Phases of Hebrew development
~2000–1000 BCE
Paleo-Hebrew (Ivrit Kduma)
The oldest script, derived from Proto-Sinaitic. Used pictograms. These are the earliest texts of the Torah — the Hebrew used by Moses, King David and the Prophets.
~1000–200 BCE
Classical Biblical Hebrew
The language of the majority of texts in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).
200 BCE–200 CE
Mishnaic Hebrew (Assyrian / Square Script)
The Hebrew of the Mishnah and the Dead Sea Scrolls. More influenced by Aramaic. Modern block letter forms.
~1880 onward
Modern Hebrew (Ivrit)
Revived as a spoken language by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. The same biblical language adapted to the contemporary world.
Paleo-Hebrew vs. Modern letters
| Paleo-Hebrew | Modern Hebrew | Letter name | Original meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
א | Aleph | Ox head |
 |
ב | Bet | Floor plan of a house |
 |
ג | Gimel | Camel leg |
 |
ד | Dalet | Door |
 |
ה | Heh | Man with arms raised |
 |
ו | Vav | Tent peg or hook |
 |
ז | Zayin | Weapon or sword |
 |
ח | Chet | Fence or enclosure |
The Dead Sea Scrolls (מְגִלּוֹת יָם הַמֶּלַח): Discovered in 1947 in the caves of Qumran, these manuscripts from the 2nd century BCE – 1st century CE are the oldest known biblical texts. Written mainly in Hebrew and Aramaic, they confirm the authenticity and consistency of the biblical text.