Is modern Hebrew the same as biblical Hebrew? Would modern Israelis be able to understand the Jews of Old Testament times?
This is a question I have received numerous times through the years. I lateral to AI for the answer. (Its answer made sense to me.)
"No, modern Hebrew is not the same language as biblical Hebrew, though they are very closely related and mutually understandable, much like modern and ancient Greek. Modern Hebrew was revived and developed from biblical Hebrew, but it includes new vocabulary, influences from other languages, and simplified grammar. While a modern Hebrew speaker can read biblical texts with some difficulty, a speaker of biblical Hebrew would not be able to communicate with a modern Hebrew speaker because they would be missing modern vocabulary and grammatical structures.
Similarities
Core vocabulary: Modern Hebrew draws heavily on biblical Hebrew for its core vocabulary.
Foundation: Biblical Hebrew is the primary foundation for modern Hebrew.
Grammar: Many basic verbal forms are identical in both versions.
Differences
Vocabulary: Modern Hebrew has new words for modern inventions and concepts that didn't exist in biblical times.
Grammar: Modern Hebrew has undergone some grammatical simplifications compared to the more complex grammar of biblical Hebrew.
Influences: Modern Hebrew has been influenced by the languages spoken by its revivers, such as Yiddish and German, and has also borrowed many words from Arabic.
Mutual intelligibility: While related, they are not identical. A modern speaker can understand much of the biblical text, but they would struggle with nuance and vocabulary, and they would be unable to communicate effectively with a biblical speaker without significant study.
For a second (rather rough) response to the question by "JD" at X, click HERE. The blogger criticizes Messianics for calling Jesus "Yeshua." He makes some good points, although his comments have an edge.
