by Ophir Lehavy Busel

Created on: October 12, 2009

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST LETTER

The letter 'alef' is the first in the Hebrew alphabet, a Semitic language closely linked to the language of the ancient Canaanites and to Arabic and Aramaic. The connection between these early scripts is evidenced by looking at the 'alef' in other languages as well. The first letter of the Arabic alphabet is the 'Alif and in Greek, the Alpha. The Hebrew letter 'alef', combined with the second letter of the Hebrew language 'bet', form the word aleph-bet, which means alphabet.

Ancient Hebrew used the proto-Canaanite script, developed around the time of Abraham, and was based upon the script used by the Phoenicians. In Phoenician, the original pictograph of the letter 'alef' represents an ox, strength, and leader. This same pictograph then developed into Ktav Ivri, or the first Hebrew written version of the letter, and then later developed into the classical Hebrew script, which Hebrew readers and writers are familiar with today.

ALEF USED

In modern Israeli Hebrew, the letter is silent when it stands alone, and takes on the sound of any vowel that is attached to it. The 'alef' is also used to transliterate words from non-Semitic languages into Hebrew. For example the letter 'a' in English will take form as the 'alef' in Hebrew for words such as anthropologist and astronomy.

In gem-atria, a system of assigning a numerical value to letters, words, or phrases, the letter 'alef' is equivalent to the number one, symbolizing not only its status as the first of the alphabet, but also the oneness of God. 'Alef' is also the first letter of the word one, or in Hebrew - echad, which is not the case for the rest of the letters whose numerical values do not begin its equivalent word.

The 'alef' is also the first letter used for many words denoting family: aba - for father, ema - mother, ach - brother, and achot - sister. It is also the first letter of the word I - or ani in Hebrew. And, the letter is also the first for words such as fire - esh, love - ahavah, truth - emet, and light - or.

The 'alef' can be written by drawing three lines: one long line that runs diagonally from left down to right, a smaller diagonal line crossing from right to left above the base line, and then another smaller diagonal line crossing from right to left below the base line. Click here to view samples.

RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY, AND THE LETTER ALEF

The 'alef' is the first letter in many of God's names as written in the Bible, such as El, Elohim, and Adonai. 'Alef' also begins the three words that make up God's name in the book of Exodus: I Am That I Am (in Hebrew, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh).

Despite the connection between the letter and Godly names, the 'alef' is not the first letter of the Bible. The second letter of the alphabet, bet, is the first letter of the five books of the Torah, starting with "Bereshit" or "In the beginning". According to the Midrash, which is the interpretation of Jewish texts, the 'alef' is personified and commended for not demanding to the start the Bible. The story states that the 'alef' is rewarded for its act of humility as the first letter to begin the Ten Commandments with Anochi, which means I am.

Sources:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Al eph-Bet/Aleph/aleph.html

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_M eaning.html

Learn more about this author, Ophir Lehavy Busel.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.