Recipe: learn to read a verse in Hebrew

Free20 minBeginnerTrack: Study recipes

You do not need a class to read your first verse in Hebrew. This recipe uses the free tools to take you from the letters to reading Genesis 1:1 aloud, Bereshit bara Elohim…

Open Alef-Bet + Learn Hebrew Scripture + Interlinear in a new tab →

Tip: keep this page open beside Hebrew Explorer and follow along.

Meet the letters in the verse
Hear it slowly
Read one word at a time
Check the meaning
Read it whole, and print it

Step 1: Meet the letters in the verse

Open The Hebrew Alef-Bet and learn the letters that appear in Genesis 1:1: bet, resh, alef, shin, yod, tav, lamed, heh, mem, vav and tsadi.

Step 2: Hear it slowly

Open Learn Hebrew Scripture and tap Genesis 1:1 (free). Play it at 🐌 Very slow while you follow the syllables right to left.

Genesis 1:1 in Learn Hebrew Scripture — Follow the syllables right to left as it plays.

Step 3: Read one word at a time

Tap each word to hear it alone, and say it back. Watch the capitals, which mark the stressed syllable.

Step 4: Check the meaning

Open the Interlinear on Genesis 1 and match each Hebrew word to its English meaning.

Step 5: Read it whole, and print it

Play it at Normal speed and read along. Download the PDF and keep it where you will see it. Then try the Shema, Psalm 23:1, John 3:16 and the Lord's Prayer, which are free too.

Try it now →