饜饜

The Aleph Tav Project

The Paleo-Hebrew Alphabet

The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each tracing back to an ancient pictograph. Every letter carries concrete meanings rooted in its original picture.

Paleo-HebrewModern HebrewGematria
Pictograph
Name & Meanings
饜讗1
Aleph pictograph: Ox headOx head

Aleph

NounsoxbullstrengthpowerleaderchiefGod
Adjectivesfirst
Verbsto leadto teachto yoke
饜讘2
Bet pictograph: House/tent floor planHouse/tent floor plan

Bet

Nounshousetentfamilydwellinghouseholdinsidetemple
Adverbswithin
饜讙3
Gimel pictograph: Foot/camelFoot/camel

Gimel

Nounscamelfootpridejourney
Verbsto walkto carryto lift upto gather
饜讚4
Dalet pictograph: Door/tent entranceDoor/tent entrance

Dalet

Nounsdoorgateentrancepathway
Verbsto moveto hang
Adjectiveslowpoor
饜讛5
Hey pictograph: Man with arms raisedMan with arms raised

Hey

Verbsbeholdto lookto reveal
Nounsbreathwindspiritmanlife
Articlesthe
饜讜6
Vav pictograph: Tent peg/hookTent peg/hook

Vav

Nounspeghooknailconnection
Verbsto secureto addto join
Conjunctionsand
饜讝7
Zayin pictograph: Mattock/plow/weaponMattock/plow/weapon

Zayin

Nounsweaponplowfoodharvest
Verbsto cutto nourishto feed
饜讞8
Chet pictograph: Tent wall/fenceTent wall/fence

Chet

Nounswallfenceoutsidehalfsin
Verbsto separateto protect
Adjectivesprivate
饜讟9
Tet pictograph: Basket/container/snake coilBasket/container/snake coil

Tet

Nounsbasketcontainermudclayserpent
Verbsto surroundto contain
Adjectivesgood
饜讬10
Yod pictograph: Hand and armHand and arm

Yod

Nounshandarmdeedpowerauthority
Verbsto workto maketo throwto worship
饜讻20
Kaf pictograph: Open palm of handOpen palm of hand

Kaf

Nounspalmsole of foot
Verbsto opento coverto bendto allowto tameto subdue
饜诇30
Lamed pictograph: Shepherd's staff/ox goadShepherd's staff/ox goad

Lamed

Nounsstaffgoadauthorityshepherd
Verbsto teachto learnto guideto protect
Prepositionstoward
饜诪40
Mem pictograph: Water/wavesWater/waves

Mem

Nounswaterseachaosbloodnationsthe unknown
Adjectivesmightymassive
饜谞50
Nun pictograph: Sprouting seed/fish/serpentSprouting seed/fish/serpent

Nun

Nounsseedfishoffspringheirlifeactivityserpent
Verbsto continue
饜住60
Samekh pictograph: Thorn/shield/propThorn/shield/prop

Samekh

Nounsthornshield
Verbsto supportto protectto grabto turnto hate
Adjectivessharp
饜注70
Ayin pictograph: EyeEye

Ayin

Nounseyefountainspringshadeexperience
Verbsto seeto watchto know
饜驻80
Pey pictograph: MouthMouth

Pey

Nounsmouthwordedgebreath
Verbsto speakto opento blowto scatter
饜爪90
Tsade pictograph: Man on his side/fishhookMan on his side/fishhook

Tsade

Verbsto huntto catch
Adjectivesrighteous
Nounsjourneysidetraildesireneed
饜拽100
Qof pictograph: Back of head/sun on horizonBack of head/sun on horizon

Qof

Nounsback of headhorizontime
Verbsto circlecondense
Prepositionsbehind
Adjectiveslastleast
饜专200
Resh pictograph: Head of a manHead of a man

Resh

Nounsheadpersontopbeginningchiefruler
Adjectivesfirsthighest
饜砖300
Shin pictograph: Two front teethTwo front teeth

Shin

Nounsteethfiretwoyear
Verbsto consumeto destroyto pressto eatto change
Adjectivessharp
饜转400
Tav pictograph: Cross/mark/signCross/mark/sign

Tav

Nounsmarksigncrosscovenanttruth
Verbsto sealto complete

Pictographic meanings are based on the Proto-Sinaitic and early Phoenician forms of the alphabet. Primary meanings are highlighted.

Continue Exploring

From Stone to Script

Trace the evolution of Hebrew writing from ancient pictographs to modern script.

Torah Decoder

Click any Hebrew word to see its Paleo-Hebrew letter breakdown.