Hebrew Old Testament
The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible preserved by the Masoretes (6th–10th century CE)
Masoretic Text
22 Consonants
Vowel Points
OT Passages
About the Masoretic Text
What is the Masoretic Text?
The Masoretic Text (MT) is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). It was primarily copied, edited, and transmitted by a group of Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes between the 6th and 10th centuries CE.
The text includes detailed notes called masorah — marginal annotations preserving pronunciation, cantillation (chanting marks), and textual variants to ensure accurate transmission.
Structure of the Hebrew Bible
- Torah (תּוֹרָה) — The Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- Nevi'im (נְבִיאִים) — The Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets
- Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים) — The Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles
Key Manuscripts
- Aleppo Codex (c. 930 CE) — Oldest known complete (now partial) manuscript of the MT, written by Shlomo ben Buya'a and vocalized by Aaron ben Moses ben Asher
- Leningrad Codex (1008 CE) — Oldest complete manuscript of the entire Hebrew Bible; basis for most modern critical editions (BHS, BHQ)
- Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE) — Confirm remarkable accuracy of Masoretic transmission over 1,000 years
Hebrew Language Facts
- Written right-to-left
- 22 consonants (5 with final forms)
- Vowels added as diacritical marks (nikkud) below/above consonants
- Root-based language: most words derive from 3-letter roots
- Verbs conjugate in 7 binyanim (stems/patterns)
- No separate upper/lower case
Read Hebrew Bible
Read the complete Hebrew Old Testament (Masoretic Text) — 39 books with nikkud, chapter navigation, and English translation side by side.
Open Hebrew Bible →The Hebrew Alphabet (Aleph-Bet)
The 22 consonants of Biblical Hebrew. Five letters have special final forms (sofit) used at the end of a word.
א
Aleph
ʾ
Silent / glottal stop
Value: 1
ב
Bet
b/v
B (hard) / V (soft)
Value: 2
ג
Gimel
g
G as in "go"
Value: 3
ד
Dalet
d
D
Value: 4
ה
He
h
H
Value: 5
ו
Vav
v/w
V or W
Value: 6
ז
Zayin
z
Z
Value: 7
ח
Chet
ḥ
Ch (guttural)
Value: 8
ט
Tet
ṭ
T (emphatic)
Value: 9
י
Yod
y
Y
Value: 10
כ
Kaf
k/kh
K (hard) / Kh (soft)
Value: 20
Final: ך
ל
Lamed
l
L
Value: 30
מ
Mem
m
M
Value: 40
Final: ם
נ
Nun
n
N
Value: 50
Final: ן
ס
Samekh
s
S
Value: 60
ע
Ayin
ʿ
Silent / guttural
Value: 70
פ
Pe
p/f
P (hard) / F (soft)
Value: 80
Final: ף
צ
Tsade
ts
Ts
Value: 90
Final: ץ
ק
Qof
q
Q (deep K)
Value: 100
ר
Resh
r
R
Value: 200
שׁ
Shin
sh
Sh
Value: 300
שׂ
Sin
s
S
Value: 300
ת
Tav
t
T
Value: 400
Hebrew Vowels (Nikkud)
Vowel points added by the Masoretes to preserve the correct pronunciation of the consonantal text.
בַּ
Patach
a (short)
בָּ
Qamats
a (long)
בֶּ
Segol
e (short)
בֵּ
Tsere
e (long)
בִּ
Hiriq
i
בֹּ
Holam
o
בֻּ
Qibbuts
u (short)
בוּ
Shureq
u (long)
בְּ
Sheva
ə / silent
Sample Passages
Key Old Testament passages in Hebrew with transliteration, translation, and study notes.
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃
Transliteration: Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'arets.
Translation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The opening verse of the Torah. "Bereshit" (בְּרֵאשִׁית) means "in the beginning." "Bara" (בָּרָא) is the verb "to create," used exclusively with God as subject.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃
Transliteration: Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH echad.
Translation: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
The central declaration of Jewish faith. "Shema" (שְׁמַע) means "hear/listen." The divine name YHWH (יְהוָה) appears twice, affirming absolute monotheism.
מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר׃ בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל־מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי׃ נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ׃
Transliteration: Mizmor le-David, YHWH ro'i lo echsar. Bin'ot deshe yarbitseini, al-mei menuchot yenahaleni. Nafshi yeshovev, yancheni be-ma'gelei-tsedeq lema'an shemo.
Translation: A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
"Ro'i" (רֹעִי) means "my shepherd." This psalm uses rich pastoral imagery with key Hebrew terms: "menuchot" (מְנֻחוֹת, rest), "tsedeq" (צֶדֶק, righteousness).
וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא־לָנוּ׃
Transliteration: Vehu mecholal mippesha'einu, medukka me'avonotenu, musar shelomenu alav, uvachaburato nirpa-lanu.
Translation: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
The Suffering Servant prophecy. Key terms: "mecholal" (מְחֹלָל, pierced/wounded), "pesha" (פֶּשַׁע, transgression), "avon" (עָוֺן, iniquity), "shalom" (שָׁלוֹם, peace).
בְּטַח אֶל־יְהוָה בְּכָל־לִבֶּךָ וְאֶל־בִּינָתְךָ אַל־תִּשָּׁעֵן׃ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ׃
Transliteration: Betach el-YHWH bekhol-libbeka, ve'el-binatekha al-tisha'en. Bekhol-derakhekha da'ehu, vehu yeyasher orchotekha.
Translation: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
"Betach" (בְּטַח) means "trust." "Lev" (לֵב) means "heart" — in Hebrew thought, the seat of will and intellect, not just emotion. "Binah" (בִּינָה) is discernment or understanding.
כִּי אָנֹכִי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת־הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי חֹשֵׁב עֲלֵיכֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָה מַחְשְׁבוֹת שָׁלוֹם וְלֹא לְרָעָה לָתֵת לָכֶם אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה׃
Transliteration: Ki anokhi yada'ti et-hamachashavot asher anokhi choshev aleikhem ne'um-YHWH, machshevot shalom velo lera'ah, latet lakhem acharit vetikvah.
Translation: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
"Machashavot" (מַחֲשָׁבוֹת) means "plans/thoughts." "Tikvah" (תִּקְוָה) means "hope" — also the name of Israel's national anthem. "Acharit" (אַחֲרִית) means "future/end."
Key Hebrew Vocabulary
Essential Hebrew words for Bible study, organized by category.
Names & Attributes of God
אֱלֹהִים
Elohim
God (plural of majesty)
יְהוָה
YHWH / Adonai
The LORD (covenant name)
אֵל שַׁדַּי
El Shaddai
God Almighty
אֵל עֶלְיוֹן
El Elyon
God Most High
יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת
YHWH Tseva'ot
LORD of Hosts
אֲדֹנָי
Adonai
Lord / Master
Key Theological Terms
בְּרִית
Berit
Covenant
תּוֹרָה
Torah
Law / Instruction / Teaching
חֶסֶד
Chesed
Lovingkindness / Steadfast love
אֱמֶת
Emet
Truth / Faithfulness
צֶדֶק
Tsedeq
Righteousness / Justice
שָׁלוֹם
Shalom
Peace / Wholeness / Completeness
כָּבוֹד
Kavod
Glory / Honor / Weight
קָדוֹשׁ
Qadosh
Holy / Set apart
גָּאַל
Ga'al
To redeem / Kinsman-redeemer
כִּפֶּר
Kipper
To atone / Cover
Common Words
אָדָם
Adam
Man / Humanity
אֶרֶץ
Erets
Land / Earth
שָׁמַיִם
Shamayim
Heaven(s) / Sky
מַיִם
Mayim
Water(s)
רוּחַ
Ruach
Spirit / Wind / Breath
נֶפֶשׁ
Nefesh
Soul / Life / Self
לֵב
Lev
Heart (seat of will & mind)
דָּבָר
Davar
Word / Thing / Matter
מִשְׁפָּט
Mishpat
Justice / Judgment
עוֹלָם
Olam
Eternity / World / Age