Languages of the Bible
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Language
Alphabets and
languages
Age 7-11
Biblical Hebrew and
Greek
Second century Hebrew Ten Commandments Public domain
Languages of the Bible
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The alphabet
Language
English uses this alphabet. It is called the
‘Roman’ alphabet.
Age 7-11
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n
o p q r s t u v w x y z
Languages of the Bible
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Other languages use different
alphabets
Language
‘School’ written in different languages and alphabets
مدرسة Arabic
Age 7-11
学校 Chinese
школа Russian
Languages of the Bible
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Hebrew
The first part of the Bible,
Language
the Old Testament, was
written in Hebrew.
Age 7-11
Psalms scroll, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls unwound.
Public domain
It tells the story of the
beginning of the world and
the people of Israel.
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
Route A
Some of the Bible was first written in Hebrew.
Language
This is the Hebrew letter b
Age 7-11
Hebrew writing looks like this:
Write the Hebrew letter b.
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
Route A
• Hebrew is read from right to left
Language
• Biblical Hebrew was written without vowels (A E I O
U). The vowels were added later as dots and dashes.
Age 7-11
• For example, a as in had is written as –
i as in lid is written as •
Languages of the Bible
Hebrew
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Some words with a Hebrew origin:
Language
• Amen (Certainly, I agree)
• Hallelujah (Praise God)
Age 7-11
• Cherub (a type of angel)
• Jubilee (from the Hebrew word for ram’s horn
which was blown to start celebrations)
Languages of the Bible
Some Hebrew names
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Sarah Naomi
Language
Jonathan Samuel
David Miriam
Elizabeth Joshua
Age 7-11
Ruth Anna
Jonah Jacob
Rebekah Hannah
Benjamin Joseph
Rachael Deborah
Languages of the Bible
Greek
Route A
The second part of the
Language
Bible, the New Testament,
was written in Greek.
Age 7-11
The New Testament tells
the story of Jesus and
the first Christians.
Part of an old Greek manuscript Section of Papyrus 46,
containing 2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9
Public domain
Languages of the Bible
Greek
Route A
Some of the Bible was first written in Greek
Language
This is the Greek letter p π
Age 7-11
Greek writing looks like this:
Find a Greek letter to write that is different to English.
Languages of the Bible
Greek
Route A
Greek is read from left to
Language
right.
The Bible writers did not use
commas or full stops.
Age 7-11
They did not leave gaps
between the words. They
often wrote in capital letters. Part of Codex Siniaticus Public domain
Languages of the Bible
Writing the Greek way
Route A
LOVEISKINDANDPATIENTNEVERJEALOUSBOASTF
Language
ULPROUDORRUDELOVEISNTSELFISHORQUICKTEMP
EREDITDOESNTKEEPARECORDOFWRONGSTHATOT
HERSDO.
Age 7-11
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Where would you put the spaces, commas, full stops and
capital letters to make sense of this part of the Bible?
Languages of the Bible
Greek words
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Some words that have Greek origins.
Language
zoo museum
angel dinosaur
telephone maths
Age 7-11
school petrol
kilo octopus
angle
Languages of the Bible
Some Greek names
Route A
Irene Zoe
Language
Nicolas Peter
Margaret Catherine
Timothy Andrew
Age 7-11
Angela Helen
Stephen Philip
Chloe Iris
Alex