A History of Hebrew Part 10: The Hebrew Root System

This is a segment of a much larger video production that I am working on and am looking for feedback (positive and negative) on the layout and content.

___________________

Like a tree with its roots, trunk, branches and leaves, the Hebrew language is a system of roots and words, where one word, and its meaning is the foundation to a number of other words whose spelling and meaning are related back to that one root.

As an example, the root M-L-K (melekh) means "rule." This root can be used as a verb meaning to rule, or as a noun meaning a ruler, or king. Other nouns are created out of this root by adding other letters. By adding the letter Hey to the end of the root, the word malkah is formed which is a female ruler, a queen. By adding a Vav to this feminine noun, the word malukhah is formed meaning "royalty." By adding the letters vav-tav to the end of the root, the noun malkut is formed meaning the area ruled by the ruler, the kingdom.

By studying the relationship between words and their roots we can better understand the meanings of these words within their original context. Let's take 3 English words found in English translations of the Bible; Maiden, Eternity and Secret. These three words are, from our interpretation, three very unrelated words. But let us examine the Hebrew words behind these translations. The Hebrew word for maiden is Almah, for eternity is Olam and the word for secret is Tealmah. Each of these words share the same three letters; The Ayin, the Lamed and the Mem.

Each of these words are related as they come from the same root A-L-M. Rather than perceiving them as different and independent words, we need to recognize that there meanings are related. By interpreting these words in context of their root relationship, we are able to uncover their original meanings.

The root A-L-M literally means beyond the horizon, that hazy distance that is difficult to see. By extension it means to be out of sight, hidden from view. Almah is the young woman that is hidden away (protected) in the home. Olam is a place or time that is in the far distance and is hidden to us. Tealmah is a something that is hidden away.

Besides being able to find the common meaning in different words of the same root, we are also able to distinguish between different meanings of words that come from different roots. There are two Hebrew words translated as "moon." One is yere'ahh which comes from a root meaning "to follow a prescribed path" and is therefore used for the motion of the moon. The other is lavanah which comes from a root meaning "to be white" and is therefore used for its bright appearance.

___________________

Narrator: Jeff A. Benner

Graphics: Jeff A. Benner

Music: Callen Clark, Desert City by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Photos: Merritt College, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Gerrit Gillespie

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hebrew
• language
• root
• words

[pjonyd]

Based on researches done. I understand Martin Luther was anti-semitic...

[ancienthebreworg]

@pjonyd Not at first. At first he taught that his followers should embrace the Jews and teach them the truth. But when they rejected his message, that is when his hatred for the Jews began.

[VictorLepanto]

@ancienthebreworg: Martin Luther seems to have had some serious psychological problems & was in the habit of flying into really nasty scatological rages when people didn't go along w/ him. These rages seem to have been related to a bipolar disorder. He would rage against the world in his manic state, & he'd use the language of the toilet. He even had a hallucination of seeing Satan & "defeated" Satan by throwing excrement at him.

[ancienthebreworg]

@VictorLepanto Where did you get this information?

[deborahbetty58]

Shalom Jeff; it's been a while since I dropped by. How have you been? This is what the three words triggered in my mind; maiden who is hidden in the far future beyond the horizon of time=> Mary who was hidden for a long time, in her matrix/womb she hid " the Holy Thing" from beyond our human, linear time-line, as the Mystery/Secret of heaven. Shalom, Yah Bless

[ancienthebreworg]

@deborahbetty58 Shalom deborah, good to hear from you and I've been good, thanks. Very interesting interpretation of these words, thanks for sharing.

[EviousProductions]

@shaharmos Certainly!

[shaharmos]

@EviousProductions

becouse it is the language of GOD

[EviousProductions]

why does reading the bible have to be so difficult?

[pennythepenster]

Excellent introduction with Martin Luther and explanation of Hebrew root system!

[VictorLepanto]

@ancienthebreworg: It is commonly discussed in many histories of Luther. Some of his scatological rages have been preserved for us. The rant against the Jews has been widely repeated, but he used almost identical language on many occasions. He was obsessed w/ excrement & the anus. When he had his "vision" of Satan, it was (supposedly) his own excrement he threw at Satan. On his death bed...well maybe I won't tell you that gross story.

[deborahbetty58]

@ancienthebreworg Shalom Shalom :-) happy to read you are well :-) one quick question, cld you pols send me the link to your website for learning Hebrew, via my inbox thanx :-))