Let’s Start at the Beginning
Most people know that the Bible opens with the famous words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). But far fewer of us are aware of what these words actually sound like in the original language of Scripture: Hebrew. Let’s learn to say these words as they were first spoken thousands of years ago:
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
braysheet bara Elohim et ha-shamayim v’et ha-aretz
A Title, not a Name
You can see that the Hebrew word for “God” in this verse is Elohim אֱלֹהִים. This word is composed of the root eloh (meaning “divine”) and the plural ending im. Does this mean that according to the very first verse of the Bible, the world was created by multiple gods? Actually, it’s His honorific title. The ancient Israelites called their one God Yahweh; but they also addressed him as Elohim. As a sign of respect, they used a plural title.
Get Beneath the Surface of the Bible
From the very first verse of Genesis, to the final verse of Revelation, the Bible demands to be read in its original language. Enroll in our live online Biblical Hebrew course and learn to read the Scriptures in their purest original form. You will be amazed at how even the most familiar verses explode with new meaning when you can read them in Hebrew!
How does it work?
At the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies you will learn Biblical Hebrew with us via live video conferences. This means our students communicate with the teacher and each other in real time, from the comfort of their home.