Discovering the Similarities and Differences Between Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic

📚Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic are sister languages, belonging to the Northwest branch of the Semitic language family.

🤝Aramaic gradually replaced Hebrew as the common language spoken by Jews in the ancient Middle East.

✒️Both languages use the same system of word formation, consisting of three consonant roots and affixes.

🌍Biblical Aramaic was widely spoken in the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, which influenced its development.

💭The languages have differences in definite articles, pronouns, existential particles, and relative pronouns.

How much of the Hebrew Bible was written in Aramaic?

—Around 1% of the Hebrew Bible was written in Aramaic.

When did Aramaic gradually replace Hebrew?

—Aramaic began to replace Hebrew as the common language spoken by Jews in the ancient Middle East.

Do Hebrew and Aramaic have the same word formation system?

—Yes, both languages use the same system of word formation based on three-consonant roots and affixes.

Which features of the languages differ?

—Differences include the definite article, pronouns, existential particles, and relative pronouns.

What influenced the development of Biblical Aramaic?

—Biblical Aramaic was influenced by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, where it was widely spoken.

00:00The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, was mainly written in ancient Hebrew.

00:32Around 1% of the Bible was written in Aramaic, a language widely spoken in the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires.

01:08Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic are closely related, belonging to the Northwest branch of the Semitic language family.

02:51Aramaic gradually replaced Hebrew as the common language spoken by Jews in the ancient Middle East.

04:23Both languages use the same system of word formation based on three-consonant roots and affixes.

05:58Differences between the languages include the definite article, pronouns, existential particles, and relative pronouns.

07:30Biblical Aramaic was influenced by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, which impacted its development.