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עברית Hebrew 300

300 Biblical Hebrew Tanakh lemmas with vocalized forms, transliteration, type, and concise meanings. A compact starting layer for recognizing the names, verbs, particles, nouns, and theological vocabulary that recur across the text.

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From these words to the Word

These 300 words open the Tanakh

Every lemma here was chosen because it recurs through the sacred text. The point of learning them is not the list — it is to read the source itself. When the shapes begin to feel familiar, step into the whole Tanakh: all twenty-four books in pointed Hebrew, every verse spoken aloud, the Divine Name voiced as Adonai, Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim in their traditional order — a free, reverent reader built so the text can be met as it is.

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Orientation

Why start with 300 lemmas?

The first 300 entries are not a fluency claim. They are a first layer of recognition for Tanakh reading: recurring lemmas that show up behind many inflected forms, names, clauses, and repeated biblical phrases.

Biblical Hebrew is best learned through text, morphology, and repeated exposure. A lemma list helps because it gathers related forms under a dictionary headword, making it easier to notice when the same root or word keeps returning in different grammatical clothing.

300 starter lemmas
א Hebrew script first
נִקּוּד vocalized forms included
1st recognition layer, not the destination

Rationale

Frequency gives you leverage

Tanakh reading is full of repeated high-value vocabulary: יהוה, היה, אמר, כל, לא, בן, אל, על, מן, ארץ, and many others. Recognizing these lemmas early gives a reader anchors inside passages before the rarer words are known.

Frequency does not equal understanding. The meaning of a verse still depends on syntax, morphology, discourse, genre, and context. This page is useful because it clears some of the recurring vocabulary surface, not because it replaces grammar, parsing, or close reading.

Treat this as a study seed. The source file is preliminary and manually curated; it is appropriate for learning and prototyping, but rank and count assumptions should be verified against a corpus such as OSHB/WLC before being treated as final.

How to read it

The columns explained

Hebrew lemma is the dictionary-style headword used for study.

Vocalized gives a pointed form, useful for pronunciation and recognition.

Transliteration is a temporary pronunciation bridge; Hebrew script should remain primary.

Part of speech gives the grammatical category, such as verb, noun, particle, preposition, or proper noun.

English meaning gives a compact learner gloss, not every contextual translation.

Source list

300 high-frequency Biblical Hebrew lemmas

A compact reference layer: Hebrew first, with vocalization, transliteration, grammatical type, and a practical meaning for study.

# Hebrew lemma Vocalized Transliteration Part of speech English meaning
1 יהוה יְהוָה YHWH proper noun the LORD; divine name
2 היה הָיָה hayah verb to be; become; happen
3 אמר אָמַר amar verb to say; speak
4 כל כֹּל kol noun/quantifier all; every; whole
5 לא לֹא lo particle not; no
6 בן בֵּן ben noun son
7 אל אֶל el preposition to; toward
8 על עַל al preposition on; upon; over; against
9 מן מִן min preposition from; out of; than
10 ארץ אֶרֶץ erets noun land; earth; country
11 עם עַם am noun people; nation
12 אלהים אֱלֹהִים Elohim noun/proper noun God; gods
13 מלך מֶלֶךְ melekh noun king
14 יום יוֹם yom noun day
15 איש אִישׁ ish noun man; husband; person
16 בוא בּוֹא bo verb to come; enter
17 בית בַּיִת bayit noun house; household; temple
18 נתן נָתַן natan verb to give; set; place
19 ישראל יִשְׂרָאֵל Yisrael proper noun Israel
20 עשה עָשָׂה asah verb to do; make
21 ראה רָאָה raah verb to see
22 דבר דָּבָר davar noun word; matter; thing
23 יד יָד yad noun hand; power
24 יצא יָצָא yatsa verb to go out; come out
25 שנה שָׁנָה shanah noun year
26 עיר עִיר ir noun city
27 אני אֲנִי ani pronoun I; me
28 אתה אַתָּה attah pronoun you masculine singular
29 הוא הוּא hu pronoun he; it
30 היא הִיא hi pronoun she; it
31 הם הֵם hem pronoun they masculine
32 אשר אֲשֶׁר asher relative particle who; which; that; because
33 את אֵת particle object marker direct object marker
34 כי כִּי ki conjunction because; for; that; when; if
35 אם אִם im conjunction if; whether
36 שם שֵׁם shem noun name
37 גדול גָּדוֹל gadol adjective great; large
38 אחד אֶחָד echad number/adjective one; first; single
39 פנים פָּנִים panim noun face; presence
40 טוב טוֹב tov adjective/noun good; pleasant; good thing
41 עין עַיִן ayin noun eye; spring
42 שמע שָׁמַע shama verb to hear; listen; obey
43 לקח לָקַח laqach verb to take
44 הלך הָלַךְ halakh verb to walk; go
45 אב אָב av noun father
46 אח אָח ach noun brother
47 אשה אִשָּׁה ishah noun woman; wife
48 בת בַּת bat noun daughter
49 נפש נֶפֶשׁ nefesh noun soul; life; person; throat
50 מות מוּת mut verb to die
51 לב לֵב lev noun heart; mind
52 עבד עֶבֶד eved noun servant; slave
53 ראש רֹאשׁ rosh noun head; chief; beginning
54 מים מַיִם mayim noun water
55 דרך דֶּרֶךְ derekh noun way; road; path
56 אדון אָדוֹן adon noun lord; master
57 קרא קָרָא qara verb to call; read; proclaim
58 ישב יָשַׁב yashav verb to sit; dwell
59 ידע יָדַע yada verb to know
60 עבר עָבַר avar verb to pass; cross; transgress
61 עמד עָמַד amad verb to stand
62 שמר שָׁמַר shamar verb to keep; guard; observe
63 שלח שָׁלַח shalach verb to send; stretch out
64 יש יֵשׁ yesh particle there is; there are
65 אין אַיִן ayin particle/noun there is not; nothing
66 עוד עוֹד od adverb still; again; more
67 תחת תַּחַת tachat preposition under; instead of
68 בין בֵּין bein preposition between; among
69 גם גַּם gam conjunction/adverb also; even
70 פה פֹּה poh adverb here
71 שם שָׁם sham adverb there
72 מי מִי mi pronoun who?
73 מה מָה mah pronoun what?
74 זה זֶה zeh pronoun/adjective this; this one
75 זאת זֹאת zot pronoun/adjective this feminine; this thing
76 אלה אֵלֶּה elleh pronoun/adjective these
77 אנחנו אֲנַחְנוּ anachnu pronoun we
78 אתם אַתֶּם attem pronoun you masculine plural
79 אתן אַתֵּן atten pronoun you feminine plural
80 המה הֵמָּה hemmah pronoun they; those
81 למה לָמָּה lammah adverb why?
82 כן כֵּן ken adverb thus; so; yes
83 הנה הִנֵּה hinneh particle behold; look
84 נא נָא na particle please; now
85 רק רַק raq adverb only; surely
86 אך אַךְ akh adverb/conjunction surely; only; however
87 או אוֹ o conjunction or
88 פן פֶּן pen conjunction lest
89 אולי אוּלַי ulay adverb perhaps
90 עד עַד ad preposition/conjunction until; as far as; witness
91 לפני לִפְנֵי lifnei preposition before; in front of
92 אחרי אַחֲרֵי acharei preposition after; behind
93 סביב סָבִיב saviv adverb/preposition around; surrounding
94 מעט מְעַט meat adjective/adverb little; few
95 רב רַב rav adjective/noun many; much; great
96 קטן קָטָן qatan adjective small; young
97 חדש חָדָשׁ chadash adjective new
98 זקן זָקֵן zaqen adjective/noun old; elder
99 רע רַע ra adjective/noun evil; bad; evil thing
100 אחר אַחֵר acher adjective other; another
101 ראשון רִאשׁוֹן rishon adjective first; former
102 אחרון אַחֲרוֹן acharon adjective last; latter
103 חי חַי chai adjective/noun living; alive; life
104 קדש קֹדֶשׁ qodesh noun holiness; holy place
105 קדוש קָדוֹשׁ qadosh adjective holy
106 חיים חַיִּים chayyim noun life
107 שלום שָׁלוֹם shalom noun peace; completeness; welfare
108 אמת אֱמֶת emet noun truth; faithfulness
109 צדק צֶדֶק tsedeq noun righteousness; justice
110 משפט מִשְׁפָּט mishpat noun judgment; justice; ordinance
111 חק חֹק choq noun statute; decree
112 תורה תּוֹרָה torah noun instruction; law; Torah
113 מצוה מִצְוָה mitsvah noun commandment
114 ברית בְּרִית berit noun covenant
115 חסד חֶסֶד chesed noun loyal kindness; covenant love
116 חטא חָטָא chata verb to sin; miss
117 חטאת חַטָּאת chattaat noun sin; sin offering
118 עון עָוֹן avon noun iniquity; guilt
119 פשע פֶּשַׁע pesha noun transgression; rebellion
120 כפר כִּפֶּר kipper verb to atone; cover
121 זבח זֶבַח zevach noun sacrifice
122 עלה עֹלָה olah noun burnt offering
123 מנחה מִנְחָה minchah noun gift; grain offering
124 מזבח מִזְבֵּחַ mizbeach noun altar
125 כהן כֹּהֵן kohen noun priest
126 לוי לֵוִי Levi proper noun Levi; Levite
127 נביא נָבִיא navi noun prophet
128 שר שַׂר sar noun prince; official; commander
129 צבא צָבָא tsava noun army; host; service
130 גוי גּוֹי goy noun nation; people
131 אויב אוֹיֵב oyev noun enemy
132 חיל חַיִל chayil noun strength; army; wealth
133 חרב חֶרֶב cherev noun sword
134 דם דָּם dam noun blood
135 אש אֵשׁ esh noun fire
136 רוח רוּחַ ruach noun spirit; wind; breath
137 שמים שָׁמַיִם shamayim noun heavens; sky
138 אדמה אֲדָמָה adamah noun ground; soil; land
139 הר הַר har noun mountain; hill
140 ים יָם yam noun sea; west
141 מדבר מִדְבָּר midbar noun wilderness; desert
142 שדה שָׂדֶה sadeh noun field
143 עץ עֵץ ets noun tree; wood
144 פרי פְּרִי peri noun fruit
145 לחם לֶחֶם lechem noun bread; food
146 כסף כֶּסֶף kesef noun silver; money
147 זהב זָהָב zahav noun gold
148 בגד בֶּגֶד beged noun garment; clothing
149 כלי כְּלִי keli noun vessel; tool; weapon
150 שער שַׁעַר shaar noun gate
151 דלת דֶּלֶת delet noun door
152 חצר חָצֵר chatser noun court; enclosure
153 מקום מָקוֹם maqom noun place
154 קול קוֹל qol noun voice; sound
155 ספר סֵפֶר sefer noun book; scroll; document
156 כתב כָּתַב katav verb to write
157 ספר סָפַר safar verb to count; recount
158 ברך בָּרַךְ barakh verb to bless
159 קלל קָלַל qalal verb to curse; be light
160 צוה צִוָּה tsivvah verb to command
161 שוב שׁוּב shuv verb to return; turn back
162 עלה עָלָה alah verb to go up; ascend
163 ירד יָרַד yarad verb to go down; descend
164 קום קוּם qum verb to arise; stand up
165 נפל נָפַל nafal verb to fall
166 שכב שָׁכַב shakhav verb to lie down
167 אכל אָכַל akhal verb to eat
168 שתה שָׁתָה shatah verb to drink
169 חיה חָיָה chayah verb to live
170 ילד יָלַד yalad verb to bear; give birth; beget
171 מצא מָצָא matsa verb to find
172 נשא נָשָׂא nasa verb to lift; carry; bear; forgive
173 שים שִׂים sim verb to put; place; set
174 פקד פָּקַד paqad verb to attend to; visit; appoint; count
175 אהב אָהֵב ahev verb to love
176 ירא יָרֵא yare verb to fear; revere
177 ענה עָנָה anah verb to answer; respond
178 שאל שָׁאַל shaal verb to ask; request
179 בקש בִּקֵּשׁ biqqesh verb to seek; request
180 זכר זָכַר zakhar verb to remember
181 שכח שָׁכַח shakhach verb to forget
182 עזב עָזַב azav verb to leave; forsake
183 רצה רָצָה ratsah verb to be pleased; accept
184 יכל יָכֹל yakhol verb to be able; prevail
185 יסף יָסַף yasaf verb to add; continue
186 חזק חָזַק chazaq verb to be strong; strengthen
187 מלא מָלֵא male verb/adjective to be full; fill; full
188 פתח פָּתַח patach verb to open
189 סגר סָגַר sagar verb to close; shut
190 בנה בָּנָה banah verb to build
191 קנה קָנָה qanah verb to acquire; buy; create
192 מכר מָכַר makhar verb to sell
193 לחם לָחַם lacham verb to fight
194 ישע יָשַׁע yasha verb to save; deliver
195 ברח בָּרַח barach verb to flee
196 רדף רָדַף radaf verb to pursue
197 סור סוּר sur verb to turn aside; depart; remove
198 כרת כָּרַת karat verb to cut; cut covenant
199 אסף אָסַף asaf verb to gather
200 קבץ קָבַץ qavats verb to gather; assemble
201 קדש קָדַשׁ qadash verb to be holy; consecrate
202 טהר טָהֵר taher verb to be clean; cleanse
203 טמא טָמֵא tame verb/adjective to be unclean; unclean
204 שרף שָׂרַף saraf verb to burn
205 קבר קָבַר qavar verb to bury
206 נטה נָטָה natah verb to stretch out; turn aside
207 נגע נָגַע naga verb to touch; strike
208 כה כֹּה koh adverb thus; here
209 כהן כִּהֵן kihen verb to serve as priest
210 משה מֹשֶׁה Mosheh proper noun Moses
211 אהרן אַהֲרֹן Aharon proper noun Aaron
212 אברהם אַבְרָהָם Avraham proper noun Abraham
213 יצחק יִצְחָק Yitschaq proper noun Isaac
214 יעקב יַעֲקֹב Yaaqov proper noun Jacob
215 יהודה יְהוּדָה Yehudah proper noun Judah
216 דוד דָּוִד David proper noun David
217 ירושלים יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim proper noun Jerusalem
218 מצרים מִצְרַיִם Mitsrayim proper noun Egypt
219 כנען כְּנַעַן Kena an proper noun Canaan
220 בבל בָּבֶל Bavel proper noun Babylon; Babel
221 אשור אַשּׁוּר Ashur proper noun Assyria; Asshur
222 פלשתים פְּלִשְׁתִּים Pelishtim proper noun Philistines
223 אדם אָדָם adam noun/proper noun human; Adam
224 חוה חַוָּה Chavvah proper noun Eve
225 נח נֹחַ Noach proper noun Noah
226 לוט לוֹט Lot proper noun Lot
227 יוסף יוֹסֵף Yosef proper noun Joseph
228 בנימין בִּנְיָמִין Binyamin proper noun Benjamin
229 שאול שָׁאוּל Shaul proper noun Saul
230 שלמה שְׁלֹמֹה Shelomoh proper noun Solomon
231 יהושע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yehoshua proper noun Joshua
232 יומם יוֹמָם yomam adverb by day
233 לילה לַיְלָה laylah noun/adverb night; by night
234 בוקר בֹּקֶר boqer noun morning
235 ערב עֶרֶב erev noun evening
236 חדש חֹדֶשׁ chodesh noun month; new moon
237 שבת שַׁבָּת shabbat noun Sabbath; rest
238 עת עֵת et noun time; season
239 עולם עוֹלָם olam noun age; eternity; world
240 דור דּוֹר dor noun generation
241 זרע זֶרַע zera noun seed; offspring
242 משפחה מִשְׁפָּחָה mishpachah noun family; clan
243 מטה מַטֶּה matteh noun staff; tribe
244 שבט שֵׁבֶט shevet noun rod; tribe
245 זקן זָקֵן zaqen noun elder; old man
246 בחור בָּחוּר bachur noun young man; chosen one
247 נער נַעַר naar noun boy; youth; servant
248 נערה נַעֲרָה naarah noun girl; young woman
249 ילד יֶלֶד yeled noun child; boy
250 אם אֵם em noun mother
251 אחוה אַחֲוָה achavah noun brotherhood
252 רע רֵעַ rea noun friend; neighbor
253 גר גֵּר ger noun sojourner; resident alien
254 יתום יָתוֹם yatom noun orphan
255 אלמנה אַלְמָנָה almanah noun widow
256 עני עָנִי ani adjective/noun poor; afflicted
257 צדיק צַדִּיק tsaddiq adjective/noun righteous; righteous person
258 רשע רָשָׁע rasha adjective/noun wicked; wicked person
259 חכם חָכָם chakham adjective/noun wise; wise person
260 כסיל כְּסִיל kesil noun/adjective fool; foolish
261 חכמה חָכְמָה chokhmah noun wisdom
262 דעת דַּעַת daat noun knowledge
263 בינה בִּינָה binah noun understanding
264 תבונה תְּבוּנָה tevunah noun understanding; insight
265 עצה עֵצָה etsah noun counsel; plan
266 לבב לֵבָב levav noun heart; inner person
267 כליה כִּלְיָה kilyah noun kidney; inner self
268 פה פֶּה peh noun mouth
269 שפה שָׂפָה safah noun lip; language; edge
270 לשון לָשׁוֹן lashon noun tongue; language
271 אוזן אֹזֶן ozen noun ear
272 רגל רֶגֶל regel noun foot; leg
273 זרוע זְרוֹעַ zeroa noun arm; strength
274 כתף כָּתֵף katef noun shoulder; side
275 בשר בָּשָׂר basar noun flesh; meat
276 עצם עֶצֶם etsem noun bone; self; substance
277 עור עוֹר or noun skin; hide
278 בטן בֶּטֶן beten noun belly; womb
279 חלה חָלָה chalah verb to be sick; entreat
280 רפא רָפָא rafa verb to heal
281 נגע נֶגַע nega noun plague; stroke; mark
282 צרעת צָרַעַת tsaraat noun skin disease; tzaraath
283 שמן שֶׁמֶן shemen noun oil
284 יין יַיִן yayin noun wine
285 חלב חָלָב chalav noun milk
286 דבש דְּבַשׁ devash noun honey
287 מלח מֶלַח melach noun salt
288 שכר שֵׁכָר shekhar noun strong drink
289 שור שׁוֹר shor noun ox; bull
290 בקר בָּקָר baqar noun cattle; herd
291 צאן צֹאן tson noun flock; sheep/goats
292 שה שֶׂה seh noun sheep; lamb; goat
293 עז עֵז ez noun goat
294 כבש כֶּבֶשׂ keves noun lamb; young ram
295 איל אַיִל ayil noun ram; mighty one
296 סוס סוּס sus noun horse
297 חמור חֲמוֹר chamor noun donkey
298 גמל גָּמָל gamal noun camel
299 כלב כֶּלֶב kelev noun dog
300 אריה אַרְיֵה aryeh noun lion

Source & method

How this list was made

This is a compiled high-frequency reference layer, ordered by frequency. Rankings are approximate and depend on the corpus behind them — treat them as a useful ordering, not an exact measurement.

Meanings are compact study glosses — the practical sense for recognition, not full dictionary entries. This list is Biblical (Tanakh) Hebrew — lemmas and vocalized forms from the classical corpus, not modern conversational Hebrew.

If you spot an error, corrections are welcome — send a correction.

List version 1.0 · Updated 2026-05-30

Where to go next

A list is a beginning

A frequency list removes friction; it does not replace real exposure. The gains from here come from reading and listening to material a little above your level, mining sentences you actually meet, and returning to these forms in context until they feel ordinary.

Focus Immersion is being built around exactly that kind of slow, deliberate study. Keep me posted, or carry on with another language: