disagreed with a few of Mr. Benner's opinions here and there but in the end I have to say that this is the single best book I have seen that teaches introductory 'Ancient Hebrew 101' in such a clear, readable, and most importantly, learnable fashion. Now I can order Mr. Benner's other books with confidence that I will actually learn a good deal of the subject matter rather than fall asleep trying to stay focused on the dry, boring, dull treatment of ancient scripts given by snobbish academians whose obvious priority is trying to impress their peers rather than actually teach the neophytes.

Another good book on ancient scripts is "Mysteries of the Alphabet" by Ouaknin.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Info for Any Bible Student, August 9, 2005

By 

Dennis "Vol Vetter" (Spring Hill, TN, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet: Understanding the Ancient Hebrew Language of the Bible Based on Ancient Hebrew Culture and Thought (Paperback)

The book actually contains only about 50 pages of simple to understand background information on the ancient Hebrew language. The rest of the book deals with specific appendices that detail information on the pictographic and alphabetic characters themselves. All told, the info opens up a wide area of additional information on Bible names.

38 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to understand Hebrew READ THIS, August 22, 2005

By 

D. Foster "The Printer Lady" (Snohomish WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet: Understanding the Ancient Hebrew Language of the Bible Based on Ancient Hebrew Culture and Thought (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful introduction to the world of the Hebrew Language. I have been struggling to teach myself Hebrew, and frankly was having trouble learning the aleph-beit. So many letters that look similar! Such a different type of writing! And why do they have three letters than mean "s", more than one "K" and two that don't have any sound, anyway?

THIS BOOK ANSWERS THOSE QUESTIONS, and more!

This book explains the origins of Hebrew, and allows you to see what each of the ancient letters MEAN. I had been wondering how the sages made determinations of the "real" meanings of Hebrew words by looking at the letters that make them up, and now I know! This book will open a window to the Hebrew Language that will "turn you on" to how the language works, and how it affects the Jewish Faith. Their earliest beliefs about G-d will become very clear...just by studying the letters they used to spell his name.

GREAT BOOK.