Hebrew pictograph word studies — 422 key biblical words

Every Hebrew letter began as a picture. These studies rebuild key biblical words picture by picture — in Hebrew alphabetical order.

• אב
  av
  father, ancestor, founder
• אבד
  avad
  perish, be lost, destroy
• אבן
  even
  stone, rock, weight
• אדון
  adon
  lord, master, owner
• אדם
  adam
  man, mankind, Adam
• אדמה
  adamah
  ground, soil, land
• אהב
  ahav
  love, be devoted to
• אהבה
  ahavah
  love, affection
• אהל
  ohel
  tent, dwelling, tabernacle
• אור
  or
  light, daylight, dawn
• אות
  ot
  sign, mark, token, miracle
• אח
  ach
  brother, kinsman, fellow
• אחד
  echad
  one, united, single
• אחר
  acher
  other, another, following
• אחרית
  acharit
  end, latter days, outcome
• איש
  ish
  man, husband, each one
• אישה
  ishah
  woman, wife
• אכל
  achal
  eat, consume, devour
• אל
  El
  God, mighty one, power
• אלהים
  Elohim
  God, gods, judges
• אם
  em
  mother, source, origin
• אמונה
  emunah
  faithfulness, steadiness, faith
• אמן
  aman
  believe, confirm, be faithful
• אמר
  amar
  say, speak, declare
• אמת
  emet
  truth, firmness, faithfulness
• אנוש
  enosh
  man, mortal, frail humanity
• אסף
  asaf
  gather, collect, take away
• אף
  af
  nose, nostril, anger
• ארבע
  arba
  four
• ארון
  aron
  ark, chest, coffer
• ארך
  arach
  be long, prolong, patient
• ארץ
  eretz
  earth, land, country
• ארר
  arar
  curse, bind with a curse
• אש
  esh
  fire, flame
• אשר
  asher
  happy, blessed; who, which
• את
  et
  (direct-object marker); with
• בגד
  beged
  garment, covering; treachery
• בדל
  badal
  divide, separate, distinguish
• בהמה
  behemah
  beast, cattle, animal
• בוא
  bo
  come, enter, arrive
• בור
  bor
  pit, cistern, dungeon
• בוש
  bosh
  be ashamed, disappointed
• בחר
  bachar
  choose, select, elect
• בטח
  batach
  trust, be confident, secure
• בין
  bin
  understand, discern, perceive
• בינה
  binah
  understanding, insight
• בית
  bayit
  house, household, family
• בכה
  bachah
  weep, cry, mourn
• בכור
  bechor
  firstborn, chief
• בלע
  bala
  swallow, engulf, destroy
• בן
  ben
  son, child, member
• בנה
  banah
  build, establish, rebuild
• בעל
  baal
  owner, master, husband; Baal
• בקר
  boker
  morning, dawn
• בקש
  bikesh
  seek, search, request
• ברא
  bara
  create, shape (God as subject)
• ברזל
  barzel
  iron
• ברח
  barach
  flee, run away, pass through
• ברית
  berit
  covenant, treaty, alliance
• ברך
  barach
  bless, kneel, praise
• ברכה
  berachah
  blessing, gift, prosperity
• בשר
  basar
  flesh, body, meat; good news (בשׂר)
• בת
  bat
  daughter, girl, branch-town
• גאל
  gaal
  redeem, act as kinsman, ransom
• גבול
  gevul
  border, boundary, territory
• גבור
  gibbor
  mighty man, warrior, hero
• גבורה
  gevurah
  might, strength, valor
• גדול
  gadol
  great, large, mighty
• גדל
  gadal
  grow, become great, magnify
• גוי
  goy
  nation, people, gentile
• גור
  gur
  sojourn, dwell as stranger
• גלה
  galah
  uncover, reveal; go into exile
• גם
  gam
  also, even, moreover
• גמל
  gamal
  deal fully, repay, wean; camel
• גן
  gan
  garden, enclosure
• גפן
  gefen
  vine, grapevine
• גר
  ger
  sojourner, stranger, alien
• דבר
  davar
  word, matter, thing
• דבר
  dibber
  speak, declare, command
• דבש
  devash
  honey
• דג
  dag
  fish
• דוד
  dod
  beloved, uncle; David
• דור
  dor
  generation, age, dwelling
• דין
  din
  judge, plead a cause, judgment
• דל
  dal
  poor, weak, lowly
• דלת
  delet
  door, gate, leaf of a door
• דם
  dam
  blood, bloodshed
• דמות
  demut
  likeness, image, resemblance
• דעת
  daat
  knowledge, perception, skill
• דרך
  derech
  way, road, journey, manner
• דרש
  darash
  seek, inquire, study
• הבל
  hevel
  breath, vapor, vanity; Abel
• הדר
  hadar
  splendor, majesty, honor
• היה
  hayah
  be, become, happen
• הלך
  halach
  walk, go, live one's life
• הלל
  halal
  praise, boast, shine
• הר
  har
  mountain, hill, hill country
• הרג
  harag
  kill, slay
• וו
  vav
  hook, peg — the rare vav-initial word (Exod 26:32)
• זבח
  zevach
  sacrifice, offering, slaughter
• זהב
  zahav
  gold
• זכר
  zachar
  remember, recall; male
• זכרון
  zikaron
  memorial, remembrance
• זמר
  zamar
  sing praise, make music
• זקן
  zaken
  old, elder; beard
• זרוע
  zeroa
  arm, strength, power
• זרע
  zera
  seed, offspring, sowing
• חג
  chag
  feast, festival, pilgrimage
• חדש
  chadash
  new, fresh; renew
• חדש
  chodesh
  month, new moon
• חוה
  chavah
  bow down, worship; Eve, life-giver
• חול
  chol
  sand; common, profane
• חומה
  chomah
  wall, rampart
• חוץ
  chutz
  outside, street, abroad
• חזק
  chazak
  be strong, seize, harden
• חטא
  chata
  sin, miss the mark, offend
• חטאת
  chatat
  sin, sin-offering
• חי
  chai
  living, alive, life
• חיה
  chayah
  live, revive; living creature
• חיים
  chayim
  life, lifetime
• חיל
  chayil
  strength, wealth, valor, army
• חכם
  chacham
  wise, skillful, sage
• חכמה
  chochmah
  wisdom, skill, insight
• חלב
  chalav
  milk; fat, best part
• חלום
  chalom
  dream
• חלל
  chalal
  profane, pierce, begin
• חמד
  chamad
  desire, covet, delight in
• חמס
  chamas
  violence, wrong, cruelty
• חן
  chen
  grace, favor, charm
• חנה
  chanah
  encamp, settle, pitch tent
• חנן
  chanan
  be gracious, show favor
• חסד
  chesed
  covenant love, kindness, mercy
• חסה
  chasah
  take refuge, trust
• חפץ
  chafetz
  delight in, desire, will
• חק
  chok
  statute, decree, appointed portion
• חרב
  cherev
  sword, knife
• חרה
  charah
  burn with anger, be kindled
• חשב
  chashav
  think, reckon, devise, impute
• חשך
  choshech
  darkness, obscurity
• טהור
  tahor
  clean, pure
• טהר
  taher
  be clean, purify
• טוב
  tov
  good, pleasant, beautiful
• טמא
  tamei
  unclean, defiled, impure
• טעם
  taam
  taste, discern, judgment
• יד
  yad
  hand, power, side, monument
• ידה
  yadah
  give thanks, praise, confess
• ידע
  yada
  know, perceive, be intimate
• יום
  yom
  day, time, era
• יין
  yayin
  wine
• יכל
  yachol
  be able, prevail, endure
• ילד
  yalad
  bear, give birth, beget
• ילד
  yeled
  child, boy, youth
• ים
  yam
  sea, west, large basin
• ימין
  yamin
  right hand, right side, south
• יסד
  yasad
  found, establish, lay foundation
• יסף
  yasaf
  add, increase, do again
• יעץ
  yaatz
  advise, counsel, plan
• יפה
  yafeh
  beautiful, fair, handsome
• יצא
  yatza
  go out, come forth, exit
• יצר
  yatzar
  form, fashion, shape (as a potter)
• ירא
  yare
  fear, revere, stand in awe
• יראה
  yirah
  fear, reverence, awe
• ירד
  yarad
  go down, descend
• ירש
  yarash
  inherit, possess, dispossess
• ישב
  yashav
  sit, dwell, remain
• ישועה
  yeshuah
  salvation, deliverance, victory
• ישן
  yashen
  sleep; old
• ישע
  yasha
  save, deliver, rescue
• ישר
  yashar
  upright, straight, just
• יתר
  yeter
  remainder, rest, excellence
• כבד
  kaved
  be heavy, honored; liver
• כבוד
  kavod
  glory, honor, weight, wealth
• כבש
  keves
  lamb, sheep
• כהן
  kohen
  priest
• כוכב
  kochav
  star
• כון
  kun
  be established, prepared, firm
• כח
  koach
  strength, power, ability
• כלה
  kalah
  complete, finish; bride
• כלי
  keli
  vessel, instrument, weapon
• כנף
  kanaf
  wing, edge, corner of garment
• כסא
  kise
  throne, seat of honor
• כסה
  kasah
  cover, conceal, clothe
• כסף
  kesef
  silver, money
• כעס
  kaas
  anger, vexation, provoke
• כף
  kaf
  palm, hand, sole of foot
• כפר
  kafar
  atone, cover, make ransom
• כרת
  karat
  cut, cut off; make (a covenant)
• כתב
  katav
  write, record, inscribe
• לב
  lev
  heart, mind, will, inner man
• לבש
  lavash
  clothe, put on, wear
• לחם
  lechem
  bread, food, grain
• לילה
  lailah
  night
• לכד
  lachad
  capture, seize, take
• למד
  lamad
  learn, teach, train
• לקח
  lakach
  take, receive, fetch, marry
• לשון
  lashon
  tongue, language, speech
• מאד
  meod
  very, exceedingly; might
• מאה
  meah
  hundred
• מגדל
  migdal
  tower, stronghold
• מגן
  magen
  shield, defense
• מדבר
  midbar
  wilderness, desert
• מה
  mah
  what? how!
• מות
  mut
  die, death
• מזבח
  mizbeach
  altar, place of sacrifice
• מזמור
  mizmor
  psalm, melody
• מחנה
  machaneh
  camp, army, host
• מחשבה
  machashavah
  thought, plan, intention
• מטה
  matteh
  staff, rod, tribe
• מים
  mayim
  water, waters
• מלא
  male
  fill, be full, fulfill
• מלאך
  malach
  messenger, angel
• מלאכה
  melachah
  work, occupation, craftsmanship
• מלה
  milah
  word, speech, utterance
• מלח
  melach
  salt
• מלחמה
  milchamah
  war, battle
• מלך
  melech
  king, ruler
• מלך
  malach
  reign, be king
• מלכות
  malchut
  kingdom, dominion, reign
• מן
  man
  manna; portion
• מנחה
  minchah
  gift, offering, tribute
• מספר
  mispar
  number, count, tally
• מעשה
  maaseh
  deed, work, act
• מצא
  matza
  find, discover, attain
• מצוה
  mitzvah
  commandment, precept, charge
• מקדש
  mikdash
  sanctuary, holy place
• מקום
  makom
  place, site, space
• מראה
  mareh
  appearance, vision, sight
• משא
  masa
  burden, load; oracle
• משה
  Mosheh
  Moses — drawn out (of water)
• משכן
  mishkan
  tabernacle, dwelling place
• משל
  mashal
  rule, govern; proverb, parable
• משפחה
  mishpachah
  family, clan, kindred
• משפט
  mishpat
  judgment, justice, ordinance
• מת
  met
  dead, dying
• נאם
  neum
  declaration, utterance, oracle
• נביא
  navi
  prophet, spokesman
• נגד
  nagad
  tell, declare, make known
• נגע
  naga
  touch, strike, reach
• נגש
  nagash
  draw near, approach
• נהר
  nahar
  river, stream; flow, shine
• נוח
  nuach
  rest, settle down; Noah
• נחל
  nachal
  wadi, stream, valley; inherit
• נחלה
  nachalah
  inheritance, possession, heritage
• נחם
  nacham
  comfort, console; relent
• נחש
  nachash
  serpent, snake; divination
• נטה
  natah
  stretch out, extend, incline
• נכה
  nachah
  strike, smite, wound
• נסע
  nasa
  journey, set out, pull up stakes
• נעים
  naim
  pleasant, delightful, sweet
• נער
  naar
  youth, boy, servant
• נפל
  nafal
  fall, lie, be cast down
• נפש
  nefesh
  soul, life, person, desire
• נצח
  netzach
  forever, endurance, victory
• נצל
  natzal
  deliver, rescue, snatch away
• נקי
  naki
  innocent, clean, free
• נר
  ner
  lamp, light
• נשא
  nasa
  lift, carry, bear, forgive
• נשמה
  neshamah
  breath, spirit, breath of life
• נתן
  natan
  give, set, put, allow
• סבב
  savav
  surround, go around, turn
• סגלה
  segulah
  treasured possession, special treasure
• סוס
  sus
  horse
• סור
  sur
  turn aside, depart, remove
• סלה
  selah
  selah — pause, lift up (musical)
• סלח
  salach
  forgive, pardon
• סלע
  sela
  rock, cliff, crag
• ספר
  sefer
  book, scroll, letter
• ספר
  safar
  count, recount, declare
• סתר
  satar
  hide, conceal; secret place
• עבד
  avad
  serve, work, worship
• עבד
  eved
  servant, slave
• עבר
  avar
  pass over, cross, transgress
• עד
  ed
  witness, testimony
• עדה
  edah
  congregation, assembly
• עוד
  od
  again, still, yet, more
• עולם
  olam
  forever, eternity, ancient time
• עון
  avon
  iniquity, guilt, punishment
• עוף
  of
  bird, fowl, flying creature
• עז
  oz
  strength, might, refuge
• עזב
  azav
  forsake, leave, abandon
• עזר
  azar
  help, support
• עין
  ayin
  eye; spring, fountain
• עיר
  ir
  city, town
• עלה
  alah
  go up, ascend, offer
• עלה
  olah
  burnt offering, whole offering
• עם
  am
  people, nation, kinsman
• עמד
  amad
  stand, endure, remain
• עמק
  emek
  valley, lowland
• ענה
  anah
  answer, respond; be afflicted
• ענן
  anan
  cloud
• עפר
  afar
  dust, dry earth, ashes
• עץ
  etz
  tree, wood, timber
• עצה
  etzah
  counsel, advice, plan
• עצם
  etzem
  bone, substance, self
• עקב
  akev
  heel, footprint; because
• ערב
  erev
  evening, dusk
• עשה
  asah
  do, make, accomplish
• עשר
  eser
  ten
• עת
  et
  time, season, occasion
• עתה
  atah
  now, at this time
• פדה
  padah
  ransom, redeem, rescue
• פה
  peh
  mouth, speech, opening
• פלא
  pele
  wonder, marvel, miracle
• פלל
  palal
  pray, intercede, judge
• פנה
  panah
  turn, face, look
• פנים
  panim
  face, presence, surface
• פסח
  pesach
  Passover; pass over, spare
• פעל
  paal
  do, work, accomplish
• פקד
  pakad
  visit, attend to, appoint, number
• פרה
  parah
  be fruitful, bear fruit
• פרי
  peri
  fruit, produce, offspring
• פרש
  parash
  spread out, make distinct
• פתח
  patach
  open, loosen; doorway, entrance
• צאן
  tzon
  flock, sheep and goats
• צבא
  tzava
  host, army, warfare, service
• צדיק
  tzaddik
  righteous one, just
• צדק
  tzedek
  righteousness, justice, rightness
• צדקה
  tzedakah
  righteousness, righteous act, charity
• צוה
  tzivah
  command, charge, appoint
• צום
  tzom
  fast, fasting
• ציון
  Tziyon
  Zion
• צל
  tzel
  shadow, shade, protection
• צלם
  tzelem
  image, likeness
• צמח
  tzamach
  sprout, spring up; Branch
• צעק
  tzaak
  cry out, call for help
• צפון
  tzafon
  north; hidden
• צר
  tzar
  adversary, distress, narrow
• קבץ
  kavatz
  gather, assemble, collect
• קבר
  kever
  grave, tomb, burial
• קדוש
  kadosh
  holy, set apart, sacred
• קדש
  kadash
  be holy, consecrate, sanctify
• קהל
  kahal
  assembly, congregation, community
• קול
  kol
  voice, sound, noise
• קום
  kum
  arise, stand, establish
• קטן
  katan
  small, young, insignificant
• קנא
  kana
  be jealous, zealous
• קנה
  kanah
  acquire, buy, possess, create
• קץ
  ketz
  end, limit, border
• קצר
  katzar
  reap, harvest; be short
• קרא
  kara
  call, proclaim, read, name
• קרב
  karav
  draw near, approach, offer
• קרבן
  korban
  offering, sacrifice, gift brought near
• קרן
  keren
  horn, strength, ray
• קשה
  kasheh
  hard, difficult, stubborn
• ראה
  raah
  see, look, perceive, provide
• ראש
  rosh
  head, top, chief, beginning
• ראשון
  rishon
  first, former, chief
• ראשית
  reshit
  beginning, first, chief part
• רב
  rav
  many, great, much; master
• רבה
  ravah
  multiply, increase, become many
• רגל
  regel
  foot, leg; festival time
• רדף
  radaf
  pursue, chase, persecute
• רוח
  ruach
  spirit, breath, wind
• רום
  rum
  be high, exalted, lifted up
• רחב
  rachav
  be wide, broad, spacious
• רחם
  racham
  have compassion; womb
• רחמים
  rachamim
  compassion, tender mercies
• רחץ
  rachatz
  wash, bathe
• רחק
  rachak
  be far, distant, remove
• ריב
  riv
  strive, contend; dispute, lawsuit
• רכב
  rachav
  ride, mount; chariot
• רנן
  ranan
  shout for joy, sing aloud
• רע
  ra
  evil, bad, distress
• רע
  rea
  friend, neighbor, companion
• רעב
  raav
  famine, hunger
• רעה
  raah
  shepherd, tend, pasture
• רפא
  rafa
  heal, cure, restore
• רצון
  ratzon
  favor, goodwill, acceptance, desire
• רשע
  rasha
  wicked, guilty one
• שבועה
  shevuah
  oath, sworn promise
• שבט
  shevet
  tribe, rod, scepter
• שבע
  sheva
  seven
• שבע
  shava
  swear, take an oath
• שבר
  shavar
  break, shatter; grain
• שבת
  shabbat
  Sabbath, rest, cessation
• שבת
  shavat
  cease, rest, desist
• שדה
  sadeh
  field, open country
• שוב
  shuv
  return, turn back, repent
• שופר
  shofar
  ram's horn, trumpet
• שור
  shor
  ox, bull
• שחה
  shachah
  bow down, worship, prostrate
• שחט
  shachat
  slaughter, kill (for sacrifice)
• שיר
  shir
  song; sing
• שית
  shit
  set, place, appoint
• שכב
  shachav
  lie down, sleep
• שכח
  shachach
  forget, ignore
• שכן
  shachan
  dwell, abide, settle (Shekinah)
• שלום
  shalom
  peace, wholeness, welfare
• שלח
  shalach
  send, stretch out, let go
• שלישי
  shelishi
  third
• שלך
  shalach
  throw, cast, hurl
• שלם
  shalem
  complete, whole; repay, fulfill
• שלש
  shalosh
  three
• שם
  shem
  name, reputation, memorial
• שמים
  shamayim
  heavens, sky
• שמן
  shemen
  oil, fatness, anointing
• שמנה
  shemoneh
  eight
• שמע
  shama
  hear, listen, obey
• שמר
  shamar
  keep, guard, watch, observe
• שמש
  shemesh
  sun
• שנה
  shanah
  year; repeat, change
• שנים
  shenayim
  two, pair
• שער
  shaar
  gate, entrance, court
• שפט
  shafat
  judge, govern, decide
• שפך
  shafach
  pour out, shed
• שקר
  sheker
  lie, falsehood, deception
• שרף
  saraf
  burn; seraph, fiery one
• שש
  shesh
  six; fine linen
• שתה
  shatah
  drink
• תודה
  todah
  thanksgiving, praise, thank-offering
• תוך
  tavech
  midst, middle, among
• תולדות
  toledot
  generations, genealogy, account
• תורה
  torah
  instruction, law, teaching
• תחלה
  techilah
  beginning, first, start
• תמיד
  tamid
  continually, always, daily offering
• תמים
  tamim
  complete, blameless, whole
• תפארת
  tiferet
  beauty, glory, splendor
• תפלה
  tefillah
  prayer, intercession
• תקוה
  tikvah
  hope, expectation; cord
• תרועה
  teruah
  shout, blast, alarm of joy
• תשובה
  teshuvah
  return, repentance, answer
• תשועה
  teshuah
  salvation, deliverance

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