Chapter 1: The Alphabet or Alephate

Hebrew is a Semitic language, as well as Aramaic, Arabic or Syriac. Its name derives

from the Hebrews, who were the most prominent descendants of עֵבֶר (Ber. 11,16)

who bore the nickname of their ancestor. Another derivation of “Hebrew” comes from

the verse בְּעֵבֶר הַנָּהָּר (Yehoshua 24,2). The Scriptures, from which la Gramática

Hebreait is derived, consist of the collection of sacred books called תנ”ך,that is, la

Biblia Hebrea.there are only two ancient inscriptions in Hebrew, outside the biblical

texts, la Piedra Moabitafrom the times of King Mesa of Moab (ca. Ninth century

BCE.c.), and la InscripciónSiloam,attributed to the time of King Jizkiahu (eighth

century BCE.c.).

The Hebrew alphabet consists of twenty-two letters, all of which are consonants. The

vowels are replaced by certain points that are placed under the letters.