lexicon659_81205.pdf

The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible

Greek Transliterations of the Ghah.......................................................................

Additional evidence to the existence of the letter ghah is the Greek transliteration of
Hebrew names. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek about 2,000 years
ago, the translator transliterated the Hebrew names into Greek.

When we examine Hebrew names that contain the Hebrew letter ayin (S), we find two
different methods of transliterating the letter. Table 2 below contains Hebrew names
where the ayin is not transliterated because it is a silent letter, while Table 3 contains
Hebrew names where the ayin is transliterated with the Greek letter “Gamma” (Γ or γ).

Table 2

Hebrew Greek

Written Pronunciation Written Pronunciation

English

PJF ba'al Βααλ Baal Baal

1SPF bilam Βαλααμ Balaam Balaam

XJVXWS ashtarot Ασταρωθ Astaroth Ashtaroth

Table 3

Hebrew Greek

Written Pronunciation Written Pronunciation

English

IVQS amorah Γομορραφ Gomorras Gomorrah

I^S azzah Γαζαν Gazan Gaza

VJST peor Φογωρ Pogor Peor

Impact on Ancient Hebrew Studies........................................................................

In the study of the ancient Hebrew language and alphabet we begin studying the
language at its simplest roots, the letters. Each letter is a picture that represents a
meaning. When the letters are combined to form roots, each letter supplies meaning to
the root. By then studying the various words, which are derived out of any given root,
we can begin to reconstruct the original root language of Hebrew. In order to be as
accurate as possible, we need to be sure that we are using the correct words, roots and
letters.

When we compare the meanings of the parent roots that were originally spelled with the
letter ghah we notice the similarity in meaning with each of these words. The majority
of these words are related to darkness (dark, storm, clouds, rain, blind) and wickedness
(wicked, goat, city, bad, crafty).