In this section we will learn the ancient Hebrew Alephbet using English words and sounds. Once you have mastered this lesson you will move on to the second lesson where you will learn the original names and sounds which are very similar to the English you learn hear.

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a

This is a picture of the head of an ox. The ox was the strongest and most versatile animals among the Hebrews livestock. The ox was used to pull carts or a plow, it provided meat and leather and it was one of the animals used in sacrifices. This animal was the "all" powerful and "all" versatile animal of the Hebrews.

Picture: Ox
Name: All
Sound: a (ah)

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b

The Hebrews lived in goat hair tents which were divided into two halves, male and female sections, and divided by a wall. The above picture is a representation of the floorplan to the tent. The tent was the place where the family laid their "bed".

Picture: Tent
Name: Bed
Sound: b

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c

The picture is of the foot of a man. The Hebrews were always on their feet for traveling, working as well as playing "games".

Picture: Foot
Name: Game
Sound: g

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d

The entrance of the Hebrew's tent was covered by a curtain suspended from a horizontal pole. The picture of this letter represents the "door" of the tent.

Picture: Door
Name: Door
Sound: d

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e

The picture is of a man with his arms outstretched, pointing toward a wonderful view and saying "hey" look at that.

Picture: Pointing
Name: Hey
Sound: h, ey

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f

The tent was supported by ropes attached to pegs driven into the ground. These pegs were made of a branched piece of hardwood. No English word is derived from this letter but the picture is similar to the hand of a man "waving".

Picture: Peg
Name: Wave
Sound: w, ow, uw

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z

The picture is of a mattock, an agricultural tool for working the crop fields. There is no English word derived from this Hebrew letter but it is similar to the letter "Z" which did evolve out of this letter.

Picture: Mattock
Name: Z
Sound: z

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h

The tent was divided into two sections, with a wall separating the tent in "half".

Picture: Wall
Name: Half
Sound: h

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u

The picture is a basket or "tote" used for storing foods or belongings.

Picture: Basket
Name: Tote
Sound: t

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i

The picture is of the hand and arm of a man. The length of the arm, from fingertip to elbow is called a cubit. Our word "yard", as a measurement, is the length of the arm.

Picture: Hand
Name: Yard
Sound: y, ee

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k

The picture is the open palm of the hand. The palm facing up and bent forms a "cupped" shape.

Picture: Palm
Name: Cup
Sound: k

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l

The Hebrews raised sheep for wool, food, leather and milk. The Hebrew shepherd always carried a staff which could be used as a weapon to protect the flock from predators as well as to discipline the sheep. The staff also had a bent end that could be used to pull a "lamb".

Picture: Staff
Name: Lamb
Sound: l

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m

The picture is of the waves of water on the sea. There is no English word derived from this letter, but, our letter "M" was derived from this letter.

Picture: Water
Name: M
Sound: m

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n

The picture is a seed with the root coming out of it. The seed is the beginning of "new" life.

Picture: Seed
Name: New
Sound: n

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x

The desert of the Hebrews has many species of thorns and thistles. The picture is a thorn which attaches itself to the flesh causing pain. Our word "sin" comes from this letter as it also causes pain in our flesh.

Picture: Thorn
Name: Sin
Sound: s

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o

The picture is the "eye".

Picture: Eye
Name: Eye
Sound: i

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p

The picture is the mouth and represents something that is open. There is no English word from this letter but can represent a "pit" as it is an open hole.

Picture: Mouth
Name: pit
Sound: p

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y

This picture is a man laying on his "side".

Picture: Side
Name: Side
Sound: s

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q

This is a picture of the sun at the horizon where the light is concentrated at this point, while the rest of the sky is dark. This is a "coming" together of the light.

Picture: Sun
Name: Come
Sound: q

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r

The picture is the head of a man which is "raised" up to look.

Picture: Head
Name: Raise
Sound: r

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s

The picture is the two front teeth. The whiteness of the teeth "shine".

Picture: Teeth
Name: Shine
Sound: sh

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t

The picture of two crossed sticks is a mark such as a "target" one aims at when shooting.

Picture: Mark
Name: Target
Sound: t