HEB-101 | Biblical Hebrew Foundations
Format: 12 weeks · prepared class of approximately 70 minutes/week · optional instructor tutorials. Exit skill: decode selected pointed words and make accountable beginner textual observations. Modern conversational Hebrew is a separate future pathway.
| Week | Lesson focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Right-to-left orientation; א ב ג ד ה |
| 2 | ו ז ח ט י |
| 3 | כ ל מ נ ס |
| 4 | ע פ צ ק ר |
| 5 | ש ת and ך ם ן ף ץ |
| 6 | Niqqud vowel signs |
| 7 | Sheva, dagesh and syllables |
| 8 | Definite article and conjunction |
| 9 | Noun gender and plural clues |
| 10 | Noun-construct recognition |
| 11 | Roots and lexicons |
| 12 | Pointed Torah reading lab |
Lesson 1 — Read from right to left
Hebrew text is ordinarily written from right to left. Study these opening consonants; the word's first written letter is at the right edge.
א ב ג ד ה
Now compare the words:
| Hebrew | Romanization | Context |
|---|---|---|
| שַׁבָּת | Shabbat | Weekly Sabbath/rest day |
| תּוֹרָה | Torah | Instruction; Torah in Jewish tradition |
| שָׁלוֹם | Shalom | Peace/well-being; exact usage varies |
Practice: Locate each ש and ת. Circle visually (on paper) the direction your eyes move to the next letter. Write the five opening alphabet characters, compare shapes, and note whether the sample is pointed with niqqud.
Self-check: Which way does pointed Hebrew run?
The overall word sequence runs right to left. Vowel points (niqqud) appear around consonant letters; modern unpointed Hebrew is also common.
Self-check: Is a learner who recognizes three words already fluent in Biblical Hebrew?
No. This is a decoding introduction only; syntax, morphology, dictionaries and contextual translation are covered later.
Mastery standard
Recognize Hebrew consonants and final forms (85% visual accuracy), decode instructor-approved pointed words (80% with accommodation), complete a short source-reading lab, and show fair attribution. Audio/pronunciation is validated by a qualified instructor, not invented from transliteration alone.