How is hebrew different from aramaic

Nowadays the predominant language in the Middle East is Arabic. In the past, it was Aramaic. With a numerous variety of dialects, Aramaic was spoken by the Babylonians, Syrians, Assyrians, and all the nations in that region.

Even the Jews, after the Babylonian exile, ended up adopting a Jewish Babylonian Aramaic dialect, and no longer speaking Hebrew. Aramaic and Hebrew are distinct but similar languages. They can be compared as distant relatives, just like English and Dutch. This comparison is also valid for Hebrew and Aramaic. This languages are both descendant from the same root, and they are considered to be sister languages.

Perhaps not as similar as other sister languages around the globe, but their similarities cannot be ignored. Nowadays, Hebrew is the official language of the state of Israel , and is spoken by Israelis. Aramaic, on the other hand, although it is not the official language of a specific country, contrary to what some may think, it is also not a dead language. During the Babylonian Empire, the Imperial Aramaic script, which looks a little like Arabic, was adopted, and modern Hebrew script descended from this writing system very similar to Aramaic.

Also, during the exile period, Hebrew began to give way to Aramaic as the spoken language of the Jews. Mishnaic Hebrew was used after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and for the next couple of centuries.

By this time, Aramaic and Greek were spoken in Israel and by the Jewish diaspora. Hebrew did continue to be used in Jewish synagogues for the liturgy, in writings of Jewish rabbis, in poetry, and in commerce between Jews, somewhat like the Latin language persevered, although not as a spoken language.

As the Zionist movement of the 19 th century pushed for an Israeli homeland, the Hebrew language was revived as a spoken and written language, spoken by the Jews who returned to their ancestral homeland. Today, Modern Hebrew is spoken by over nine million people worldwide. Aramaic is also an ancient language over years old. In the Bible, ancient Aram was part of Syria.

The alphabet at that time was similar to the Phoenician alphabet. As the country of Syria emerged, the Aramean states made it their official language. In Genesis 31, Jacob was making a covenant with his father-in-law Laban. This indicates that the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were speaking what we now call Hebrew the language of Canaan while Laban, who lived in Haran, was speaking Aramaic or Syrian. Acts English Standard Version And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people.

And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:. Adverb from Hebrais; Hebraistically or in the Jewish language.

NIV Acts After receiving the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic. From Eber; the Hebraistic or Jewish language. Hoffmann, Grammat. So both verses refer to the local vernacular language, often labeled as Aramaic by modern people.

My own understanding is that during the captivity the captives from Judah, who spoke Hebrew, were exposed to a dialect Chaldee spoken by certain in Babylon, the Chaldeans, who were religious, even priest-like and who advised royalty. It is probable that the Chaldeans imitated what was delivered divinely in Israel and spoke Hebrew as a means of associating themslevs with what was originally divine. But their language was not pure and was a dialect of Hebrew, not pure Hebrew.

Daniel who was a boy when taken captive, may well have been bilingual speaking Hebrew from his infancy and childhood, yet tutored in Chaldee whilst in Babylon, dwelling almost exclusively in the court. On the return to Israel, some spoke a dialect, now called Aramaic, which was Hebrew but with added influence.

The roles played by Aramaic and Hebrew are worthy of a closer look. John Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. John When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement which in Aramaic is Gabbatha. Take him away! Crucify him! So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. John Jesus said to her, "Mary. Acts Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd.

Rev Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. As mentioned, Greek was the international language of trade and business at the time of Jesus, and the New Testament documents were passed down to us in Greek. In the passages cited above both Aramaic and Hebrew are mentioned, and on the surface it seems that Aramaic is more prevalent than Hebrew.

The Aramaic language by name simply is not mentioned.