Greek word · G1447

Ἑβραϊστί

hebraisti

in Aramaic

An adverb meaning 'in the Hebrew manner' or 'in the Jewish language'. In 1st-century Greek it could refer to Hebrew proper or to the Aramaic that Jews in Judea spoke every day.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἑβραϊστί (WH, Ἐβ-), adv.,

[in LXX: Si prol. 13 * ;]

in Hebrew: Revelation 9:11; elsewhere, in Aramaic (see supr.): John 5:2 19:13, 17, 20 20:16, Revelation 16:16.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 19:17

Range of meaning

An adverb meaning 'in the Hebrew manner' or 'in the Jewish language'. In 1st-century Greek it could refer to Hebrew proper or to the Aramaic that Jews in Judea spoke every day.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, WEB and YLT have 'in Hebrew'. Several modern versions (for example NIV) have 'in Aramaic' and give 'Hebrew' in a footnote.

How it drifted

A modern reader takes 'Hebrew' to mean the language of the Old Testament. In this period Greek speakers used the label for the national language of the Jews, whichever of the two languages was actually meant.

Used elsewhere in the period

John uses the same word for Bethesda (5:2), Gabbatha (19:13), the inscription on the cross (19:20) and 'Rabbouni' (20:16). Several of these are clearly Aramaic forms. Josephus also uses 'Hebrew' loosely for Aramaic words.

From the study of John 19:13

Range of meaning

'In the Hebrew manner of speech', i.e. in the language of the Hebrews (Jews). It can mean Hebrew proper, but in first-century Greek it often covered the Semitic speech of Judea in general, which in daily life was mostly Aramaic.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, BSB and YLT say 'in Hebrew'. ESV and NIV say 'in Aramaic', which is accurate to the form of the word but removes John's own label. The supplied lexicon gives 'in Aramaic' as the gloss while its in-context rendering is 'in Hebrew', which shows the same tension.

How it drifted

Modern readers hear 'Hebrew' as the language of the Old Testament (or modern Israel). The words John labels Hebraisti are Aramaic in form: Gabbatha, Golgotha (19:17), Rabbouni (20:16), and probably Bethesda (5:2).

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek prologue to Sirach uses Hebraisti for Ben Sira's original text, which really was Hebrew, so the word can mean Hebrew proper. 4 Maccabees 12:7 says 'in the Hebrew voice'. Josephus often says a term belongs to 'the language of the Hebrews' when it is Aramaic. Revelation uses it for Abaddon (9:11) and Armageddon (16:16).

From the study of John 19:20

Range of meaning

'In the Hebrew manner/tongue', meaning in the language of the Hebrews (Jews). Greek writers of the period used it loosely for whatever Semitic language Jews spoke. That could be Hebrew proper or Aramaic, the closely related language most Jews of Judea and Galilee spoke every day.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT and NASB say 'Hebrew'. NIV and ESV say 'Aramaic' (ESV with a note 'Or Hebrew'). Both choices are defensible. 'Hebrew' keeps the Greek label. 'Aramaic' gives the most likely actual language.

Used elsewhere in the period

In John the word labels place-names and words that are Aramaic in form: Gabbatha (19:13), Golgotha (19:17), and Rabbouni (20:16), which is closer to Aramaic usage. Bethesda (5:2) could be either. Revelation uses it for Abaddon (9:11) and Armageddon (16:16), both Hebrew. The prologue to Sirach uses it of the Hebrew original of that book. Josephus likewise sometimes calls Aramaic words 'Hebrew'. Inscriptions and documents from Judea (ossuaries, the Dead Sea and Bar Kokhba finds) show Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek all in use.

Similar words

Where it appears

John · 5

  1. John 5:2 Ἑβραϊστὶ in Hebrew

    Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.

  2. John 19:13 Ἑβραϊστὶ in Hebrew

    When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha.

    Here: 'In the Hebrew tongue', meaning the local Jewish language. The name that follows is actually Aramaic in form, the everyday language of Judea.

  3. John 19:17 Ἑβραϊστὶ in Hebrew

    Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

    Here: 'In the Hebrew [tongue]'. Greek writers used this for the language of the Jewish people. Here that almost certainly means Aramaic, the everyday language of Judea, because the name that follows has an Aramaic form.

  4. John 19:20 Ἑβραϊστί, in Hebrew,

    Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

    Here: 'In the Hebrew [tongue]': the language of the local Jewish population. John uses the same word for the Aramaic names Gabbatha and Golgotha (19:13, 17), so it most likely means Aramaic here, though Hebrew cannot be ruled out.

  5. John 20:16 Ἑβραϊστί· in Hebrew;

    Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Revelation · 2

  1. Revelation 9:11 Ἑβραϊστὶ in Hebrew

    They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.

    Here: 'In the Hebrew language.' Elsewhere in the New Testament this word can mean Aramaic, but Abaddon really is a word of biblical Hebrew, so 'Hebrew' is correct here.

  2. Revelation 16:16 Ἑβραϊστὶ in Hebrew

    And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

    Here: 'In Hebrew.' The adverb tells Greek-speaking readers to decode the name as a Hebrew word, as John does with Abaddon in 9:11. The name carries meaning, and the hearers are expected to work it out.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.