The Hebrew you know!

Not such a foreign language

You may think of Hebrew as an unfamiliar language, but there are some very special Hebrew terms that have entered the English language intact. Because of their spiritual meaning, these words were not translated. For example, the exclamation hallelujah comes from the Hebrew phrase meaning “praise the Lord,” Satan means “adversary,” amen means “may it be true” and Sabbath or sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word for “rest from work.”

The Anointed One

One particularly special word that every Christian is aware of is Messiah. We assume it means “savior.” But in the days of ancient Israel, kings were crowned with oil being poured over their heads. This oiling led to the title mashiach (“anointed one”), referring to royalty. Once the Land of Israel was conquered by foreign empires, the Jews waited for salvation through a native Jewish king. They called this savior figure “the anointed one” or the Messiah. 
  

Discover the Hebrew Roots of Faith

These five Hebrew words are familiar to anyone who has ever attended a church service. You might have thought they were English! But now you know that your faith is deeply imbued with Hebrew. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine how much richer your faith will become once you learn to read Scripture authentically. Enroll in our online Biblical Hebrew course today and reconnect with your Hebrew roots.