500 Basic Hebrew Words }y")/}iya) ’ayin / ’ēn is not, non existence, nothing

$yi) ’îs man

(See also German version: „Hebræisch – Grundwortschatz“) |a) ’ak only
© Siegfried Kreuzer www.kreuzer-siegfried.de lk) ’kl eat
le) ’æl towards
(This list contains the 500 most frequent and most important words of the Old
Testament / Hebrew Bible and is intended to help you keeping up your Hebrew. la) ’al not
The transcription follows the rules of ZAW). l") ’ēl god
hL") ’ellæ these
bf) ’āb father aHowlE) ’ælōah god
db) ’bd Q. perish; Pi., Hi. ruin {yiholE) ’ælōhîm god, gods
hb) ’bh be willing vele) ’alæf thousand
}ebe) ’æbæn stone {i) ’im if
}owdf) ’ādōn master, lord {") ’ēm mother
yfnodA) ’adōnāy lord hfmf) ’āmā (maid), servant
{fdf) ’ādām man, mankind, people hfMa) ’ammā forearm, cubit
hfmfdA) ’adāmā (arable) soil hfnUmE) ’æmûnā faithfulness, trustworthiness
b"hf) ’hb like, love rm) ’mr say
leho) ’ohæl tent tmE) ’æmæt faithfulness
row) ’ōr shine, light up yinA) ’anî I
row) ’ōr light yikonf) ’anokî I
tow) ’ōt sign Vs) ’sf gather (food), collect
zf) ’āz then Va) ’af also, even
!z,a ’ozæn ear Va) ’af nose, anger
xf) ’āµ brother hf(fB:ra) / (aB:ra) ’arba‛ / ’arbā‛ā four
dfxe) ’æµād one {yi(fB:ra) ’arbā‛îm forty
towxf) ’aµôt sister }owrA) ’arôn chest, ark of the covenant
raxa) ’aµar later on, afterwards jere) ’æræƒ ground, country, territory, the
r"xf) ’aµēr another, different earth
y"rAxa) ’aµarê after rr) ’rr curse
tyirAxa) ’aharît end, behind, issue, the future $") ’ēš fire
b"yo) ’oyēb enemy hf<i) ’iššā woman
liya) ’ayil ram re$A) ’ašær relative clause

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 1
 t") ’et together with, along with rf&fB bāśār flesh
t") ’et accusative particle taB bat daughter
hfTa) ’attā you (sg.)
{eTa) ’attæm you (pl.) l)g g’l redeem
Hbg gbh be high/tall, be exalted
:B be in, at, because of, by way of lUb:G gebûl boundary, territory
degeB bægæd garment, covering rowBiG gibbôr hero, fighter
dab(:l) (le)bad to be alone, only lowdfG gādôl great
hfm"h:B behēmā cattle, animals ldg gdl be, become great/strong
)owb bô’ Q. enter, come to yowg gôy people, nation
Hi bring (conduct, lead) in )yaG gay’ valley
rowB bôr cistern, water pit {aG gam also
rxb bµr choose, elect r"g gēr sojourner
x+b b‰µ be reliant, trust §§$rg grš drive out
}yb byn Q., Hi. to understand
}y"B ben between qbd dbq cling, cleave to
tiyaB bayit house rbd dbr speak
hkb bkh weep rfbfD dābār word, matter, affair
rok:B bekor first-born $ab:D debaš honey
yiT:liB/yil:B belî/biltî without rowD dôr generation
hfmfB bama hill, high-place, place of {fD dām blood
worship \ereD dæræk way, road
}"B ben son $rd drš seek, inquire of
hnb bnh build
da(ab ba‘ad for, for the benefit of ·ah h- the (definite article)
rfqfB bqr cattle Ah ha- interrogative particle
reqoB boqær morning )Uh hû’ he
$qb bqš seek )yih hî’ she
)rb br’ create (god exclusively) hyh hyh occur, happen
tyir:B berît covenant, arrangement lfky"h hêkāl palace, temple
\rb brk Pi. bless \lh hlk go
hfkfr:B berākā blessing llh hll Pi. praise

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 2
 {"h/hfM"h hem(mā) they hyx µyh be alive
h"Nih/}"h hen/hinne behold! {yiYax µayyim life
rah har mountain(s) liyax µayil faculty, power
grh hrg kill {kx µkm be wise
hrh hrh be, become pregnant {fkfx µākām wise
hfm:kfx µŏkmā wisdom
:w we and {owlAx µalôm dream
{lx µlm to dream
to)z zōt this (sg. f.) hfm"x µēmā rage, wrath
xbz zbµ to sacrifice, slaughter hf<imfx/$"mfx µāmēš/ µamišša five
xb;z, zæbaµ (communion) sacrifice {yi<imAx µamiššim fifty
hz< zæ this (sg. m.) }"x µēn favour, grace
bh'z" zāhāb gold hnx µnh encamp
rkz zkr remember, call to mind }nx µnn to favour
hnz znh be unfaithful, commit desex µæsæd prove loyal, solidarity
fornication j"pfx µfƒ/µāfēƒ take pleasure in, take care off
q(c/q(z z‛q/ƒ‛q cry out, call for help yicAx µaƒî half
!qez; zqn/zāqēn be old, grow old r"cfx µāƒēr court
[r;z< zæra‛ seed, descendant(s) hfQux/qox µoq/µuqqā regulation, prescription
berex µæræb (short) sword
gax/gfx µāg/µag feast $rx µrš to plough
^$fdfx µādāš new $rx µrš Q. be deaf
§§$edox µodæš (new) moon, month Hi. be silent
hwx µwh Hišt. honor, adore
hfmowx µômā wall b+y/bO+ ‰ôb/y‰b be good, be pleasant
jUx µûƒ outside, street bO+ ‰ôb good
hzx µzh see, behold
qzx µzq Q. grow strong, firm ro):y ye’or river (mostly: Nile)
Hi. seize, take hold of $by ybš dry up, wither
qz"x' µāzāq firm, strong dfy yād hand, power
)+x µ‰’ miss, offend, commit a sin hdy ydh Hi. praise
t)f=ax/):+"x µe‰/µa‰‰āt offence, sin (dy yd‛ (get to) know
yax µay alive, living
Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 3
 {owy yôm day }UUK kûn Ni. be firm, be established
}iyay yayin wine Hi. make ready, prepare
lky ykl be able, have it in one’s power axok koaµ strength, power
dly yld Q. bear, Hi. procreate yiK kî therefore, because
deley yælæd child -lfK/loK kol/kŏl the whole, all
{fy yām sea hlk klh Q. be completed, cease
}yimfy yāmîn right hand, the right side Pi. bring to an end, finish
vsy ysf Q., Hi. add, continue yil:K kelî vessel
j(y y‛ƒ advise, give an advise }"K ken thus
)cy yƒ’ Q. go out, come forth vfnfK kānāf wing
Hi. cause to go forth, bring )"SiK kissē’ throne
forth hsk ksh Pi. cover
qcy yƒq pour out veseK kæsæf silver (the metal)
rcy yƒr form, shape vak kaf palm, flat of the hand
)"rfy yr’ to fear rpk kpr Pi. make expiation
hf):riy yir’ā fear, reverence trk krt Q. cut off, make a covenant
dry yrd descend, go down Hi. cut off, destroy
$ry yrš Q. take possession of, inherit btk ktb write
Hi. drive away
$"y yēš existence, there is, it exists :l le for, concerning
b$y yšb sit, dwell )ol lō’ not
a(U&:y yesûa‛ (acts of) help bfb"l/b"l lēb/lēbāb heart
($y yš‛ help, save {xl lµm Ni. fight
rf$fy yāšār straight, right, upright {exel læµæm bread
rty ytr Ni. remain, Hi. leave over hfl:yal laylā night
dkl lkd catch, seize
:K ke as dml lmd learn
d"bfk kbd Q. be heavy, weighty xql lqµ take
Pi. honour }ow$fl lāšôn tongue, language
dowbfK kābôd splendour
&ebeK kæbæś lamb, young ram do):M me’od very
hoK ko thus hf)"m me’ā hundred
}"hoK kohēn priest s)m m’s reject, despise
Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 4
 }"gfm māgēn shield hfCam maƒƒā unleavened bread
$fr:gim migrāš pasture-ground hfw:cim miƒwā commandment(s)
rfB:dim midbār wilderness {owqfm māqôm place
hfm mā what? he):ram mar’æ appearance
d"(owm mo‘ēd appointed time )f>am maśśā’ burden, utterance
tUm mût Q. die, Hi. kill x$m mšµ anoint
tewfm mawæt death axyi$fm māšîaµ anointed
ax"b:zim mizbeaµ altar }fk:$im miškān dwelling-place
rowm:zim mizmôr song, psalm l$m mšl rule
henAxam maµanæ encampment lf$fm māšāl proverbial saying
he=am ma‰‰æ staff, rod, tribe hfxfp:$im mišpāµā (larger) family, clan
yim mî who? +fp:$im mišpa‰ (legal) decision, justice
{iyam mayim water, waters
rkm mkr sell )fn na’ now! come!
)"lfM ml’ be full, be accomplished {u):n ne’um utterance (of god)
|f):lam mal’āk messenger, angel v)n n’f commit adultery
hfk)fl:m melā’kā sending, labour, work )yibfn nābî’ prophet
hfmfx:lim milµāmā fight, battle begen nægæb south, the south-country
+lp/+lm ml‰/pl‰ Ni. save oneself, escape dgn ngd Hi. make known, report, tell
Pi. save degen nægæd in front of
|lm mlk be king, to reign (gn ng‛ touch, hurt a person
|elem mælæk king $gn ngš Q., Ni. draw near, approach
tUUk:lam malkût royal power, reign Hi. bring, bring near
hfkfl:mam mamlākā kingdom, dominion rdn ndr vow
}im min from, off rfhfn nāhār river
hfx:nim minµā gift, present axUn nûaµ rest
rfp:sim mispār number sUn nûs flee
+a(:m me‛a‰ few, a little lfxfn nāµāl wadi, torrent
la(am ma’al on the top of, above hflAxan naµalā hereditary property
}a(am ma‛an for the sake of, in order that Un:xan naµnû we
he&A(am ma‛aśæ deed te$ox:n neµošæt copper, bronze
)cm mƒ’ find h+n n‰h Q. extend, incline

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 Hi. recline, bend dow( ‛ôd still, once more, again
hkn nkh strike, smite {flow( ‛ôlām eternity
hsn nsh Pi. test, try }owf( ‛āwôn sin, guilt
(sn ns‛ set out, journey Vow( ‛of fly
ra(an na‛ar lad, young boy, servant Vow( ‛of flying creatures, bird
hfrA(an na‛arā young girl, maid zo( ‛oz power, strength
^lpn nfl fall bz( ‛zb leave, abandon
$epen næfæš soul, living being, person }iya( ‛ayin eye, spring
lcn nƒl Hi. tear away, deliver ryi( ‛îr town, city
)&n nś’ bear, carry -la( ‛al upon, above, against
)yi&fn nāśî’ deputy, chief hl( ‛lh Q. go up, ascend, Hi. bring,
q#n nšq kiss lead up, offer sacrifices
}tn ntn give hflo( ‛ôlā (whole burnt-) offering
jtn ntƒ tear down, destroy }owy:le( ‛ælyôn the upper, the highest
{a( ‛am people
bbs sbb turn, be round about, march {i( ‛im (together) with
around dm( ‛md stand
byibfs sābîb all around dUMa( ‛ammûd pillar, column
sUs sûs horse I hn( ‛nh answer, hear, grant
rUs sûr Q. turn side, Hi. remove II hn( ‛nh Q. be downcast, afflicted
rps sfr Q. count, Ni. be counted Pi. humiliate, do violence
Pi. tell yinf( ‛āni poor, humble
rep"s sefær book yinF( ‛onî poverty, affliction
}fnf( ‛ānān cloud
db( ‛bd serve, work rfpf( ‛āfār dust
debe( ‛æbæd servant, slave j"( ‛ēƒ tree(s)
hfdobA( ‛abōdā work, labour, service {ece( ‛æƒæm bone, being
rb( ‛br pass by, go over bere( ‛æræb evening
reb"( ‛ebær the region beyond/opposite h&( ‛śh make, manufacture
yir:bi( ‛ibrî Hebrew hfrf&a(/ree&e( ‛æśær/‘aśara ten
d"( ‛ēd witness {yir:&e( ‛æśrîm twenty
hfd"( ‛ēdā gathering, congregation t"( ‛ēt time

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 6
 hfTa( ‛attā now $owdfq qādôš holy
{edeq qædæm in front, bygone days, east
hdp pdh buy (off), ransom, redeem $dq qdš Q. be holy, Pi., Hi. consecrate
hep pæ mouth $edoq qodæš holiness, holy place
+lm /+lp plt/mlt Q. escape, Pi. save lhq qhl Ni. assemble, Hi. call together
llp pll Hitp. pray lfhfq qāhāl assembly, convocation of the
}eP pæn lest people
hnp Pnh turn toward a direction hwq qwh Pi. hope, wait for
{yinfP pānîm face, surface lowq qôl sound, voice
l(p p‛l make, do {Uq qûm arise, last
{a(aP pa‛am step, occurrence, time }O+fq/}+q q‰n/qa‰on be insignificant, small
Dqp pqd go to see, take care of r+q q‰r Pi. send sacrifices up in smoke
raP par young bull llq qll Q. be slight, Pi. curse
Yir:P perî fruit hnq qnh acquire, buy, create
($p pš‛ rebel, revolt against ryicfq qāƒîr harvest of grains
(a$eP pæša‛ rebellion, revolt, )rq qr’ call
xtp ptµ open brq qrb Q. approach, Hi. offer
XateP pætaµ opening, entrance bereq qæræb the inward part (of body), in
the midst
})oc ƒôn small cattle }fB:rfq qŏrbān offering, gift
)fbfc ƒābā host hrq qrh meet, occur
qyiDac ƒaddîq righteous bowrfq qārôb near
qdc ƒdq be in the right, be just te$eq qæšæt bow
hfqfd:c /qedec ƒædæq/ƒedāqā righteousness
hwc ƒwh Pi. to command h)r r’h Q. see, Ni. be seen, show
rUc ƒûr rock oneself, appear, Hi. show
q(c ƒ‛q cry, call (to aid) $)or rōš head, summit, upper end
}owpfc ƒāfôn north }ow$)ir rī’šōn the first (position)
}pc ƒfn hide tyi$)"r rē’šît beginning, the first, choicest
bar rab much, many
jbq qbƒ Q., Pi. collect, assemble bor rob multitude
rbq qbr bury bbr rbb be, become many, much
hbr rbh Q. become many
Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 7
 Hi. make many Vr& ´rf burn
leger rægæl foot
vdr rdf pursue, persecute ·e$ šæ relative particle
axUr rûaµ wind, breath, spirit l)$ š’l ask, inquire
{Ur rûm be high above, be exalted low):$ še’ôl underworld, realm of dead
baxor roµab breadth hf(:bi$/(abe$ šæba‛/šib‛ā seven
{xr rµm Pi. have compassion {yi(:bi$ šib‛îm seventy
qxr rµq be far, become far +eb"$ šebæ‰ rod, staff
byr rîb dispute, conduct a (legal) case (b$ šb‛ Ni. swear
byir rib dispute, case of law, lawsuit rb$ šbr break (in pieces)
beker rækæb vehicle, chariot tfBa$ šabbat Sabbath
(ar ra‛ bad, evil bU$ šûb Q. turn back, turn around
a("r rea‛ fellow, companion, friend Hi. bring back
bf(fr ra‛ab hunger, famine row$ šôr bull, ox, steer
h(r r‛h pasture, tend +x$ šµ‰ slaughter
hf(fr ra‛ā evil, misery, trouble tx$ šµt Hi. spoil, ruin
((r r‛‛ be bad, do evil ryi$ šîr sing
qar raq only ryi$ šîr song
($r rš‛ be, become guilty, act bk$ škb lie down
wickedly xk$ škµ forget
(f$fr rāšā‛ being wrong, guilty, impious }k$ škn settle down to abide, live in
{owlf$ šālôm peace
hedf& ´ādæ open field xl$ šlµ send
{yi& ´îm set, put, put down }fxlu$ šulµān table
lk& ´kl Hi. understand, have success, |l$ šlk Hi. throw
prosper {l$ šlm intact, complete
l)om:> ´emō’l the left side, left hf$l:$/$lf$ šālōš/šelōšā three
xm& ´mµ rejoice yi$l:$ šelišî the third
hfx:Mi& ´imµa joy, gladness {yi$l:$ šelišîm thirty
)"nf& ´n’/´ānē’ hate {"$ šēm name
hfpf& ´āfā lip, shore, bank {f$ šām there
ra& ´ar official, chief, leader dm$ šmd Hi. exterminate, Ni. be

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 8
 destroyed, exterminated &pt tfś capture
hfMa$ šammā thither, (as far as) there hfmUr:T terûmā tribute, contribution
{iyamf$ šāmayim heaven hf(:$iT /(a$"T těsa‛/tiš‛a nine
}eme$ šæmæn oil (of olives)
hfnom:$/henom:$ šemonæ/šemonā eight
(m$ šm‛ hear
rm$ šmr keep, watch over, retain This list of basic Hebrew words is intended to help you keeping up or
$eme$ šæmæš sun to brush up your Hebrew.
}"$ šen tooth
hfnf$ šānā year The list is arranged alphabethically, still you may figure out word-
yin"$ šēnî the second families ({wq - {wqm, llp - hlpt etc.) or groups like the numbers or
{iyan:$/{iyaT:$ šetayim/šenayim two pronouns.
ra(a$ ša‛ar gate
hfx:pi$ If you find errors or have suggestions, please send me an email.
šifµā maid-servant
+p$ šf‰ judge
------------------
|p$ šfk pour out
leqe$ šæqæl shekel
reqe$ šæqær lie, deception
hf<i$/$"$ šeš/šišša six
ht$ šth Q. drink, Hi. to water

{owh:T tehôm the primaeval ocean

hfLih:T tehillā glory, praise
|ewaT tawæk the midst
hfb"(owT tô‛ēbā abomination
hfrowT tôrā instruction
taxaT taµat under, instead of
dyimfT tamîd continually, regular
{yimfT tamîm complete, blameless
{mT tmm be complete
b(T t‛b Pi. be abhorred
hfLip:T tefillā prayer

Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 Basic Hebrew Vocabulary 500 © Siegfried Kreuzer 1990/2004 9