Words Every Christian Should Know · Old Testament

Hebrew Words

Twenty-five words from the Old Testament's own language. Hebrew meaning is carried by word families and covenant settings, so these entries lean on BDB and on the passages where each word does its heaviest work.

Course-ready: five lessons of five words, in the order listed.

Lesson 1

  1. 1shalom שָׁלוֹםWholeness, welfare and peace, not just calm.H7965
  2. 2hesed חֶסֶדCovenant kindness and loyalty that keeps its promises.H2617
  3. 3ruach רוּחַWind, breath, or spirit, context decides.H7307
  4. 4shema (the verb shama) שְׁמַעHearing that takes in, understands and responds.H8085
  5. 5torah תּוֹרָהGod's instruction and direction for his people.H8451

Lesson 2

  1. 6emet אֱמֶתTruth that is firm, reliable and faithful.H571
  2. 7emunah אֱמוּנָהFirmness, fidelity, steadfastness.H530
  3. 8teshuvah (from the verb shuv) תְּשׁוּבָהReturn, turning back to God (the verb shuv carries this).H8666
  4. 9kavod כָּבוֹדGlory, honour and splendour, God's visible majesty.H3519
  5. 10berakhah בְּרָכָהBlessing: a gift of good, spoken or given.H1293

Lesson 3

  1. 11yada יָדַעTo know by experience, recognise and acknowledge.H3045
  2. 12tsedeq / tsedaqah צֶדֶקRightness and righteousness, in court, kingdom and character.H6664
  3. 13mishpat מִשְׁפָּטJudgment and justice: deciding rightly and setting right.H4941
  4. 14qadosh קָדוֹשׁHoly: set apart as belonging to God.H6918
  5. 15berit בְּרִיתA covenant: a pledged, binding relationship.H1285

Lesson 4

  1. 16goel (from ga'al) גֹּאֵלThe kinsman-redeemer who buys back and defends his own.H1350
  2. 17mashiach מָשִׁיחַAn anointed one, king, priest, or the promised Messiah.H4899
  3. 18nefesh נֶפֶשׁA living being, the self, one's whole life.H5315
  4. 19lev / levav לֵבThe inner person: mind, will and conscience, not only feelings.H3820
  5. 20dabar דָּבָרA word, a matter, a thing, speech that does things.H1697

Lesson 5

  1. 21yirah יִרְאָהFear of God: awe, reverence and real trembling together.H3374
  2. 22amen אָמֵן'Truly, so be it', the word that stakes you to a statement.H543
  3. 23shabbat שַׁבָּתThe Sabbath: the seventh day, blessed and made holy.H7676
  4. 24tselem צֶלֶםAn image or likeness, what humans are, of God.H6754
  5. 25hineni הִנְנִי (from הִנֵּה, hinneh)'Here I am', full availability to the one who calls.H2009

Practise this set

Hebrew Words flashcards25 flashcards: the word in its own script on the front, its meaning and an anchor verse on the back. Spaced repetition, saved on your device.

Sources

  • Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906)
  • Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible / STEP Hebrew data

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