Like the Alfabet, The letters in Hebrew are called the Alef - Beyt They are presented on my blog from bottom to the top so you can learn them order, then to read them right to left. You will see what the original "Bible" said and what the names meant as they went through the stories of old.
Here is Bet: Symbolizing a house
It's the second letter. It is a consonant . It is also the number 2
- The sound is that of a B or a V depending on the point in the middle.
The original way of writing this letter was like a squared spiral - as it were. Like the entrance to a tent.
First word "Abba" which means Father.
Vowels are markings that appear below, and sometimes above or within the letters. Vowel pointings as they are called, can define the sound of a vowel or they are the sound after a consonant.
- The first vowel above is a Patach (the name of the vowel) and the alef has no sound but the ah made by the Patach.
- The second vowel is a Kamatz which is a longer aah - adding to the sound of the beyt, Top to bottom, it is bah
- The final alef on the left has no sound.
I hope to add meaning to these little lessons each Shabbath as we go. Then we can read together with the vowel points in place and see how it all jives with English.
Thanks for taking the time to read.