A Hebrew lexicon is a specialized dictionary that helps you understand the meanings, nuances, and grammatical forms of words in Biblical (and sometimes later) Hebrew, usually keyed to the words as they appear in the Hebrew Bible. It goes beyond simple “one-word” translations and gives usage examples, grammatical information, and often theological or historical notes for each entry.

What a Hebrew lexicon is

  • A Hebrew lexicon lists words in their lemma (root or dictionary) form and explains their basic meanings along with possible extended senses.
  • Entries often include example verses, notes on how translation shifts with context, and cross‑references to related words.

Major Hebrew lexicons today

  • Brown‑Driver‑Briggs (BDB) : Classic, widely used in seminaries; still very accessible but now considered older compared to newer projects.
  • HALOT (Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament) : The standard modern scholarly lexicon in English, with detailed semantic and comparative notes.
  • Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (DCH) : Focuses on Hebrew from the Bible up to about 200 CE, including Dead Sea Scrolls and inscriptions; a key complement to HALOT.
  • Theological Wordbook / Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament : Fewer entries, but focuses on words with rich theological significance rather than every occurrence.

How a Hebrew lexicon is structured

  • Words are usually sorted by consonantal root and given in a three‑letter lemma form when possible; special handling is provided for short words and letters that function as words.
  • Many entries include:
    • Short glosses (e.g., “covenant, treaty, agreement”)
    • Lists of where and how the word is used in Scripture
    • Notes on translation choices in ancient versions like the Septuagint or in related languages (Akkadian, Aramaic, etc.).

Types and formats of Hebrew lexicons

  • Standard lexicons : Give lemma, definition, and typical usage; these are what most students use.
  • Analytical lexicons : List every inflected form that appears in the biblical text, with full parsing and a link back to the lemma, which is useful when you see a rare or complex form.
  • Digital / online lexicons : Sites like OpenScriptures and BibleStudyTools link lexical entries to each Hebrew word in an online text, often keying BDB and related resources.

Why Hebrew lexicons matter

  • They help readers move beyond “word = single English equivalent” and see ranges of meaning, shifts across contexts, and diachronic changes in the language.
  • For exegesis or word studies, consulting multiple lexicons can reveal nuances and competing scholarly views on particularly important words.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.