Topics Ancient Hebrew Alphabet

Early Hebrew Middle Hebrew Late Hebrew Modern Hebrew

The Ancient form of this letter is the open palm of a hand. The meanings of this letter are "bend" and "curve," from the shape of the palm, as well as to "tame" or "subdue" as one who has been bent to another's will.

The Modern Hebrew name for this letter is kaph, a Hebrew word meaning "palm" and is also the ancient name for this letter. This letter is pronounced as a "k," as in the word kaph, when used as a stop or as a "kh" (pronounced hard like the "ch" in the German name Bach), as in the word yalakh (to walk) when used as a spirant.

The Early Semitic evolved into in the Middle Semitic script. This letter continued to evolve into in the Late Semitic script and becoming the Modern Hebrew כ and the ך (final kaph). The Middle Semitic became the Greek and Roman K (written in the reverse direction from the Hebrew).

The Ancient Pictographic Alphabet (Article) The original Hebrew alphabet was written with pictures that reveal insights into Hebrew words.

The Paleo-Hebrew Alphabet (Article) The relationship between the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet and the Samaritan alphabet.

Sabbath in Ancient Hebrew (Video) Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet was originally a picture with meaning. In this video we will examine the letters in the Hebrew word shabbat.