As we study the Old Testament together, we encounter Hebrew (and Greek) terms that unlock deeper meaning in the scriptures. This growing glossary collects the key terms from each week’s lesson — building your biblical vocabulary throughout the year.
Click on any Hebrew or Greek term to study it at Blue Letter Bible. Use the flashcard buttons to practice vocabulary for each section.
Weekly CFM Lessons
Week 1: Introduction to the Old Testament
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| תּוֹרָה | Torah | instruction, law, teaching (the five books of Moses) |
| נְבִיאִים | Nevi’im | Prophets (second division of Hebrew Bible) |
| כְּתוּבִים | Ketuvim | Writings (third division of Hebrew Bible) |
| תַּנַ״ךְ | Tanakh | Hebrew Bible (acronym: Torah + Nevi’im + Ketuvim) |
| בְּרִית | berit | covenant |
| קֹדֶשׁ | qodesh | holy, set apart, sacred |
| יְשׁוּעָה | yeshu’ah | salvation, deliverance |
| מָשִׁיחַ | mashiach | anointed one, Messiah |
Week 2: Moses 1; Abraham 3 — God's Work and Glory
Week 3: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5 — The Creation
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| בָּרָא | bara | to create (ex nihilo, only God as subject) |
| עָשָׂה | ‘asah | to make, do, fashion (from existing material) |
| יָצַר | yatsar | to form, fashion (like a potter) |
| תֹּהוּ וָבֹהוּ | tohu va-vohu | formless and void, chaos |
| אוֹר | ‘or | light |
| חֹשֶׁךְ | choshek | darkness |
| יוֹם | yom | day, period of time |
| שַׁבָּת | Shabbat | Sabbath, rest, cease |
| גַּן | gan | garden |
| עֵדֶן | ‘Eden | Eden — delight, pleasure |
| נֶפֶשׁ | nephesh | soul, living being, life |
| חַי | chai | life, living |
Week 4: Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5 — The Fall
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| נָחָשׁ | nachash | serpent |
| חַטָּאת | chatta’t | sin, sin offering |
| עָרוּם | ‘arum | crafty, shrewd, naked |
| דַּעַת | da’at | knowledge |
| טוֹב וָרָע | tov va-ra’ | good and evil |
| קַיִן | Qayin | Cain — acquired, smith |
| הֶבֶל | Hevel | Abel — breath, vapor |
| מִנְחָה | minchah | offering, gift, tribute |
| קָרְבָּן | qorban | offering, sacrifice (that which draws near) |
| דָּם | dam | blood |
| שֹׁמֵר | shomer | keeper, guardian, watchman |
| קְלָלָה | qelalah | curse |
Week 5: Genesis 5; Moses 6 — Adam to Enoch
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| תּוֹלְדוֹת | toledot | generations, account, history |
| חֲנוֹךְ | Chanokh | Enoch — dedicated, initiated |
| הָלַךְ | halakh | to walk (with God) |
| מְתוּשֶׁלַח | Metushelach | Methuselah — man of the dart/spear |
| טָהוֹר | tahor | clean, pure |
| טָמֵא | tame’ | unclean, impure |
| מִקְוֶה | miqveh | gathering of waters, ritual bath |
| רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ | Ruach HaQodesh | Holy Spirit |
| נָבִיא | navi | prophet |
| צַדִּיק | tsaddiq | righteous one |
Week 6: Moses 7 — Zion, City of Enoch
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| צִיּוֹן | Tsiyon | Zion |
| לֵב אֶחָד | lev echad | one heart |
| בָּכָה | bakhah | to weep |
| רַחֲמִים | rachamim | compassion, mercy (from womb) |
| אַהֲבָה | ahavah | love |
| צֶדֶק | tsedeq | righteousness, justice |
| מִשְׁפָּט | mishpat | justice, judgment |
| שָׁלוֹם | shalom | peace, wholeness, completeness |
| אֶחָד | echad | one, unity |
| קָהָל | qahal | congregation, assembly |
Week 7: Genesis 6-11; Moses 8 — Noah & Babel
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| נֹחַ | Noach | Noah — rest, comfort |
| תֵּבָה | tevah | ark, chest (Noah’s ark, Moses’ basket) |
| מַבּוּל | mabbul | flood, deluge |
| קֶשֶׁת | qeshet | bow, rainbow |
| אוֹת | ‘ot | sign, token |
| בָּבֶל | Bavel | Babel — confusion |
| בָּלַל | balal | to confuse, mix |
| שָׂפָה | saphah | lip, language, speech |
| פּוּץ | puts | to scatter, disperse |
| מִגְדָּל | migdal | tower |
| שֵׁם | shem | name, fame, reputation |
Week 8: Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2 — Call of Abraham
Week 9: Genesis 18-23 — Abraham & Isaac
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| פָּלָא | pala | to be wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary |
| מוֹעֵד | mo’ed | appointed time, feast, meeting |
| יִצְחָק | Yitschaq | Isaac — “he laughs” |
| צָחַק | tsachaq | to laugh, jest, play |
| יָחִיד | yachid | only, unique, beloved |
| מוֹרִיָּה | Moriyyah | Moriah — place of seeing/teaching |
| מוֹרֶה | moreh | teacher, instructor |
| עֲקֵדָה | akedah | the binding (of Isaac) |
| נָסָה | nasah | to test, prove, try |
| רָאָה | ra’ah | to see, perceive, provide |
| יָרֵא | yare | to fear, revere |
| מַכְפֵּלָה | Makhpelah | double cave |
| ἀγαπητός | agapetos | beloved |
| πρόνοια | pronoia | provision, foresight |
Week 10: Genesis 24-27 — Isaac & Jacob
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| יַעֲקֹב | Ya’aqov | Jacob — heel-grabber, supplanter |
| בֵּית־אֵל | bêṯ-‘ēl | Bethel — house of God |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל | Yisra’el | Israel — one who strives with God |
| בְּכוֹר | bekhor | firstborn |
| בְּכוֹרָה | bekhorah | birthright, right of the firstborn |
| סֻלָּם | sullām | ladder |
| בָּרַךְ | barak | to bless, kneel |
| בְּרָכָה | berakhah | blessing |
| בָּזָה | bazah | to despise, hold in contempt |
| אָדֹם | ‘Adom | Edom — red, ruddy |
| שָׂרָה | Sarah | noblewoman |
| אָבַק | avaq | to wrestle |
| עָקַב | ‘aqav | to follow at the heel, supplant |
| פְּנוּאֵל | Penu’el | Peniel — face of God |
Week 11: Genesis 28-33 — Jacob's Journey
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| כֻּתֹּנֶת | ketonet | tunic, under-garment |
| פַּס | pas | flat (palm/sole), reaching to extremities |
| חָלַם | chalam | to dream |
| פָּתַר | patar | to interpret (dreams) |
| בּוֹר | bor | pit, well, cistern |
| נוּס | nus | to flee, escape |
| בַּיִת | bayit | house |
| טַבַּעַת | tabba’at | ring, signet ring |
| צָלֵחַ | tsaleach | to prosper, succeed |
| שָׂרַר | sarar | to rule, have power |
| לָבַשׁ | lavash | to dress, wear, clothe |
| ἐνύπνιον | enypnion | a dream |
| ἄρχων | archōn | ruler, commander, leader |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | spirit, breath |
Week 12: Genesis 42-50 — Joseph in Egypt
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| שִׁילֹה | Shiloh | place of rest (Messianic title) |
| גֹּשֶׁן | Goshen | drawing near |
| גּוֹי | goy | nation, people |
| נָזִיר | nazir | consecrated one, Nazirite |
| נָזַר | nazar | to dedicate, consecrate, separate |
| אָרוֹן | ‘aron | chest, ark |
| חָנַט | chanat | to embalm, spice |
| נָשָׂא | nasa’ | to lift, bear up, carry, forgive |
| סָלַח | salach | to forgive, pardon |
| שָׂכַל | sakal | to be prudent, prosper, understand |
| פְּרָת | Perat | Euphrates — fruitfulness |
Week 13: Exodus 1-6 — Moses & the Burning Bush
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| הָיָה | hayah | to be, become, exist (I AM) |
| יְהֹוָה | YHWH | Jehovah, LORD — the self-existent One |
| אֲדֹנָי | ‘Adonay | my Lord, Lord |
| סְנֶה | seneh | burning bush, thorny bush |
| סִינַי | Sinay | Sinai — thorny |
| תֵּבָה | tevah | ark, basket (Noah/Moses) |
| גָּאַל | ga’al | to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer |
| זָכַר | zakar | to remember, recall |
| כָּבַד | kavad | to be heavy, weighty, glorious |
| מָרַר | marar | to be bitter |
| פֶּרֶךְ | perek | harshness, severity, cruelty |
| עֲבֹדָה | ‘avodah | labor, service, work |
| שִׁפְרָה | Shiphrah | fair, beautiful (midwife) |
| פּוּעָה | Pu’ah | splendid (midwife) |
Special Topics
The Hebrew Alphabet — 22 Letters of the Aleph-Bet
The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 consonants. Each letter has a name, a sound, and an ancient pictographic meaning. Practice recognizing the letters with these flashcards.
| Letter | Name | Sound | Pictograph |
|---|
| א | Aleph | Glottal stop (silent) | Ox head |
| ב | Bet | B or V | House |
| ג | Gimel | G | Camel / throw stick |
| ד | Dalet | D | Door |
| ה | He | H | Window / raised arms |
| ו | Vav | V or W | Hook / nail |
| ז | Zayin | Z | Weapon / sword |
| ח | Chet | CH (guttural) | Fence / courtyard |
| ט | Tet | T (emphatic) | Basket / wheel |
| י | Yod | Y | Hand / arm |
| כ | Kaf | K or KH | Palm of hand |
| ל | Lamed | L | Goad / staff |
| מ | Mem | M | Water |
| נ | Nun | N | Fish / serpent |
| ס | Samech | S | Support / pillar |
| ע | Ayin | Silent (guttural) | Eye |
| פ | Pe | P or F | Mouth |
| צ | Tsade | TS | Fishhook / plant |
| ק | Qof | K (uvular) | Back of head |
| ר | Resh | R | Head |
| ש | Shin | SH or S | Tooth |
| ת | Tav | T | Mark / cross |
Hebrew Vowels — The Niqqud System
The Masoretes added vowel marks (niqqud) to preserve the pronunciation of Biblical Hebrew. These dots and dashes appear above, below, and within consonants. Practice recognizing them with these flashcards.
| Vowel | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|
| בָ | Qamats | Long A (father) | בָּרָא bara |
| בַ | Patach | Short A (apple) | בַּת bat |
| בֲ | Chataf Patach | Ultra-short A | אֲנִי ani |
| בֵ | Tsere | Long E (they) | בֵּן ben |
| בֶ | Segol | Short E (bed) | מֶלֶךְ melekh |
| בֱ | Chataf Segol | Ultra-short E | אֱלֹהִים Elohim |
| בִ | Chiriq | I (machine) | מִי mi |
| בֹ | Cholem | Long O (go) | קֹדֶשׁ qodesh |
| בֳ | Chataf Qamats | Ultra-short O | צָהֳרַיִם tsohorayim |
| בֻ | Qibbuts | Short U (flute) | קֻדָּשׁ quddash |
| וּ | Shuruq | Long U (flute) | בָּרוּךְ barukh |
| בְ | Sheva | Brief “uh” or silent | בְּרֵאשִׁית b’reshit |
Holy Week — Passion Week
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| ὡσαννά | hōsanna | Save now! Save, we pray! |
| Χριστός | christos | Anointed One, Christ, Messiah |
| מָשִׁיחַ | mashiach | Anointed One, Messiah |
| Γεθσημανῆ | Gethsēmanē | oil press |
| ἐγείρω | egeirō | to awaken, raise up, arise |
| παραδίδωμι | paradidōmi | to hand over, deliver, betray |
| νάρδος | nardos | spikenard, nard |
| χρίω | chriō | to anoint, consecrate |
Passover Seder — 15-Step Covenant Pattern
The Passover Seder follows an ancient 15-step pattern of covenant renewal. Each step carries Hebrew vocabulary that unlocks the rich symbolism of this sacred meal.
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| קָדַשׁ | qadash | to sanctify, set apart (Step 1: Kadesh) |
| רָחַץ | rachatz | to wash (Steps 2 & 6: Urchatz/Rachtzah) |
| כַּרְפַּס | karpas | fine linen, greens (Step 3) |
| חָצָה | chatzah | to divide, break in two (Step 4: Yachatz) |
| נָגַד | nagad | to tell, declare (Step 5: Maggid) |
| מַצָּה | matzah | unleavened bread (Step 8) |
| מָרוֹר | maror | bitter herbs (Step 9) |
| יָצָא | yatsa | to bring forth, go out (Step 7: Motzi) |
| צָפַן | tsaphan | to hide, treasure up (Step 12: Tzafun) |
| בָּרַךְ | barak | to bless, kneel (Step 13: Barech) |
| הָלַל | halal | to praise, shine (Step 14: Hallel) |
| רָצָה | ratsah | to accept, delight in (Step 15: Nirtzah) |
The Four Questions & Responses:
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| מָה | mah | what? |
| שָׁנָה | shanah | to change, be different |
| לַיִל | layil | night |
| זֶה | zeh | this |
| כֹּל | kol | all, every |
| עֶבֶד | eved | slave, servant |
| הָיָה | hayah | to be, become |
| נָצַל | natsal | to deliver, rescue |
Additional Seder Vocabulary:
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| בֵּית לֶחֶם | Beth Lechem | Bethlehem — house of bread |
| בַּיִת | bayit | house |
| לֶחֶם | lechem | bread, food |
| מָצָא | matsa | to find, attain |
| חֹמֶר | chomer | clay, mortar |
| מָרַר | marar | to be bitter |
| שֻׁלְחָן | shulchan | table |
| עָרַךְ | arakh | to arrange, set in order |
| חֶסֶד | chesed | covenant loyalty, lovingkindness |
| רָצוֹן | ratson | will, favor, acceptance |
| תּוֹרָה | torah | law, instruction, teaching |
| λούω | louō | to wash (Greek — whole body) |
| νίπτω | niptō | to wash (Greek — extremities) |
Study Library Articles — Hebrew & Greek Vocabulary
Our Study Library articles explore deep scriptural connections through Hebrew and Greek vocabulary. These terms unlock meaning across multiple related articles.
Alma 5: The Nephite Seder
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| סֵדֶר | seder | order, arrangement |
| קֹדֶשׁ | qodesh | holy, sacred |
| טְעָמִים | ta’amim | cantillation marks (musical notation) |
| הַגָּדָה | haggadah | the telling (from nagad) |
| שְׁכִינָה | shekinah | Divine Presence (from shakan, “to dwell”) |
| שָׁמַר | shamar | to keep, guard |
| חָנַן | chanan | to be gracious |
| שָׁלוֹם | shalom | peace, wholeness |
The Savior’s Sermon From the Cross
| Hebrew/Greek | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| ἀφίημι | aphiēmi | to forgive, send away, release |
| παράδεισος | paradeisos | paradise, garden |
| ἰδού | idou | behold! (Greek) |
| הִנֵּה | hinneh | behold! (Hebrew) |
| διψάω | dipsaō | to thirst (Greek) |
| צָמֵא | tsame | to thirst (Hebrew) |
| τελέω | teleō | to finish, complete (tetelestai = “it is finished”) |
Purim: Hidden Providence, Unlikely Deliverance
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|
| פּוּר | pur | lot (Persian loanword — origin of “Purim”) |
| הֲדַסָּה | Hadassah | myrtle (Esther’s Hebrew name) |
This vocabulary list grows each week as we study together. Terms are drawn from the weekly CFM lessons, Passover Seder content, and Study Library articles.