Basic Hebrew (500) Words by Ariel David

500 Basic Hebrew Words (See also German version: „Hebræisch – Grundwortschatz“) © Siegfried Kreuzer www.kreuzer-siegfried.de (This list contains the 500 most frequent and most important words of the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible and is intended to help you keeping up your Hebrew. The transcription follows the rules of ZAW).

bf) db) hb) }ebe) }owdf) yfnodA) {fdf) hfmfdA) b"hf) leho) row) row) tow) zf)

!z,a xf) dfxe) towxf) raxa) r"xf) y"rAxa) tyirAxa) b"yo) liya)

’āb ’bd ’bh ’æbæn ’ādōn ’adōnāy ’ādām ’adāmā ’hb ’ohæl ’ōr ’ōr ’ōt ’āz ’ozæn ’āµ ’æµād ’aµôt ’aµar ’aµēr ’aµarê ’aharît ’oyēb ’ayil

father Q. perish; Pi., Hi. ruin be willing stone master, lord lord man, mankind, people (arable) soil like, love tent shine, light up light sign then ear brother one sister later on, afterwards another, different after end, behind, issue, the future enemy ram

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

}y")/}iy) a $yi) |a) lk) le) la) l") hL") H a owlE) {yiholE) vele) {i) {") hfmf) hfMa) hfnUmE) rm) tmE) yin) A yikon) f Vs) Va) Va) hf(B f r : ) a / (aBr : ) a {yi(fB:ra) }owrA) jere) rr) $") hf<i) re$A)

’ayin / ’ēn ’îs ’ak ’kl ’æl ’al ’ēl ’ellæ ’ælōah ’ælōhîm ’alæf ’im ’ēm ’āmā ’ammā ’æmûnā ’mr ’æmæt ’anî ’anokî ’sf ’af ’af ’arba‛ / ’arbā‛ā ’arbā‛îm ’arôn ’æræƒ ’rr ’ēš ’iššā ’ašær

is not, non existence, nothing man only eat towards not god these god god, gods thousand if mother (maid), servant forearm, cubit faithfulness, trustworthiness say faithfulness I I gather (food), collect also, even nose, anger four forty chest, ark of the covenant ground, country, territory, the earth curse fire woman relative clause

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

t") t") hfTa) {eTa)

’et ’et ’attā ’attæm

together with, along with accusative particle you (sg.) you (pl.)

: B degeB dab(:l) hfm"h:B )owb

be bægæd (le)bad behēmā bô’

rowB rxb x+b }yb }y"B tiyB a hkb rok:B yiT:liB/yil:B hfmfB

bôr bµr b‰µ byn ben bayit bkh bekor belî/biltî bama

in, at, because of, by way of garment, covering to be alone, only cattle, animals Q. enter, come to Hi bring (conduct, lead) in cistern, water pit choose, elect be reliant, trust Q., Hi. to understand between house weep first-born without hill, high-place, place of worship son build for, for the benefit of cattle morning seek create (god exclusively) covenant, arrangement Pi. bless blessing

}"B hnb da(b a rfqfB reqoB $qb )rb tyir:B \rb hfkfr:B

ben bnh ba‘ad bqr boqær bqš br’ berît brk berākā

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

rf&B f bāśār taB bat

flesh daughter

l)g Hbg lUb:G rowBiG lowdfG ldg yowg )yaG {aG r"g §§$rg

g’l gbh gebûl gibbôr gādôl gdl gôy gay’ gam gēr grš

redeem be high/tall, be exalted boundary, territory hero, fighter great be, become great/strong people, nation valley also sojourner drive out

qbd rbd rfbfD $ab:D rowD {fD \ereD $rd

dbq dbr dābār debaš dôr dām dæræk drš

cling, cleave to speak word, matter, affair honey generation blood way, road seek, inquire of

·ah Ah )Uh )yih hyh lfky"h \lh llh

hha hû’ hî’ hyh hêkāl hlk hll

the (definite article) interrogative particle he she occur, happen palace, temple go Pi. praise

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

{"h/hfM"h h"Nih/}"h rah grh hrh

hem(mā) hen/hinne har hrg hrh

:w we to)z zōt xbz zbµ xb;z, zæbaµ hz< zæ bh'z" zāhāb rkz zkr hnz znh q(c/q(z z‛q/ƒ‛q !qez; zqn/zāqēn [r;z< zæra‛ gax/gfx ^$fdfx §§$edox hwx hfmowx jUx hzx qzx

µāg/µag µādāš µodæš µwh µômā µûƒ µzh µzq

qz"x' µāzāq )+x µ‰’ t)f=x a /):+x " µe‰/µa‰‰āt yax µay

they behold! mountain(s) kill be, become pregnant and this (sg. f.) to sacrifice, slaughter (communion) sacrifice this (sg. m.) gold remember, call to mind be unfaithful, commit fornication cry out, call for help be old, grow old seed, descendant(s) feast new (new) moon, month Hišt. honor, adore wall outside, street see, behold Q. grow strong, firm Hi. seize, take hold of firm, strong miss, offend, commit a sin offence, sin alive, living

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

hyx {yiYax liyax {kx {fkfx hfm:kfx {owlAx {lx hfm"x hf<imfx/$"mfx {yi<imAx }"x hnx }nx desex j"pfx yicAx r"cfx hfQux/qox berex $rx $rx

µyh µayyim µayil µkm µākām µŏkmā µalôm µlm µēmā µāmēš/ µamišša µamiššim µēn µnh µnn µæsæd µfƒ/µāfēƒ µaƒî µāƒēr µoq/µuqqā µæræb µrš µrš

b+y/bO+ ‰ôb/y‰b bO+ ‰ôb ro):y $by dfy hdy (dy

ye’or ybš yād ydh yd‛

be alive life faculty, power be wise wise wisdom dream to dream rage, wrath five fifty favour, grace encamp to favour prove loyal, solidarity take pleasure in, take care off half court regulation, prescription (short) sword to plough Q. be deaf Hi. be silent be good, be pleasant good river (mostly: Nile) dry up, wither hand, power Hi. praise (get to) know

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

{owy }iyya lky dly deley {fy }yimyf vsy j(y )cy

yôm yayin ykl yld yælæd yām yāmîn ysf y‛ƒ yƒ’

qcy rcy )"rfy hf):riy dry $ry

yƒq yƒr yr’ yir’ā yrd yrš

$"y b$y a(U&:y ($y rf$fy rty

yēš yšb yesûa‛ yš‛ yāšār ytr

K: ke d"bkf kbd dowbfK &ebKe hoK }"hoK

kābôd kæbæś ko kohēn

day wine be able, have it in one’s power Q. bear, Hi. procreate child sea right hand, the right side Q., Hi. add, continue advise, give an advise Q. go out, come forth Hi. cause to go forth, bring forth pour out form, shape to fear fear, reverence descend, go down Q. take possession of, inherit Hi. drive away existence, there is, it exists sit, dwell (acts of) help help, save straight, right, upright Ni. remain, Hi. leave over as Q. be heavy, weighty Pi. honour splendour lamb, young ram thus priest

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

}UUK kûn x a ok yiK -lfK/loK hlk

koaµ kî kol/kŏl klh

yil:K }"K vfnfK )"SKi hsk veseK vak rpk trk

kelî ken kānāf kissē’ ksh kæsæf kaf kpr krt

btk ktb : l )ol bfbl " /b"l {xl {exel hfl:yal dkl dml xql }ow$fl

le lō’ lēb/lēbāb lµm læµæm laylā lkd lmd lqµ lāšôn

do):M me’od hf)"m me’ā s)m m’s

Ni. be firm, be established Hi. make ready, prepare strength, power therefore, because the whole, all Q. be completed, cease Pi. bring to an end, finish vessel thus wing throne Pi. cover silver (the metal) palm, flat of the hand Pi. make expiation Q. cut off, make a covenant Hi. cut off, destroy write for, concerning not heart Ni. fight bread night catch, seize learn take tongue, language very hundred reject, despise

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

}"gfm $fr:gim rfBd : m i hfm d"(owm tUm tewm f ax"b:zim rowm:zim henAxam he=am yim {iyam rkm )"lfM |f):lam hfk)fl:m hfmfx:lim +lp/+lm

māgēn migrāš midbār mā mo‘ēd mût mawæt mizbeaµ mizmôr maµanæ ma‰‰æ mî mayim mkr ml’ mal’āk melā’kā milµāmā ml‰/pl‰

|lm |elem tUUk:lam hfkfl:mam }im hfx:nim rfp:sim +a(:m la(am }a(m a he&A(am )cm

mlk mælæk malkût mamlākā min minµā mispār me‛a‰ ma’al ma‛an ma‛aśæ mƒ’

shield pasture-ground wilderness what? appointed time Q. die, Hi. kill death altar song, psalm encampment staff, rod, tribe who? water, waters sell be full, be accomplished messenger, angel sending, labour, work fight, battle Ni. save oneself, escape Pi. save be king, to reign king royal power, reign kingdom, dominion from, off gift, present number few, a little on the top of, above for the sake of, in order that deed find

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

maƒƒā miƒwā māqôm mar’æ maśśā’ mšµ māšîaµ miškān mšl māšāl mišpāµā mišpa‰

unleavened bread commandment(s) place appearance burden, utterance anoint anointed dwelling-place rule proverbial saying (larger) family, clan (legal) decision, justice

)fn {u):n v)n )yibnf begen dgn degen (gn $gn

na’ ne’um n’f nābî’ nægæb ngd nægæd ng‛ ngš

rdn rfhfn axUn sUn lfxfn hflAxan Un:xan te$ox:n h+n

ndr nāhār nûaµ nûs nāµāl naµalā naµnû neµošæt n‰h

now! come! utterance (of god) commit adultery prophet south, the south-country Hi. make known, report, tell in front of touch, hurt a person Q., Ni. draw near, approach Hi. bring, bring near vow river rest flee wadi, torrent hereditary property we copper, bronze Q. extend, incline

hfCam hfw:cim {owqfm he):ram )f>m a x$m axyi$fm }fk:$im l$m lf$fm hfxfp:$im +fp:$im

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

hkn hsn (sn ra(an hfrA(an ^lpn $epen lcn )&n )yi&nf q#n }tn jtn

nkh nsh ns‛ na‛ar na‛arā nfl næfæš nƒl nś’ nāśî’ nšq ntn ntƒ

bbs sbb byibs f sUs rUs rps

sābîb sûs sûr sfr

reps " sefær db( deb(e hfdobA( rb( reb"( yirb : (i d"( hfd"(

‛bd ‛æbæd ‛abōdā ‛br ‛ebær ‛ibrî ‛ēd ‛ēdā

Hi. recline, bend strike, smite Pi. test, try set out, journey lad, young boy, servant young girl, maid fall soul, living being, person Hi. tear away, deliver bear, carry deputy, chief kiss give tear down, destroy turn, be round about, march around all around horse Q. turn side, Hi. remove Q. count, Ni. be counted Pi. tell book serve, work servant, slave work, labour, service pass by, go over the region beyond/opposite Hebrew witness gathering, congregation

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004

dow( {flow( }ow(f Vow( Vow( zo( bz( }iy(a ryi( -la( hl( hflo( }owy:l(e {a( {i( dm( dUMa( I hn( II hn( yin(f yin(F }fn(f rfp(f j"( {ece( bere( h&( hfrf&a(/ree&e( {yir:&e( t"(

‛ôd ‛ôlām ‛āwôn ‛of ‛of ‛oz ‛zb ‛ayin ‛îr ‛al ‛lh ‛ôlā ‛ælyôn ‛am ‛im ‛md ‛ammûd ‛nh ‛nh ‛āni ‛onî ‛ānān ‛āfār ‛ēƒ ‛æƒæm ‛æræb ‛śh ‛æśær/‘aśara ‛æśrîm ‛ēt

still, once more, again eternity sin, guilt fly flying creatures, bird power, strength leave, abandon eye, spring town, city upon, above, against Q. go up, ascend, Hi. bring, lead up, offer sacrifices (whole burnt-) offering the upper, the highest people (together) with stand pillar, column answer, hear, grant Q. be downcast, afflicted Pi. humiliate, do violence poor, humble poverty, affliction cloud dust tree(s) bone, being evening make, manufacture ten twenty time

hfTa( ‛attā hdp hep +lm /+lp llp }eP hnp {yinfP l(p {a(aP Dqp raP Yir:P ($p (a$eP xtp XateP })oc )fbc f qyiDac qdc hfqfd:c /qedec hwc rUc q(c }owpfc }pc

now

pdh pæ plt/mlt pll pæn Pnh pānîm p‛l pa‛am pqd par perî pš‛ pæša‛ ptµ pætaµ

buy (off), ransom, redeem mouth Q. escape, Pi. save Hitp. pray lest turn toward a direction face, surface make, do step, occurrence, time go to see, take care of young bull fruit rebel, revolt against rebellion, revolt, open opening, entrance

ƒôn ƒābā ƒaddîq ƒdq ƒædæq/ƒedāqā ƒwh ƒûr ƒ‛q ƒāfôn ƒfn

small cattle host righteous be in the right, be just righteousness Pi. to command rock cry, call (to aid) north hide

jbq qbƒ rbq qbr

Q., Pi. collect, assemble bury

$owdfq {edeq $dq $edoq lhq lfhfq hwq lowq {Uq }O+fq/}+q r+q llq hnq ryicfq )rq brq bereq }fBr : fq hrq bowrfq te$eq

qādôš qædæm qdš qodæš qhl qāhāl qwh qôl qûm q‰n/qa‰on q‰r qll qnh qāƒîr qr’ qrb qæræb qŏrbān qrh qārôb qæšæt

h)r r’h $)or }ow$)ir tyi$)"r bar bor bbr hbr

rōš rī’šōn rē’šît rab rob rbb rbh

holy in front, bygone days, east Q. be holy, Pi., Hi. consecrate holiness, holy place Ni. assemble, Hi. call together assembly, convocation of the people Pi. hope, wait for sound, voice arise, last be insignificant, small Pi. send sacrifices up in smoke Q. be slight, Pi. curse acquire, buy, create harvest of grains call Q. approach, Hi. offer the inward part (of body), in the midst offering, gift meet, occur near bow Q. see, Ni. be seen, show oneself, appear, Hi. show head, summit, upper end the first (position) beginning, the first, choicest much, many multitude be, become many, much Q. become many

leger vdr axUr {Ur baxor {xr qxr byr byir beker (ar (a r " bf(r f h(r hf(fr ((r qar ($r

rægæl rdf rûaµ rûm roµab rµm rµq rîb rib rækæb ra‛ rea‛ ra‛ab r‛h ra‛ā r‛‛ raq rš‛

(f$fr rāšā‛ hedf& ´ādæ {yi& ´îm lk& ´kl l)om:> xm& hfx:Mi& h"nf& hfpf& ra&

émō’l ´mµ ímµa ń’/´ānē’ ´āfā ár

Hi. make many foot pursue, persecute wind, breath, spirit be high above, be exalted breadth Pi. have compassion be far, become far dispute, conduct a (legal) case dispute, case of law, lawsuit vehicle, chariot bad, evil fellow, companion, friend hunger, famine pasture, tend evil, misery, trouble be bad, do evil only be, become guilty, act wickedly being wrong, guilty, impious open field set, put, put down Hi. understand, have success, prosper the left side, left rejoice joy, gladness hate lip, shore, bank official, chief, leader

Vr& ´rf ·e$ l)$ low):$ hf(b : $ i /(ab$ e {yi(b : $ i +eb"$ (b$ rb$ tfB$ a bU$

šæ š’l še’ôl šæba‛/šib‛ā šib‛îm šebæ‰ šb‛ šbr šabbat šûb

row$ +x$ tx$ ryi$ ryi$ bk$ xk$ }k$ {owlf$ xl$ }fxlu$ |l$ {l$ hf$l:$/$lf$ yi$l:$ {yi$l:$ {"$ {f$ dm$

šôr šµ‰ šµt šîr šîr škb škµ škn šālôm šlµ šulµān šlk šlm šālōš/šelōšā šelišî šelišîm šēm šām šmd

burn relative particle ask, inquire underworld, realm of dead seven seventy rod, staff Ni. swear break (in pieces) Sabbath Q. turn back, turn around Hi. bring back bull, ox, steer slaughter Hi. spoil, ruin sing song lie down forget settle down to abide, live in peace send table Hi. throw intact, complete three the third thirty name there Hi. exterminate, Ni. be

hfMa$ {iyamf$ }eme$ hfnom:$/henom:$ (m$ rm$ $eme$ }"$ hfnf$ yin$ " {iyan:$/{iyaT:$ ra(a$ hfx:pi$ +p$ |p$ leqe$ reqe$ hf<i$/$"$ ht$ {owh:T hfLih:T |ewaT hfb"(owT hfrowT taxaT dyimT f {yimfT {mT b(T hfLip:T

šammā šāmayim šæmæn šemonæ/šemonā šm‛ šmr šæmæš šen šānā šēnî šetayim/šenayim ša‛ar šifµā šf‰ šfk šæqæl šæqær šeš/šišša šth

destroyed, exterminated thither, (as far as) there heaven oil (of olives) eight hear keep, watch over, retain sun tooth year the second two gate maid-servant judge pour out shekel lie, deception six Q. drink, Hi. to water

tehôm tehillā tawæk tô‛ēbā tôrā taµat tamîd tamîm tmm t‛b tefillā

the primaeval ocean glory, praise the midst abomination instruction under, instead of continually, regular complete, blameless be complete Pi. be abhorred prayer

&pt tfś hfmUr:T terûmā hf(:$iT /(a$"T těsa‛/tiš‛a

capture tribute, contribution nine

This list of basic Hebrew words is intended to help you keeping up or to brush up your Hebrew. The list is arranged alphabethically, still you may figure out wordfamilies ({wq - {wqm, llp - hlpt etc.) or groups like the numbers or pronouns. If you find errors or have suggestions, please send me an email. ------------------