1. Alphabets and languages Biblical Hebrew and Greek
Languages of the Bible
Alphabets and languages
Biblical Hebrew and Greek
Route A Language Age 7-11
Second century Hebrew Ten Commandments Public domain

2. English uses this alphabet. It is called the ‘Roman’ alphabet.
Languages of the Bible
The alphabet
English uses this alphabet. It is called the ‘Roman’ alphabet.
Route A Language Age 7-11
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

3. Other languages use different alphabets
Languages of the Bible
Other languages use different alphabets
‘School’ written in different languages and alphabets
مدرسة 学校
школа
Arabic
Chinese
Russian
Route A Language Age 7-11

4. Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
The first part of the Bible, the Old Testament, was written in Hebrew.
It tells the story of the beginning of the world and the people of Israel.
Route A Language Age 7-11
Psalms scroll, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls unwound. Public domain

5. Hebrew Some of the Bible was first written in Hebrew.
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
Some of the Bible was first written in Hebrew.
This is the Hebrew letter b
Hebrew writing looks like this:
Write the Hebrew letter b.
Route A Language Age 7-11

6. Hebrew Hebrew is read from right to left
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
Hebrew is read from right to left
Biblical Hebrew was written without vowels (A E I O U). The vowels were added later as dots and dashes.
For example, a as in had is written as –
i as in lid is written as •
Route A Language Age 7-11

7. Hebrew Some words with a Hebrew origin: Amen (Certainly, I agree)
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
Some words with a Hebrew origin:
Amen (Certainly, I agree)
Hallelujah (Praise God)
Cherub (a type of angel)
Jubilee (from the Hebrew word for ram’s horn which was blown to start celebrations)
Route A Language Age 7-11

8. Some Hebrew names Sarah Naomi Jonathan Samuel Miriam David Elizabeth
Languages of the Bible
Some Hebrew names
Sarah
Jonathan
David
Elizabeth
Ruth
Jonah
Rebekah
Benjamin
Rachael
Naomi
Samuel
Miriam
Joshua
Anna
Jacob
Hannah
Joseph
Deborah
Route A Language Age 7-11

9. Languages of the Bible
Greek
The second part of the Bible, the New Testament, was written in Greek.
The New Testament tells the story of Jesus and the first Christians.
Route A Language Age 7-11
Part of an old Greek manuscript Section of Papyrus 46, containing 2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9
Public domain

10. Greek Some of the Bible was first written in Greek
Languages of the Bible
Greek
Some of the Bible was first written in Greek
This is the Greek letter p π
Greek writing looks like this:
Find a Greek letter to write that is different to English.
Route A Language Age 7-11

11. Greek Greek is read from left to right. The Bible writers did not use
Languages of the Bible
Greek
Greek is read from left to
right.
The Bible writers did not use
commas or full stops.
They did not leave gaps
between the words. They
often wrote in capital letters.
Route A Language Age 7-11
Part of Codex Siniaticus Public domain

12. Writing the Greek way 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Languages of the Bible
Writing the Greek way
LOVEISKINDANDPATIENTNEVERJEALOUSBOASTFULPROUDORRUDELOVEISNTSELFISHORQUICKTEMPEREDITDOESNTKEEPARECORDOFWRONGSTHATOTHERSDO.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Where would you put the spaces, commas, full stops and capital letters to make sense of this part of the Bible?
Route A Language Age 7-11

13. Greek words Some words that have Greek origins. zoo museum
Languages of the Bible
Greek words
Some words that have Greek origins.
zoo museum
angel dinosaur
telephone maths
school petrol
kilo octopus
angle
Route A Language Age 7-11

14. Some Greek names Irene Nicolas Margaret Timothy Angela Stephen Chloe
Languages of the Bible
Some Greek names
Irene
Nicolas
Margaret
Timothy
Angela
Stephen
Chloe
Alex
Zoe
Peter
Catherine
Andrew
Helen
Philip
Iris
Route A Language Age 7-11