The Hebrew Words Studies (I)
The Hebrew language is built on word roots, and those roots often carry meaning that gets lost once a word is translated into English. Two words that look nothing alike on the page can share the same root letters, and that shared root can reveal a connection the English reader would never catch. “Adam” is tied to the “ground” he was formed from. “Woman” is built directly out of the word for “man.” “Bread” and “war” come from the same root because wars are usually conflicts over resources and food. Even “heaven” may carry an echo of “water” within it. Even “word” and “wilderness” share a root, as if the emptiest places are where a voice is heard most clearly. Here are five Hebrew word pairs worth noticing:
1. Adam / Adama
אָדָם / אֲדָמָה
“man” / “ground”
Genesis deliberately connects adam with adama. The human is formed from the dust of the ground, and the similarity of the words reinforces humanity’s earthly origin. Adam belongs to the adama from which he was taken.
2. Ish / Isha
אִישׁ / אִשָּׁה
“man” / “woman”
Genesis 2:23 places ish and isha together in a beautiful wordplay: “She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” Their similar sound emphasizes relationship, shared identity, and the profound connection between man and woman.
3. Lechem / Milchama
לֶחֶם / מִלְחָמָה
“bread” / “war”
For those who can’t read Hebrew yet, the connection is not obvious, but it is there in the original. You can still hear it: LeCHeM and miLCHaMah
Both words carry the consonants ל־ח־ם. Their similarity creates a striking association between provision and struggle. Bread represents what sustains life, while war often grows out of humanity’s struggle over land, food, security, and resources.
4. Shamayim / Mayim
שָׁמַיִם / מַיִם
“heaven” / “water”
A traditional Hebrew interpretation hears mayim, “water,” within shamayim, “heavens.” This beautifully reflects the imagery of Genesis 1, where God separates the waters below from the waters above.
5. Davar / Midbar
דָּבָר / מִדְבָּר
“word” / “wilderness”
You can hear the connection: DaVaR and miDVaR
Davar and midbar share the consonants ד־ב־ר (D-V-R), creating a powerful spiritual association. The midbar, the wilderness, is often the place where the davar, the word of God, is heard. Moses encountered God in the wilderness. Israel received God’s words there. The prophets also withdrew into lonely places where the divine voice could be heard more clearly, and so did the greatest prophet, priest, and king of them all—Jesus Christ!
Conclusion
These five pairs are more than linguistic curiosities. They remind us that Scripture invites us not only to read but also to listen. In Hebrew, sounds echo across words, images deepen one another, and familiar passages begin to reveal layers that translation cannot always preserve.
Hebrew rewards the patient reader. It invites us to slow down, to pay attention, and to approach the biblical text with humility and wonder. Every root may open a doorway. Every word may carry an echo. And sometimes one small connection can help us see an entire passage with new eyes and hear God’s Word with renewed attention. This is why, in every teaching I offer, I seek to uncover these connections so that we can all be drawn into deeper devotion to our God.
Comments (42)
It would have made more sense to, not only use, but get the world used to the holy and mighty Name of the Lamb, 'Yehoshua' or 'Yeshua'. By using the name Jesus, you are discouraging people that are seeking the truth from being interested in JSC's lectures.
Dele, I recommend that you start your own blog and do what you think is right. Be well.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply Dr. Eli. :)
Blessings!
Blessings!
Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Eli. I always look forward to reading and being blessed by them. I do have a question regarding the fourth example you posted regarding Heaven(s) and water(s). After verifying with my Concordance, I’m wondering if it be that the Hebrew word counterparts you listed are reversed…? I ask this because the letter “shin” is not found in the word “mayim”.
Also, I would like to respectfully ask: Besides “mayim”, could the Hebrew word “shama” (“to hear intelligently”) also be found within the word Shamayim? I’ve always concluded this. Am I incorrect?
Thank you for your encouragement, Sharyn!
You are right that mayim (מים), “water,” contains no shin. Shamayim (שמים), “heavens,” begins with shin, so the two words should not be treated as the same word or as a simple reversal of one another.
As for shamaʿ (שמע), “to hear,” it is a beautiful association, but linguistically it is not found within shamayim. The verb shamaʿ includes the letter ayin (ע), while shamayim does not. Hebrew wordplay can be spiritually suggestive, but we should distinguish it from a demonstrated word relationship.
The origin of shamayim is uncertain. Some older explanations connect it imaginatively with “fire” and “water,” but this is not generally considered a secure etymology. What we can say confidently is that shamayim and mayim share a similar ending and sound, while remaining distinct Hebrew words.
Hello once again Dr. Eli,
If I may (with utmost respect for you-please rest assured that I hold no spirit of contention), ask you a follow up question? I simply desire to gain further insight regarding this Wonderful Concept of Heavens and Waters. Might there still be a possibility that “Hearing intelligently -strongly suggesting we have understanding and obey what we are hearing)” also be associated with Heavens (Shamayim)?
Here is why I’m asking: Throughout my study time in The Word (with my Concordances-I’m definitely not fluent), I’ve also noticed how often The Hebrew gives us profound clues into The Deeper Things of His Character and Will-often through what I can only describe as -the “compounding” of words (similar to how our English language does this). Could this be the case with “shamayim”? Could this word possibly be (like) a compound word -blending “to hear intelligently” and “waters” ? I only ask this, because there are several Scriptures referencing The LORD’S Voice (Call or Invitation) upon Multitudes of Waters (Mayim). Additionally we can recall Jesus’s Admonitions to us, His People, Saying “Those having ears to hear, (let them) HEAR!” The Old Testament has many Instances of how The LORD Is grieved because His People are NOT “hearing (Him) intelligently”-which is what ultimately caused them to be carried off in Babylon (Confusion). Well, since Babylon is also referenced in The Book of Revelation regarding The End times, His Covenant People need to be Listening up. There is a spiritual Babylon that God’s People must be willing to come out of. Your reply to another disciple on this post really resonates with me: “Hebrew often works this way, (with) root (word) systems linking concrete and abstract meanings, so a word for a natural event can quietly carry a whole worldview inside it.”
Not “having ears to hear” was not a spiritual disability exclusive to the Israelites of The Old Testament. It’s a human problem that is still quite common -particularly in His New Covenant People today. There is rampant confusion within The Body of Christ because of His Beloved still have ears which are “dull of hearing”. I’m no exception. I’ve often been chastised by The Holy Spirit for not listening (obeying). This spiritual deafness ought not be! There is definitely a common problem with Christians not having ears to hear what The Spirit Is Saying -or they do hear (with Understanding), but they don’t listen (obey what they hear and understand)and it’s for the same reasons -which I won’t get into in this post. The Bible is full of examples of this. It is also full of examples of those within the multitudes who did “hear”His Voice Which carried His WORDS of Truth among those multitudes -both in the nations as well as to His Covenant People. The Written WORD likens People to “Waters”, (see Isaiah 17:12 & Revelation 17:15 for example), and His Covenant People are Those through Whom He Is still speaking (IF they are HEARING His Voice and o eying Him to open their mouths and speak). King David, and the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and also John the Revelator (just being some examples) as well as others throughout the Ages -way back then, and still do today who hear His Voice and through He speaks if they are willing to “co-operate” with Him.
Psalm 29:1-11
Jeremiah 10:12-13; 51:15-16
Ezekiel 1:24-28; 43:1-2
Revelation 1:15; 14:1-7; 19:6-9
Again, I have such respect for what The LORD has called you to do and I’m grateful that you function so faithfully in His calling. I am teachable, I promise! :) Just hoping to gain from your Perspective.
What are your thoughts?
Thank you for this thoughtful and humble follow-up. Spiritually, your call to hear and obey God is deeply biblical. Scripture repeatedly joins true hearing with obedience, for example Deut 6:4–5, Jer 7:23, and Jesus’ words in Mark 4:9.
Linguistically, however, shamayim (heavens) is not a compound of shama (“hear”) and mayim (“waters”). Shama contains the consonant ע (ayin), which is absent from shamayim, and the word is related to other ancient Semitic terms for “heaven/sky.” Its precise original etymology remains uncertain, but Hebrew does not present it as “hearing waters” or “intelligent hearing plus waters.”
The Bible certainly creates a rich theological association between God’s voice and mighty waters, as in Ps 29:3 and Ezek 43:2. It also uses waters symbolically for peoples in some contexts, such as Rev 17:15. Those are beautiful biblical connections for teaching and meditation. We simply should distinguish them from the lexical meaning of shamayim itself.
Very, very interesting.
I wonder, what do we know (or suppose) about the origin of the Hebrew language?
Hebrew did not suddenly appear from nowhere. Historically, it belongs to the Northwest Semitic family, closely related to Canaanite languages, Phoenician, Moabite, and Aramaic. It developed in the land of Israel among the Israelite population, probably emerging as a recognizable dialect in the late second millennium or early first millennium B.C.E.
The earliest Hebrew inscriptions we possess are from roughly the tenth century B.C.E., though the language itself was certainly spoken earlier. Biblical Hebrew shares much vocabulary and grammar with its neighbors: shalom and Aramaic shlama, for example, are close relatives.
The Bible presents a deeper theological picture: after Babel, humanity’s languages are divided (Gen 11), and God later speaks to Israel in the language preserved in Scripture. Later Jewish tradition sometimes calls Hebrew lashon ha-qodesh, “the holy tongue.” That is a faith claim, not something linguistics can prove.
So, Hebrew is both an ancient human language with a traceable Semitic family history and, for Jews and Christians, the providentially preserved language of much of God’s written revelation.
Although I obviously don't have any "proof" of this, it seems to me (because of the incredible deep meanings of Hebrew words) that it is possible that Hebrew is the original language that the LORD gave to Adam and the original people on earth. I have never seen any other language that comes close to having the intensity of "deep meaning" that Hebrew has. Again, I can't "prove" that Hebrew was the original language, but it makes sense to me that it was. Languages were confused as a result of the Tower of Babel! Just an idea. Think about it.
Forgot to thank you for your support, my brother! It means a lot and makes a real difference!
That is a thoughtful possibility, but Scripture does not tell us what language Adam and Eve spoke. Hebrew is the language of the Old Testament as we received it, and its roots, wordplays, and literary patterns often carry remarkable theological depth. Yet every language can express profound ideas, and languages related to Hebrew, such as Aramaic and Arabic, share many of its root patterns.
Genesis does connect the naming of creatures with Adam (Gen 2:19–20), but it does not identify the language he used. Nor does Babel say that Hebrew alone remained from an original human language. It says that the Lord confused humanity’s one language and scattered the nations (Gen 11:1, 7–9).
So Hebrew may fittingly be called the language through which God chose to give Israel’s Scriptures, but calling it Adam’s original language goes beyond the evidence. Your instinct about its richness is still well taken.
This conversation is possible because friends and family choose to support this ministry (Thank you so much!). If my teaching has helped you read the Bible more deeply in its Hebrew and Jewish world, and if you are in a position to do so, please consider joining my support team or giving again if you did in the past. Your monthly gift, no matter the size, helps me continue teaching, writing, and engaging with pastors, priests, Bible teachers, and serious students of Scripture worldwide. To support my work, click HERE.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for this.
do we know in what language the ten commandments were written on the stone tables?
the tablets that Moses could read?
The Ten Commandments were written in Hebrew, the language of Israel and of the Torah itself (Exod 20; Deut 5).
We do not possess the original tablets, so we cannot know their exact script. They were almost certainly not written in today’s square Hebrew letters, but in an early Hebrew alphabet, often called paleo-Hebrew—visually related to ancient Phoenician writing.
Exodus also presents the tablets uniquely: they were “written with the finger of God” (Exod 31:18; 32:16).
Blessings!
Thank you for your wonderful initiative : stripping keywords bare to reveal their semantic richness. Chantal Caradec
Many more exciting studies are coming. Stay tuned!
The Hebrew Names and Their Meanings: Bereishit (Genesis) – "In the beginning", Shemot (Exodus) – "Names", Vayikra (Leviticus) – "And He called", Bamidbar (Numbers) – "In the wilderness", Devarim (Deuteronomy) – "Words". Makes a nice overview of the Torah: In the beginning, these are the names He called in the wilderness and this is what He said... Maybe Dr Eli you could do a better job.
I am sure you did not mean to come across as offensive. :-) Sometimes our wording is just unwise.
Dr. Eli,
This is a wonderful essay. In just a few, almost poetic, words you you touched my heart as I accepted your invitation to "slow down, to pay attention, and approach the biblical text with humility and wonder." Thank you.
You and your ministry are in my prayers. Be of good cheer.
Kindest regards,
I was just asking if you could look at this and do a better job with your knowledge of Hebrew- sorry!!!
No problem, I figured that something was missing in communication. :-)
So glad you wrote, Kerry. God bless you!
Dr. Eli, much as I would like to support your mission, I’m very sorry. I am a senior pensioner on a very limited income.! Thanks for your understanding
Maria, you can still support by actively praying for the success of the mission and sharing the resources! People support as they can! God bless you and keep you!
This conversation is possible because friends and family choose to support this ministry (Thank you so much!). If my teaching has helped you read the Bible more deeply in its Hebrew and Jewish world, and if you are in a position to do so, please consider joining my support team or giving again if you did in the past. Your monthly gift, no matter the size, helps me continue teaching, writing, and engaging with pastors, priests, Bible teachers, and serious students of Scripture worldwide. To support my work, click HERE.