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The following mnemonics for the vocabulary in Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt, Basics of Biblical
Hebrew, second edition (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007) were generated by many people. Whenever you catch
errors or have ideas for better mnemonics, please use the feedback page at HebrewSyntax.org so that we can
improve this handout. Thanks!
Meaning
Mnemonic
Adam was the first man.
[F] Grow carrots in the eretz (ground).
God, gods
Translit.
dm
ere
lhm
God, god
son
bn
bayit
father, ancestor
house, household
word, matter, thing
day
yrlayim
[This is traditionally pronounced
dny]
[This is not feminine, despite the final ]
Egypt
Moses
# king, ruler
horse
slave, servant
name, reputation
2011.01.12
yhwh
mirayim
Pharaoh
year
ym
yirl
Jerusalem
Yahweh, LORD
dbr
Israel
Jerusalem
m
melek
ss
ebed
par
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
Lord
dny
lord, master
dn
brother
[irregular plural of ]
am
man, husband
[irregular plural of ]
woman, wife
nm
[Irregular plural of ]
daughter
[F]
nm
A bat-mitzvah is a daughter of the commandment.
[Irregular plural of ]
gy
derek
[M/F]
bat
bnt
nation, people
[plural of ]
har
hrm
priest
khn
lb
lbb
water
soul, life, person, neck,
throat
prophet
mayim
nepe
[F]
nb
spr
eye, spring
[F]
ayin
[ Dual of ]
[F]
nayim
city, town
[F]
[ Irregular plural of ]
[F]
host, army, war, service
rm
Lyrics Lord Sabaoth His name means Lord of
Armies
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
2011.01.12
tr
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
fire
Mnemonic
[F]
temple, palace
gold
[F]
living, alive
life, lifetime
child, boy, youth
sea
silver, money
Za-have de gold.
zhb
ereb
ay
ayym
yeled
ym
kesep
thus, here
place, location
judgment, decision,
ordinance, law, custom,
manner
altar
utterance, announcement,
revelation
forever, everlasting, ancient
clouds, cloud mass
mip
mizba
num
nn
ra
[F]
The Sar [Tsar] was the ruler of Russia.
ar
aar
heaven, sky
2011.01.12
mqm
lm
The clouds enveloped them, making them anonymous.
hkl
Translit.
mayim
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
after, behind
Mnemonic
Armed pirate shouting: A har! from behind.
after, behind
preposition: with, beside
/ 4 particle: definite direct object
t /
etel /
elbn
bn
b
= + # = in + middle
btk
twek
okm
aar
ar
marker
and between
Translit.
k
that is all of the coal
kl
kol
before, in front of
= + = to + face of
lipn
= +
A bat-mitzvah is a daughter of the
commandment
[ cant be holem waw because has shewa]
lmaan
min /
minmaal
mimmaal
miw
miwt
ad
al
al-dbar
im
mouth, opening
2011.01.12
taat
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
one
Mnemonic
I had one, but I lost it.
Translit.
ed
gdl
dal
zqn
adjective: old
noun: elder
wise, skillful,
experienced
good, pleasant
km
beautiful
upright, just, level,
straight
so, thus
yp
therefore
little, few
now, after all, at last,
then
righteous, just,
innocent
holiness,
something that is holy
holy, set apart
small, young,
insignificant
near, close
difficult, hard, severe
distant, remote,
far away
kn
lkn
alkn
4 therefore
very, exceedingly
yr
md
ma
att
addq
qde
qd
qn
qrb
q
rq
wicked, guilty
In Isa 36:2, the king of Assyria sent the Rab-shakeh (the great high
one) to convince king Hezekiah to surrender.
Toyota made a great many Rav4s. {Geminate adjective}
One shouldnt cheer or say Rah! for evil.
{Geminate adjective}
President Regan thought that Russia was wicked.
song
great, many
bad, evil, wicked
2011.01.12
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rab
ra
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
Mnemonic
tent
other, another, foreign
Translit.
hel
ar
# how?
how?
thousand
elep
er
= + = as + that as
In Job 40:5, God told Job about the animal called
Behemoth.
Are you also game for it?
We are all from Adams blood line.
Jeffrey Dahmer shed much blood.
Huh?
kaer
as, when
animal(s), beast(s), cattle
also, even
blood
interrogative particle
clean, pure
that, because, but, except, indeed,
truly
4
but, except, only
bhm
gam
dm
h
hr
= + = but + if but
k-im
ksl
why?
lmm
why?
lm
What, ma?
Why is it mud-you-want?
madda
Who? Me?
Little Orphan Annie was poor & afflicted by a hardknock life
what?
why?
who?
poor, humble, afflicted
oil, fat
one who judges, a judge
2011.01.12
n
emen
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
Mnemonic
or
there is not, there are not There are not any; I aint got any.
there is not, there are not There are not any; I aint got any.
Someone cut Tycho Brahes nose off in a duel.
nostril, nose; anger
That was aft [apt] to cause anger.
[ dual of ]
I had to boke her [poke her] to wake her up this morning.
morning
Booker T Washington got up early in the morning.
cattle, herd
blessing, gift
behold! if
family, clan
war, battle, struggle
around, about,
surroundings, circuit
people
tree, wood
2011.01.12
n
ap
appayim
bqer
bqr
brk
hn
hinn
[F] Is it a sin if you dont take your hat oth [off] for the anthem?
ayin
behold!
sin, sin offering
Translit.
at
kl
leem
sbb
am
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kbd
lbad
mip
milm
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BBH2 Vocabulary
Meaning
stone
Mnemonic
[F]
Translit.
eben
dm
yb
br
brt
gbl
ayil
esed
de
yd
[ plural of ]
ydt
mwet
mt
ma
midbr
d
pnm
2011.01.12
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pn
n
reel
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
10
Meaning
cubit, forearm
Mnemonic
mother
# messenger, angel
work, deed, act
boy, youth, servant
inheritance, property,
possession
transgression, iniquity, guilt,
punishment (of sin)
2011.01.12
m
beed
zera
r
layl
lkn
md
man
malk
naar
wn
continually
Translit.
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ma
nal
qereb
bqereb
raq
lm
m
tmd
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
11
Meaning
to eat, consume
to say, mention, think
to go, walk, behave, die, pass
#
away
to be, become, happen, occur
to go out, go forth, come out,
come forth
to sit (down), remain, dwell,
inhabit
Mnemonic
You get a calorie when you eat a California orange.
{1-Guttural}
A marriage begins when you say I do! {1-Guttural}
Because of ha-lack of walking, well die unless we go
exercise. {1-Guttural}
Be a karate kid; say hay-yah! Related to I am
{1-Guttural, 3-}
Translit.
kal
mar
hlak
hy
{1- , 3-}
yab
ntan
r
bat
ma
rn
min
abbt
ak
no, not
al
if
im
no, not
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
12
Meaning
# to bless
to be(come) old
to be(come) strong, grow firm, have
courage
to know, know sexually,
have understanding
to be heavy, be honored
Mnemonic
Jeremiah blessed his scribe Baruch.
= blessing. Some view the election of Barack
Obama as a blessing.{like 2-Guttural in some ways}
brak
zkar
2011.01.12
Translit.
zqn
zaq
yda
kbd
ktab
ml
{# is king}
mlak
m
pqad
kab
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la
mar
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
13
Meaning
family
to bring forth, bear
Mnemonic
Enter the cave, bow in hand.
Translit.
{biconsonantal, 3- }b
{3- }bn
Bear a child ()
{1- }ylad
Fear sunburn from ya-rays of the sun.
{1-y, like 2-Guttural in some ways, yr
to fear, be afraid, be in awe of
3-, tsere stative}
Ya rather go down hill.
yrad
to go down, come down, descend
{1- , like 2-Guttural in some ways}
to take, grasp, capture, seize, lay
Take la-cache of treasure.
{3-/ }lqa
hold of
Its a moot point if you die. = death of.
mt
to die
{biconsonantal, stative}
Don fall!
{1- }npal
to fall, fall prostrate, fall upon
to go up, ascend
to pass over, pass through, pass
by, cross
to stand (up), stand still,
take ones stand
2011.01.12
{1-Guttural} mad
{1-, 3- }n
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{biconsonantal} m
{biconsonantal} b
p
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
14
Meaning
to live, be alive, stay alive,
revive, restore to life
ear
[F]
noun: ram, ruler
adj: mighty
adj: mighty, valiant, heroic
noun: hero
a sacrifice
righteousness, righteous act,
justice
north, northern
[F]
then, since, before
also, indeed, even
4 lest, otherwise
2011.01.12
Mnemonic
= living, alive; = life, lifetime
{Dont confuse with to be}
Translit.
{1-guttural, 3-}
ykl
krat
sr
bad
n
zen
ayil
gibbr
= altar
zeba
= righteous, just
dq
pn
pen
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z
ap
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BBH2 Vocabulary
15
Meaning
to redeem, deliver,
act as kinsman, avenge
to miss (a goal or mark),
sin, commit a sin
to add, continue
to inherit,
take possession of,
dispossess, take away
someones property
to cover, atone,
make atonement
to spread out, stretch out,
extend, pitch (a tent)
to leave, forsake, abandon,
set free, let go
to approach, draw near,
come near
to be(come) numerous,
be(come) great, increase
to drink
to be(come) complete,
cease, come to an end,
be spent, be consumed,
be burned out
Mnemonic
Jesus redeeming and delivering a gal. Redemption as the goal.
The gal [girl] is my kinsman-redeemer.
= sin, sin-offering
Hatas [haters] sin and miss out.
Gen 30:24 Rachel named him Joseph, saying, May YHWH
add to me another son!
Yes, affirmative; I'll continue adding.
gal
ysap
yra
kpar
n
zab
qrab
rb
t
2011.01.12
Translit.
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tmam
kap
ra
need
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BBH2 Vocabulary
16
Meaning
Mnemonic
to perish, vanish,
be(come) lost
to love
to gather (in), take in,
take away, destroy
to burn (up), consume
Translit.
bad
hab
gl
sap
bar
to be clean, be pure
Use t hair brush to be clean. = clean, pure
to (be) complete, be finished,
Call it off when it is complete.
come to an end
to be high, be exalted, rise
Isaiah saw the high, exalted throne room of God.
kl
to judge, decide
pa
truth, fidelity
seat, chair, throne
= judge
[F] Tell the truth or youll end up in a mess.
hr
rm
met
Kiss a throne
kis
mispr
ten
eer
sun
eme
number
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
17
Meaning
consider
to seek, inquire, investigate,
ask for, require, demand
to kill, slay
to delight in, take pleasure
in, desire, be willing
to be good, be pleasing,
be pleasant, be joyful,
be well with
to be holy, set apart, or
consecrated
to pasture, tend (flocks),
shepherd, feed
to ask (of), inquire (of),
request, demand
owner, master, husband,
(divine title) Baal
rod, staff, scepter, tribe
Mnemonic
Translit.
To choose to go to a bar
bar
bn
dra
hra
= holy.
qda
King Sauls name perhaps has the sense you asked for it!
al
baal
be
behind, through
baad
behind, through
bad
on account of
2011.01.12
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yaan
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BBH2 Vocabulary
18
Meaning
to trust, be confident,
rely (upon)
to weep (in grief or joy),
weep for
to put on a garment, clothe,
be clothed
to burn (completely),
destroy
Mnemonic
Translit.
It is betta to trust.
ba
bk
lba
rap
fiery serpent
rp
to be complete, be finished
lm
generation
outside, street
work, occupation, service
bull, ox, steer
= great, many
greatness
She suffered from a paper cut on her lip.
So far my lips are sealed. The shore only goes so far.
lip, language, edge, shore
{ Note that it is the letter sin , not shin }
2011.01.12
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dr
mlk
par
peta
rb
p
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BBH2 Vocabulary
19
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
az
to be(come) unclean
to form, fashion, shape,
create
to flee, escape
yar
ns
na
to count
spar
ma
bar
sbab
yadw
together, along with
yaad
wine
work, labor, service,
worship
work, labor, service,
worship
congregation, assembly
yayin
not, except
not, except
2011.01.12
= servant.
Avoid a work.
bd
= servant.
Avoid a work.
bd
bilt
= +
lbilt
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BBH2 Vocabulary
20
Meaning
Mnemonic
= sacrifice. = altar.
Za vacuum must be sacrificed.
Hannabel encamping around a city
Chunna (gonna) camp here?
Noah sounds like rest (see Gen 5:29)
a new apartment to settle down in
NASA enabled the astronauts to depart for their journey into
space.
Lt. Schultz (Hogans Heroes) departs, saying I see nothing!
Turn the knob to heat the pan.
to slaughter, sacrifice
Open a path.
bull pursuing someone with a red F shirt
Rud after him in pursuit! (said with a stuffy nose)
God makes it sunny even for people who hate him.
Sunny days? He hates em!
{ Note that it is the letter sin , not shin }
Remain in the shaar (shower).
{Dont confuse with
gate}
to hate
statute, ordinance
[Plural of ]
[Plene spelling]
[Plural of ]
[Defective spelling]
Translit.
[F]
zba
n
na
nsa
pn
pta
rdap
n
ar
bm
uqq
uqqt
uqqt
ymn
stream, brook, wadi
mikn
naal
famine, hunger
rb
[ adj] hungry
I am ravenously hungry.
rb
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
21
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
to curse
rar
to be ashamed
to grow up, be(come) great,
become strong, wealthy or
important
to think, consider, devise,
plan, value, esteem, reckon
to be well with, go well with,
be pleasing
to take, capture, catch, seize
to draw near, come near,
approach
to collect, gather, assemble
gdal
ab
= good, pleasant
yab
lkad
na
qba
to bury
Bury someone by covering with dirt
to settle, abide, reside, dwell,
She can settle here.
inhabit
to pour (out), spill,
#
shed (blood)
A mouse whose home is in the wall
wall
A homa (coma) puts a mental wall around a person
statute, appointed time,
= statute, ordinance
portion
lamb, sheep
{ Note that it is the letter sin , not shin }
2011.01.12
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qbar
kan
pak
m
q
kebe
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
22
Meaning
Mnemonic
An orb of light.
half, middle
Translit.
r
bkr
bkr
m
strength, power
ka
evening, sunset
copper, bronze
bone, skeleton
fruit, offspring
assembly, community,
crowd
chariot, upper millstone,
( collective) chariots or
chariot riders
tongue, language
abomination, abhorrence,
offensive thing
2011.01.12
ereb
eem
pr
qhl
rekeb
ln
tb
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BBH2 Vocabulary
23
have compassion
(H) to strike, smite, beat,
strike dead, destroy, injure
(N) to be rescued,
be delivered
(N) to be hidden,
hide oneself
(N) to be extraordinary,
be wonderful, be too difficult
to run
(P, H) to ruin, destroy, spoil,
annihilate
(N) to be exterminated,
be destroyed, be annihilated
2011.01.12
Mnemonic
Translit.
man
ya
ytar
kn
lam
Escape, my lad!
mla
nam
nk
In the Battle of the Bulge, the 101st airborne took their stand
defending the city of Bastogne in Belgium. When the
Germans demanded surrender, General McAuliffe answered,
Nuts!
The city of Bastogne (famous for Nuts!) was all delivered
by the 3rd army under General Patton.
nab
nal
To hide a satyr
star
pl
r
at
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mad
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
24
Meaning
to turn, overturn,
overthrow, destroy
to commit fornication,
be a harlot (prostitute),
be unfaithful
to be(come) hot,
burn with anger,
become angry
#
to be bad, be evil,
be displeasing
to satisfy, be satiated,
eat or drink ones fill
to forget
Mnemonic
Overturn the case with ha fact (a fact).
hpak
zn
hr
ra
to be deserted,
be uninhabited,
be desolated
man, male
ba
ka
mm
# darkness
open land, pasture
Translit.
zkr
ek
mir
# = king, ruler
mamlk
river, stream
= stream, brook, wadi
nhr
righteousness, equity
edeq
shepherd
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
25
Mnemonic
Seek and demand bcash (the cash).
bqa
dbar
hlal
yd
= prophet
of prophetic ecstasy
2011.01.12
Translit.
ks
mhar
nb
nba
sar
qar
r
t
rat
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BBH2 Vocabulary
26
to sojourn, dwell as a
foreigner or alien
to advise, counsel, plan,
decide
to learn;
(P) to teach
to rule, reign, govern,
have dominion
to sell, hand over
to help, assist,
come to the aid of
(P) to afflict, oppress,
humiliate, violate
to be small, be insignificant,
be swift;
(N, P) to declare cursed
to get, acquire, buy
Mnemonic
Translit.
gr
ya
lmad
Ma shall rule.
mal
mkar
) = + = Yah(weh) helps.
Azariah (
zar
n
qlal
qn
= chariot
rkab
to slaughter
t
knp
ammd
lie, deception, falsehood
eqer
2011.01.12
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BBH2 Vocabulary
27
Meaning
Mnemonic
to be awake, stir up
to lay out, set in rows,
# arrange, stack (wood),
draw up a battle formation
to wash, bathe
(H) to understand,
comprehend, have insight,
make wise, have success
vision, sight, appearance
south, Negev
dust, dry earth
foot, pace, time
2011.01.12
Translit.
sar
Zack cried out, called for help, and summoned the police.
zaq
z
l
nan
mas
A rack is where we should lay out the shish kebabs, set them
in rows, and arrange them for the grill.
rak
ra
A Maskil ()
is a type of psalm (e.g., Psalm 32).
It might mean a song that makes wise (i.e., wisdom song).
kal
mar
neeb
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pr
paam
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BBH2 Vocabulary
28
Meaning
to remain overnight,
spend the night, stay, dwell
to smear, anoint
Mnemonic
Spend the night in a lean-to.
2011.01.12
ln
ma
Translit.
ma
Nuts are keeping watch, guarding us.
{Distinguish from to stand firm and to be rescued}
Gary is a stranger.
{ = to sojourn, dwell as a foreigner or alien}
nar
gr
ayy
He levt (left) the fat portions, the best part for the sacrifice.
leb
z
pea
q
im
tmm
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BBH2 Vocabulary
29
#
Mnemonic
Translit.
lal
1 Sam 19:24 reports that Saul lay naked all day and night.
{Dont confuse with = opposite, in front of}
nad
ba
lak
daat
delet
hmn
zra
krb
vineyard
kerem
# = king, ruler
{Distinguish from # = messenger and = work}
malkt
ll
unclean
2011.01.12
kingdom, dominion,
royal power
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BBH2 Vocabulary
30
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
iniquity, wickedness,
evildoer
treasure, treasury,
storehouse
sign, mark, pledge
wen
r
t
grl
miqn
mimeret
nega
ar
qedem
In Mark 7:11, Jesus accused the Pharisees and scribes of
allowing people to declare things as corban (gifts to God) as
a way of avoiding supporting their parents.
qorbn
{The
in is Qamets Hatuf because it is closed and
unaccented.}
gift, offering
Meaning
Mnemonic
Translit.
cedar
erez
rock, boulder
horn
bow, weapon
qeren
[F]
qeet
Meaning
Mnemonic
[F] Belly beten (button)
The vanity and futility of life weigh heavily on the speaker in
Ecclesiastes. Eccl 1:14 All is vanity () .
2011.01.12
Translit.
been
hebel
erp
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mizr
HebrewSyntax.org
BBH2 Vocabulary
31
Meaning
sanctuary
flying creatures, birds,
insects
to fly
goat, goats hair
(Hithpael) to pray,
make intercession
wall
Mnemonic
= holiness, something that is holy. = holy
Translit.
miqd
p
p
z
plal
qr
pr
Meaning
iron
Mnemonic
Translit.
barzel
She was unjustly accused, but the witness came to her aid.
Sarah is in distress.
witness
table
prayer
2011.01.12
uln
Tefillin are phylacteries, worn during prayer.
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tpill
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