9 Hebrew Words to Bring You Closer to God

Studying the Hebrew language can grow our faith through deeper Bible study and other means. If you haven’t started studying Hebrew yet, I highly recommend it! Here are some resources to get you started.

Below are a few Hebrew words that can be better understood in their original language and context. Not nearly an exhaustive list, these few words, better understood from a Hebrew perspective, will illuminate some familiar Christian concepts and bring us closer to the God of the Bible.   

1. Shalom שָׁלוֹם (pronounced sha-lōm)

This is a common greeting in Hebrew. Upon meeting someone, you’d say “Shalom,” and they’d respond with the same. Many Hebrew speakers say, “Shalom Aleichem” (peace be with you) instead. On the Sabbath, we wish each other “Shabbat shalom” (Peaceful Sabbath).

Not just peace

The word shalom is often translated simply as peace. While this is partly what shalom means, it only partially conveys its meaning. The concept of shalom goes deeper than that and brings us to realize the perfection in our holy God!

Shalom is a noun with many meanings. Its definition includes completeness, soundness, and welfare, along with harmony, prosperity, and tranquility. We’re left without an English word to convey all these, but searching the Bible for the word shalom can illuminate its more profound significance. Believe it or not, understanding shalom can help us better understand our God’s character!

A Name for God

Shalom is part of one of the names for God in Judges 6:24. Having met God himself and seen firsthand His supernatural power, Gideon built an altar and named it “Jehovah Shalom” or “The LORD is peace” to let everyone know that our God is shalom. He is peace and wholeness, completeness and perfection, harmony and prosperity – all of it!  

The Way Things Ought to Be

In his book, Not the Way it’s Supposed to Be, Cornelius Plantinga of Calvin Theological Seminary says the following about shalom:

“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”

CORNELIUS PLANTINGA 

Jesus and Shalom

By examining the word shalom, we can also better know Jesus, our Messiah. Isaiah calls Jesus the “Prince of shalom” in verse 9:6. Of all the terms above that are used to define shalom, Jesus has those qualities and is the Prince of them!  

We can also use other words from the same root word to better understand what Jesus is Prince of. “Whole,” “it was worth it,” “perfect,” “was paid for,” and “paid for in advance” are meanings of words that come from the same root as shalom. It’s no coincidence that those concepts are part of our story as well. The perfect Prince of Shalom found us worth it and paid for our sin, making us whole!

2. Hallelujah הַלְלוּיָהּ (pronounced hal-loo-yah)

You already know this one. It’s a word we use in song and otherwise to praise God all the time! Hallelujah is made up of halal and Jah. Halal means “to praise,” “to shine,” “to be boastful,” “to act foolish,” and other similar terms. Jah or Yah is short for the name of God in the Bible, Yahweh. So, hallelujah is to praise God, make Him shine, boast in Him, or even go crazy worshiping Him!  

Crazy Worship?!

Is that too much? Well, that depends. Are we just saying words when we praise God, or are we approaching the Creator of the universe to tell Him just how amazing we think He is? Those in heaven know more than we do about God’s awesomeness, and this is the word they use to worship Him!

“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…’  And a second time they said, ‘Hallelujah! …’  And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’  …Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.’”

Revelation 19:1-6

I don’t know about you, but reading these verses always gives me chills. Sometimes, we subconsciously fit God into our itty-bitty human box and forget that He’s the most awesome supernatural God ever. Try to picture this scene. God, on His heavenly throne, in His holy throne room, surrounded by heavenly elders and frightening creatures, is being worshiped by them. All the glory is His. The awe of the scene and God Himself is not lost on them, and they burst out with nothing other than repeated hallelujahs!    

The powerful meaning behind hallelujah in our hearts when we worship might show Him at least a tiny shred of the praise He’s worthy of. What could we possibly say? It’s one of the best words our mortal mouths can offer. Hallelujah!     

3. Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ (pronounced yeh-shoo-uh)

This word is often translated as “Joshua” in the Hebrew Old Testament. It’s also the name of Jesus, our Savior! So, wait. If his name is actually Yeshua, why do we call him Jesus? Where did that come from?

Why Do We Call Him Jesus?

Where Yeshua is found in the Hebrew Old Testament, it is translated into English as Joshua. It was a male name in Bible times, and there are a few different Joshuas or Yeshuas in the Bible. When translated from Greek to English in the New Testament, it underwent a couple of transitions and then became Jesus.  

Many now argue that the name Jesus is incorrect and, therefore, should not be used, but we should be careful not to get sidetracked by this. Jesus lived in a multilingual area, and he would have also been. He probably taught and conversed in different languages as necessary. What’s important here and in Jesus’s teachings is to preserve the word’s meaning.

More Than Just a Name

Beyond being a name, the word Yeshua is used throughout the Hebrew scriptures, meaning “salvation.” It was derived from the Hebrew word yasha, which means “to deliver” or “to rescue.” There are many well-known examples of where it’s used in the Old Testament, but here are a couple of my favorites:

“The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation [yeshua];

This is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” Exodus 15:2

“He only is my rock and my salvation [yeshua],

My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus’s name was the very thing he would do for us? Others with this same name in the Bible were also saviors of some type. Joshua led the Israelites during a time of numerous victories while conquering the land of Canaan. Yeshua, the High Priest, was the first High Priest in the rebuilt Temple following its destruction by the Babylonians. Isn’t it amazing that this important High Priest, the bridge from the Israelites to God, shares a name with our High Priest (Heb. 4:14) and way to God (John 14:6)?

4. Chesed חֶסֶד (pronounced che-sed, with the “ch” sound coming from the throat, as in Bach)

Known for its difficulty translating into English, this word contains a “chet,” a letter with a sound called a guttural. Since we don’t have true gutturals in English, it can be difficult to say this word correctly. Go ahead and practice. Say “Bach” – like the composer. Say it out loud. Listen for the sound at the end of the word, then say it at the beginning of chesed.  

Chesed’s Meaning

Now that we know how it sounds, what does it mean? It’s commonly translated as mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, and goodness. It’s often used to convey God’s love toward His people, but, somewhat like God, it is much more complex than our first impression shows. Here are some very different examples of chesed’s use in the Bible.   

“Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness [chesed] and truth; who keeps lovingkindness [chesed] for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.'” Exodus 34:6-7

“If there is a man who takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace [chesed]; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears his guilt.” Leviticus 20:17

Which is it?

In the above verse from Exodus, chesed is commonly translated as “lovingkindness .” God declares chesed an attribute of Himself. But then, the very same word is used to describe incestuous behavior, translated into English as “disgrace.” The contexts of both verses suggest two meanings for the same word, but this is not so. 

Chesed translated as lovingkindness, mercy, charity, or even disgrace, doesn’t do justice to its whole meaning. This complex word conveys instead an attitude or behavior that shows an overflow of zeal or a lack of boundaries. Chesed comes from the Hebrew root meaning “eager and ardent desire .” It can mean both God-sized lovingkindness and disgrace worthy of great punishment because it is not a specific action but the passion or motivation behind it.

God’s Infinite Love

When God describes His love for us using the word chesed, He’s telling us that He has a boundless, overflowing love for us! Inside His love for us is His infinite grace, immeasurable love, inexhaustible forgiveness, and unlimited charity. And seriously, Guys? None of us deserve that. I don’t care how great you think you are. We’re nothing but selfish, disobedient specks in this universe. What an awesome God we have that He would extend His chesed to us!

5. Shema שְׁמַע (pronounced shuh-ma)

This word is the first one in The Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is recited regularly by Orthodox Jews and by many Christians. It’s also the verse Jesus refers to when asked what the greatest commandment is.

“Hear [Shema], O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

To Hear?

Shema is generally translated as “hear .” But right now, I can hear birds singing out the window, my daughter’s TV show in the background, and the keystrokes on my laptop. If the word shema is used to call the attention of the people of Israel and is followed by informing them that their lives should be a walking testament to God Himself, the word “hear” doesn’t quite convey what’s being said. In addition to “hear,” shema is also translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as “report,” “fame,” “tidings, “loud,” and “speech.” 

It Requires Action

If you take the word with its context, however, it means more than the culmination of these words. In Deuteronomy 6, Shema is a command to not only hear God’s words but to act on them. I think of it in the same way as when I tell my children to listen. I don’t only mean for them to stop what they’re doing and hear what I say. I mean for them to hear and internalize what I say so that they remember and obey it.  

This meaning is the same as shema can have. We need to pay attention—always studying God’s Word and spending time in prayer with Him so we can hear His words in the first place. Then, we need to internalize what He says, not just read or hear it and forget it. We need to remember it and, when required, obey it and apply it to our lives.

6. Amen אָמֵן (pronounced ah-meyn)

I know, I know – everyone knows this one. But did you know that it was a Hebrew word? Also, look at the above pronunciation. We can argue all day whether or not it’s pronounced ah-men or ay-men or when to use either, but for those who want to be purists about it, it’s neither!

The Deeper Meaning

This Biblical Hebrew word is unique because its primary meaning has not been lost in translation and cultural differences. “So be it” is the usual translation for amen. Amen is used correctly when we use it to affirm something someone says or after a prayer. Its root is aman, meaning “to confirm or support .” A related word is amanah, which means truthfulness, confirmation, credence, or belief. By saying amen, we’re stating that we confirm what has been said, believe in it, and find it true.   

We say it to conclude our prayers and signify when we pray in unison with other people. We also use it in song to affirm the words and the message of our worship. Some even yell it out in church when a pastor says something that resounds with them. 

The Conclusion of God’s Word

Our entire Bible concludes with this word. The last verse in the Bible sums up the whole Word, then affirms this message of truth with the “so be it” we know so well:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21

Amen is also translated as “truth,” as in the following verse.

“Because he who is blessed in the earth

Will be blessed by the God of truth [amen];

And he who swears in the earth

Will swear by the God of truth [amen];

Because the former troubles are forgotten,

And because they are hidden from My sight!” Isaiah 65:16

Each word “truth” in this verse comes from amen in Hebrew. It says twice here that God is the “God of amen,” so this is one of God’s attributes or characteristics. He is the God of truth but also of confirmation, faithfulness, support, and affirmation of that truth. How privileged are we to have someone like this as our God?! 

7. Mashiach מָשִׁיחַ (pronounced ma-shee-ach)

This word can be translated as “messiah,” but more literally means “anointed one.” In most places in the Bible, the English is “anointed one .” Only two verses translate it as “Messiah .” When used to refer to Jesus as the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach is used. Yeshua HaMashiach means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.”

Why Anoint?

The process of anointing someone with oil served to set that individual apart for service to God. It was used in the Old Testament to appoint priests (Ex. 29:7) and to establish kings over God’s people. Saul and David were appointed in this way (1 Sam. 10:1 and 2 Sam. 16:12-13), and prophecy in the Old Testament speaks of Jesus as Mashiach, “anointed one.”

“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah [Mashiach] the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.” Daniel 9:25

In this verse, Mashiach is usually translated as “Messiah” instead of “Anointed One,” but the Hebrew word is the same. Jesus is truly our Mashiach! He has been anointed by God, chosen, and appointed to be our king and high priest!  

8. Davar דָּבָר (pronounced duh-var)

The most basic translation of davar is that it means “word .” It can also mean “speak,” “pronounce,” “formalize,” “thing,” or “establish .” Here are some examples of its use in the Old Testament.

 “And the Lord spoke [davar] to Moses, saying, “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” Exodus 6:10-11

“‘ Is anything [davar] too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.'” Genesis 18:14

“Then behold, the word [davar] of the Lord came to him…” Genesis 15:4

Although davar is translated as three different English words in the verses above, it means all of them. The context of each is used to derive the word’s meaning in each situation in which it’s used so that the essence of the scripture is not lost. 

Its Use in the New Testament

But things get exciting when davar is translated from Hebrew into Greek in the New Testament. This word is translated into two different Greek words: logos, which refers to a written word, and rhema, which refers to the utterance or the thing that was said.

Jesus, Our Written Word

At the beginning of the book of John, Jesus is referred to as “the Word .” Logos is the Greek word used here, so we can conclude that Jesus is a type of written word. He was here on earth in a physical form and could be “read” as people could watch him and listen to him teach about God and himself. Some of these people recorded the events of his life on earth so we, too, can “read” him.

“In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God.” John 1:1

The Power of God’s Word

Later in the New Testament, Hebrews 11:3 tells us that God’s word created something out of nothing.

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word [rhema] of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3

In this verse, the Greek rhema is used in place of “davar,” which is translated into English as “word .” But the implication of this verse is to show us just what kind of power there is in God’s spoken words! God spoke davar into nothingness and created order, an entire universe, and even us!

Davar teaches us that we can “read” Jesus, our “written” Word. He has been there all along, from before creation, but came to earth so we could learn from him and rescue ourselves from certain destruction. It also shows the power of God’s very utterances. He’s so awesome that things that previously didn’t exist spring into existence, just at His word!  

It’s unsurprising when these two concepts come together further into the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 calls Jesus “the power and the wisdom of God .” The Word, God’s davar, IS His very power and wisdom! Our Savior is the magnificent power and the infinite wisdom of God!   

9. Ra’ רַע (pronounced rah)

There are many different words for sin in the Bible, but ra’ is used more than 600 times! It comes from another Hebrew word, ra’a, meaning evil or bad. When you remove the “a” sound at the end, its meaning encompasses “evil,” “harm,” “displeasure,” or “misery,” but it also conveys an aspect of brokenness. It can mean “broken into pieces,” like when something’s completely ruined, or “blemished,” like things unfit for presentation to God, such as for sacrifice.

Use in Scripture

The ugly, gaunt cows from Pharaoh’s dream in Genesis 41 are described using this word, as is the wild beast that Joseph’s brothers claimed devoured him in Genesis 37. It’s also translated into “evil” in describing the tree in the Garden of Eden. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Ra’.

Brokenness

While we know that sin is disobedience to God, without the aspect of brokenness, we have no reason to turn to our Savior. Everyone knows there’s sin in their life, but not everyone realizes their brokenness in it. We all know someone who says, “Sure, I’ve done bad things, but I’m a good person overall.” They imply that sin is just part of who we are, but God will compare us to one another and forgive the good people for being less evil than the really evil ones.

It sounds great, but that’s just not how it works. The Bible says that we ALL have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). He’s just too glorious, too perfect, and too holy for us – even the good ones – to ever measure up to Him. HE is what we’ll be compared to in judgment, so we all need Jesus, the only person to have kept all of the Law perfectly, as our substitute.

Without realizing that the ra’ in our hearts has left us blemished, unacceptable, and broken before God, we cannot see our need to accept the gift of Jesus. When we get to the point of being devastated by our ra’, we can then humbly approach God, genuinely repentant, and be made unblemished, acceptable, and perfect in the eyes of our Creator, fit for communion with Him!

These are just a few Hebrew words that can enrich our faith by understanding them in their original form. Imagine what can come to light while learning even more of the Hebrew language! As lifelong students of the Bible, learning its primary original language will deepen our faith and our relationship with the God of the universe!