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Concept information

Preferred term

hboAncient Hebrew  

Type

  • Language

Definition

  • Biblical Hebrew , also called Classical Hebrew , is the archaic form of the Hebrew language, a Canaanite Semitic language spoken in the area known as Canaan between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Biblical Hebrew is attested from about the 10th century BC, and persisted through the Second Temple period (ending in AD 70 ). Biblical Hebrew eventually developed into Mishnaic Hebrew, which was spoken until the 2nd century AD. Biblical Hebrew is best-attested in the Hebrew Bible, a document which reflects various stages of the Hebrew language in its consonantal skeleton, as well as a vocalic system which was added later, in the Middle Ages. There is also some evidence of regional dialectal variation, including differences between Biblical Hebrew as spoken in the northern Kingdom of Israel and in the southern Kingdom of Judah.

Entry terms

  • Biblical Hebrew
  • Hebrew, Ancient

ISO 639-3 code

  • hbo

Notation

  • hbo

In other languages

URI

http://lexvo.org/id/iso639-3/hbo

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