What do you think?
Rate this book
70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know
The basic message of the Bible can be understood in any language. At the same time, many biblical texts are hard to understand because they don’t quite make sense when translated into English. Something is missing. Quite frequently, what readers miss has been lost in translation. Maybe there is a pun or wordplay in the original. Sometimes names like Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and Eden just seem like names to us but have meanings that are essential to the story. Many Hebrew words have multiple meanings, but the English translators have to just pick one (for example, the same Hebrew word can mean both hear and obey). Even more common are Hebrew words that have much wider meanings than their English translations. A few examples are the Hebrew words rendered as remember, covenant, walk, gates, love, cleanliness, holiness, glory, wisdom, and fear. The original language allows various parts to click together like well-constructed puzzle pieces. With Hebrew in mind, interpreters see new details they didn’t realize were missing before. They make new connections. They immerse themselves in scripture more fully.
That’s where this book comes in. Learning a language is like learning a worldview. Those who learn biblical Hebrew can better understand not only what biblical authors wrote, but also how they thought. Unfortunately, those insights come only after years of study. This book is about getting right to the important, exciting insights. It’s an opportunity to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we better understand how biblical authors used their language to express their experience of God and the world.
If you are just beginning to study Hebrew and want the insights and motivation to continue or if you have no intention of learning biblical Hebrew but want to better understand the Bible, this book is for you!
That’s where this book comes in. Learning a language is like learning a worldview. Those who learn biblical Hebrew can better understand not only what biblical authors wrote, but also how they thought. Unfortunately, those insights come only after years of study. This book is about getting right to the important, exciting insights. It’s an opportunity to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we better understand how biblical authors used their language to express their experience of God and the world.
If you are just beginning to study Hebrew and want the insights and motivation to continue or if you have no intention of learning biblical Hebrew but want to better understand the Bible, this book is for you!
220 pages, Paperback
Published August 21, 2018
91 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Richard Schlimm
5 books5 followersMatthew Richard Schlimm (PhD, Duke University) is assistant professor of Old Testament at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He previously taught at Duke Divinity School and has held various ministry positions in United Methodist churches. He is the author of From Fratricide to Forgiveness: The Language and Ethics of Anger in Genesis and coeditor of the CEB Study Bible.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 12, 2021
There are all sorts of lunacy online about Hebrew. Some of it makes spiritual meaning out of the shapes of the letters. Some of it makes spiritual meaning out of interpretation (or rather, misinterpretation) of biblical names. A great deal of it comes from people who don't know Hebrew and who don't know how language works. This is a book I would not hesitate to put in the hands of someone who doesn't know Hebrew, will not learn it, but is curious about what some knowledge of the language might give us. Schlimm discusses wordplay, words that have no exact equivalent in English, words that have a broader range of meaning than their English counterparts, the tendency of Hebrew to express abstract ideas through concrete terms, words that in English have become obsolete and hence are misunderstood by modern readers, words that indicate behavior, and words that reflect biblical culture. Though I would not agree with everything he says, this is nevertheless a good book to put in the hands of laymen.
April 1, 2019
With his book '70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know' Matthew Schlimm gives not only the meaning of 70 commonly used words in the Bible, but also their cultural significance and background.
Writing with a deft and good-natured touch on a normally heavy and obtuse topic Schlimm makes the subject engaging and highly readable. He conveys the nuances of translation as well as the worldview of ancient Hebrews.
How accessible is this book? In the appendix, Schlimm gives the pronunciations of the Hebrew consonants and vowels using words from the Star Wars universe.
I highly recommend this for any student of the Bible or anyone wishing to know the culture and thoughts of the ancient Hebrews.
Addendum: I liked the book so much I read it again. It changed the way I read the Bible. Now when I see 'peace' [shalom] or 'Behold' [hinneh] or 'walk' [halakh] new meaning explodes in my head.
Writing with a deft and good-natured touch on a normally heavy and obtuse topic Schlimm makes the subject engaging and highly readable. He conveys the nuances of translation as well as the worldview of ancient Hebrews.
How accessible is this book? In the appendix, Schlimm gives the pronunciations of the Hebrew consonants and vowels using words from the Star Wars universe.
I highly recommend this for any student of the Bible or anyone wishing to know the culture and thoughts of the ancient Hebrews.
Addendum: I liked the book so much I read it again. It changed the way I read the Bible. Now when I see 'peace' [shalom] or 'Behold' [hinneh] or 'walk' [halakh] new meaning explodes in my head.
November 23, 2022
It truly highlights the importance of knowing the source material and original language and culture to understand the Bible and the context better. The Bible is full of wordplay, puns, and feeling that are missed completely in the translations. So, I'm off to learn Hebrew now.
November 9, 2022
3.5 stars. Some really good stuff in here, but the author was trying a little too hard to seem cool. And while the content was generally good, the writing wasn't amazing.
July 12, 2025
...I'm on page 15 and so far, the information on Hebrew itself is interesting. I was disheartened to read that the author feels the Hebrew meanings behind Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel strongly imply the Genesis account is "symbolic" and therefore not compatible with Darwin.
On the next page, the author truthfully treats King David as a historical figure.
This contradicts the writer of Hebrews (who presumably was at least as familiar with ancient Hebrew as the author). The Bible book of Hebrews in chapter 11 treats both Abel and David as historical figures. Jesus himself regarded Abel as historical, and the Apostle Paul regarded Adam and Eve as historical as well.
The author might reconsider what he views as "symbolic", especially on such flimsy reasoning as names. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter. This doesn't mean Simon was "symbolic". The author himself speculates that David's name was a "throne name" given after he began his rule. It doesn't occur to him that something similar might have happened with the first humans...after all, Adam gave the animals names that suited them after observation.
The author might also consider telling this to his students who fear the Bible is incompatible with Darwinism:...evolution is a false religion based on a feeble man-made hoax that falls apart like a 50 cent taco under examination.
The Bible is the inspired word of Yahweh that has stood the test of time regarding morals, prophecy and wisdom, leading to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life.
Furthermore, the book claims the phrase "Hallelujah" only appears in the Old Testament, forgetting Revelation 19.
If the book continues to promote fables over God's Word, (1st Timothy 1:4), I'll stop reading it.
Edit...
I finished the book and have started reading it again. It definitely has merit and can help a Christian gain a deeper appreciation for the Bible...to a point. As longer as the reader uses discernment.
In addition to what I said above, there are these comments that should be made.
1. The name of God. The words "God" and "Lord" are titles, not names. The consonants for the name appear nearly 7000 times in the Hebrew text. It was used in the Jews' daily conversation. Ruth 2:4. The fact that later Jewish superstitions prevented use of the name should have no bearing on Christians. Schlimm also states there's a "movement" to restore the name to Bible translations. The Catholic Jerusalem Bible did this many years ago, as did the venerable American Standard Version long before that. Contrary to what the author says, Yahweh Himself tells us what His name signifies in Exodus 3.
One reason why theologians may discourage use of the name is because it clouds the difference between Yahweh and His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ if translations refer to them both as "Lord".
Read Psalm 110:1-4 as an example. There are clearly TWO Persons there, Yahweh and His Son, David's Lord, Jesus Christ. See Peter’s Pentecost speech in Acts 2 as well as the disciples' prayer to Yahweh in Acts 4.
This leads to...
2. The Hebrew meanings of "spirit", which also can be translated "breath" or "wind". Schlimm correctly notes that "spirit" can be translated as "God's wind" in Genesis 1:2, severely weakening the Trinity teaching. After all, Holy Spirit basically means "sacred wind", which doesn't sound like a person at all, but a power.
However, Schlimm argues (as do most Trinitarians) that the Holy Spirit was revealed in a new way after the crucifixion and Pentecost. This is partially true. The Holy Spirit's FUNCTIONS in a believer's life changed, adopting him as a son of God and enabling him to produce its fruitage more fully. The Holy Spirit itself did not change, and is in fact referred to with gender neutral pronouns most of the time in the NT. Greek-English interlinears reveal this to be true, even though translations personify the Holy Spirit by using pronouns such as "he" and "who". This is undoubtedly to support the Triune Godhead doctrine, which has weak support in the NT and no support in the OT.
Schlimm himself admits the doctrine was "hammered out" by the "early church". He claims the Persons of the Trinity exist in the closest possible unity, and that the Person of the Holy Spirit coexists with God the Father and God the Son.
No such statements occur in the Bible, neither do the phrases "God the Son" or "God the Holy Spirit".
A box on page 49 says the Trinity wasn't truly formulated until the 4th century. The 4th century church wasn't the "early church" and would have been barely recognizable to the Apostles. Can you imagine describing America of the 21st century as "early America"?
That box also quotes Eugene Peterson (whom I respect) describing the Trinity as some sort of ancient synchronized dance. The metaphor is so ludicrous, it weakens the already Biblically frail doctrine even further.
To sum up, in being accurate about the meaning of "spirit", Schlimm then feels obligated to go to strained lengths to defend the Triune Godhead doctrine.
Why not just be honest...the Holy Spirit is God's power, Jesus is Yahweh's Son. The Trinity is false.
3. When discussing the Hebrew word for "ban", the author has trouble explaining why God would instruct Joshua and the Jews to kill all the Canaanites.
It's because the Canaanites were wicked, even to the point of practicing child sacrifice. This wickedness was prophesied by Yahweh in Genesis 15:16. The Noachian Flood was also a judgement on the wicked, as was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem and the coming Tribulation.
4. On pg. 144, Schlimm quotes Romans about transforming our minds and then says he knows of no better way to do that than learning a new language.
A cursory reading of Romans 12:1,2 shows that text was talking about no longer being conformed to this world. Being bilingual is irrelevant to that. Many of the Jews who rejected Christ, indeed, many who rejected all Yahweh's prophets were multilingual. But their thoughts had not been conformed to God's.
A worthwhile book if discretion is used while reading it. Some of what it says is misleading or false.
On the next page, the author truthfully treats King David as a historical figure.
This contradicts the writer of Hebrews (who presumably was at least as familiar with ancient Hebrew as the author). The Bible book of Hebrews in chapter 11 treats both Abel and David as historical figures. Jesus himself regarded Abel as historical, and the Apostle Paul regarded Adam and Eve as historical as well.
The author might reconsider what he views as "symbolic", especially on such flimsy reasoning as names. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter. This doesn't mean Simon was "symbolic". The author himself speculates that David's name was a "throne name" given after he began his rule. It doesn't occur to him that something similar might have happened with the first humans...after all, Adam gave the animals names that suited them after observation.
The author might also consider telling this to his students who fear the Bible is incompatible with Darwinism:...evolution is a false religion based on a feeble man-made hoax that falls apart like a 50 cent taco under examination.
The Bible is the inspired word of Yahweh that has stood the test of time regarding morals, prophecy and wisdom, leading to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life.
Furthermore, the book claims the phrase "Hallelujah" only appears in the Old Testament, forgetting Revelation 19.
If the book continues to promote fables over God's Word, (1st Timothy 1:4), I'll stop reading it.
Edit...
I finished the book and have started reading it again. It definitely has merit and can help a Christian gain a deeper appreciation for the Bible...to a point. As longer as the reader uses discernment.
In addition to what I said above, there are these comments that should be made.
1. The name of God. The words "God" and "Lord" are titles, not names. The consonants for the name appear nearly 7000 times in the Hebrew text. It was used in the Jews' daily conversation. Ruth 2:4. The fact that later Jewish superstitions prevented use of the name should have no bearing on Christians. Schlimm also states there's a "movement" to restore the name to Bible translations. The Catholic Jerusalem Bible did this many years ago, as did the venerable American Standard Version long before that. Contrary to what the author says, Yahweh Himself tells us what His name signifies in Exodus 3.
One reason why theologians may discourage use of the name is because it clouds the difference between Yahweh and His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ if translations refer to them both as "Lord".
Read Psalm 110:1-4 as an example. There are clearly TWO Persons there, Yahweh and His Son, David's Lord, Jesus Christ. See Peter’s Pentecost speech in Acts 2 as well as the disciples' prayer to Yahweh in Acts 4.
This leads to...
2. The Hebrew meanings of "spirit", which also can be translated "breath" or "wind". Schlimm correctly notes that "spirit" can be translated as "God's wind" in Genesis 1:2, severely weakening the Trinity teaching. After all, Holy Spirit basically means "sacred wind", which doesn't sound like a person at all, but a power.
However, Schlimm argues (as do most Trinitarians) that the Holy Spirit was revealed in a new way after the crucifixion and Pentecost. This is partially true. The Holy Spirit's FUNCTIONS in a believer's life changed, adopting him as a son of God and enabling him to produce its fruitage more fully. The Holy Spirit itself did not change, and is in fact referred to with gender neutral pronouns most of the time in the NT. Greek-English interlinears reveal this to be true, even though translations personify the Holy Spirit by using pronouns such as "he" and "who". This is undoubtedly to support the Triune Godhead doctrine, which has weak support in the NT and no support in the OT.
Schlimm himself admits the doctrine was "hammered out" by the "early church". He claims the Persons of the Trinity exist in the closest possible unity, and that the Person of the Holy Spirit coexists with God the Father and God the Son.
No such statements occur in the Bible, neither do the phrases "God the Son" or "God the Holy Spirit".
A box on page 49 says the Trinity wasn't truly formulated until the 4th century. The 4th century church wasn't the "early church" and would have been barely recognizable to the Apostles. Can you imagine describing America of the 21st century as "early America"?
That box also quotes Eugene Peterson (whom I respect) describing the Trinity as some sort of ancient synchronized dance. The metaphor is so ludicrous, it weakens the already Biblically frail doctrine even further.
To sum up, in being accurate about the meaning of "spirit", Schlimm then feels obligated to go to strained lengths to defend the Triune Godhead doctrine.
Why not just be honest...the Holy Spirit is God's power, Jesus is Yahweh's Son. The Trinity is false.
3. When discussing the Hebrew word for "ban", the author has trouble explaining why God would instruct Joshua and the Jews to kill all the Canaanites.
It's because the Canaanites were wicked, even to the point of practicing child sacrifice. This wickedness was prophesied by Yahweh in Genesis 15:16. The Noachian Flood was also a judgement on the wicked, as was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem and the coming Tribulation.
4. On pg. 144, Schlimm quotes Romans about transforming our minds and then says he knows of no better way to do that than learning a new language.
A cursory reading of Romans 12:1,2 shows that text was talking about no longer being conformed to this world. Being bilingual is irrelevant to that. Many of the Jews who rejected Christ, indeed, many who rejected all Yahweh's prophets were multilingual. But their thoughts had not been conformed to God's.
A worthwhile book if discretion is used while reading it. Some of what it says is misleading or false.
January 29, 2021
Deeply disappointing. A lot of compromised liberal theology subordinating God to Darwin and modern political correctness.
I was looking for kind of a celebratory walk through 70 important Hebrew words that would enrich my understanding of the Bible, but instead I'm just writing arguments down all the margins and remembering what James R. White has said on many occasions: there is no more spiritually dangerous place for a Christian than in the shelves of a Christian bookstore. At least my "heretical nonsense" stamp is getting its first workout since I bought it.
There are some occasionally interesting and enlightening moments, but please don't even try it without a solid grasp on your own theology and deep familiarity with the Bible text. Schlimm cleverly quotes just enough Scripture to prove his points and hopes you won't notice what the beginning of the verse, or the next verse immediately after say that actually contradict his point.
I was looking for kind of a celebratory walk through 70 important Hebrew words that would enrich my understanding of the Bible, but instead I'm just writing arguments down all the margins and remembering what James R. White has said on many occasions: there is no more spiritually dangerous place for a Christian than in the shelves of a Christian bookstore. At least my "heretical nonsense" stamp is getting its first workout since I bought it.
There are some occasionally interesting and enlightening moments, but please don't even try it without a solid grasp on your own theology and deep familiarity with the Bible text. Schlimm cleverly quotes just enough Scripture to prove his points and hopes you won't notice what the beginning of the verse, or the next verse immediately after say that actually contradict his point.
May 28, 2021
I was familiar with almost all of the Hebrew words and their significance prior to reading this book because I have sat under good Biblical instruction. The author seems to promote multiple premises that are a bit at odds with each other (need for better understanding of Hebrew, more modern translation reflecting culturally understood words instead of the more literal translation, and more literal translations that better reflect the Hebrew meaning). More importantly, sound Biblical teaching and serious study of the Word would take care of all of these issues.
The author mixes theological statements in with the explanation of Hebrew words in such a way as to imply that his viewpoint is authoritative. With that said, there are some useful illustations worthy of reflecting upon to deepen your understanding of scripture. I just would not make this book my primary reference source for Hebrew studies.
The author mixes theological statements in with the explanation of Hebrew words in such a way as to imply that his viewpoint is authoritative. With that said, there are some useful illustations worthy of reflecting upon to deepen your understanding of scripture. I just would not make this book my primary reference source for Hebrew studies.
August 17, 2021
Filled with enlightening tidbits, readers can learn a lot about the Hebrew language, how Bibles are translated (translation theory), and come away with a deeper understanding of some key Hebrew words. Aimed at the beginner, Mr. Schlimm has differentiated his teaching so that people of all levels of Hebrew ability can learn something.
This is not one of those books where you remember everything, but it is a helpful resource to return to again and again as you encounter these words in your own study of the Bible.
This is not one of those books where you remember everything, but it is a helpful resource to return to again and again as you encounter these words in your own study of the Bible.
May 19, 2024
This one just isn’t as profound as the author wants to think it is. Those who have a foundation in studying the Old Testament are going to be familiar with most, if not all, of these words and the importance behind them. On top of that, he makes repetitive yet sometimes contradictory points and states his theological conclusions as fact. All of this makes for better texts out there on this subject.
January 18, 2021
Another Bible study book for church but very helpful! The chapters are short and broken down by groups of words so it's easy to pick up and put down again. Great insights into Bible stories; I found it fascinating to see the different translations. There are always issues when you switch from one language to another. I'm keeping this one as a reference.
August 29, 2020
My bishop recommended this book. A reader doesn't need to be student of Hebrew or a seminary graduate to follow this. Each chapter is laid out in a clear format. It's a wonderful tool for clergy and laity who want to deepen their understanding of the scripture.
August 4, 2024
I enjoyed the author’s reflections on 70 important Hebrew words. The book was easy to read, no previous knowledge of Hebrew is necessary, and I believe this book would be most appreciated by adults, perhaps in a Sunday school class.
September 17, 2019
I got lots of insight from this book about what particular words mean in their original contexts, and how it expands my theology.
September 29, 2019
Informative and clear. I wish the author had explored each of the 70 words more fully.
December 9, 2020
I really wanted some parts of this to be more in depth, but I’ll definitely be using this as a ministry resource.
January 11, 2023
This book elaborates on the inspired properties of the Hebrew language and it's unique ability to store information. Hebrew puts Judeo Christian religion into an entire new context. Any believer will benefit from reading this work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews