Hebrew Language and Literature

Hebrew (/ˈhiːbruː/; עִבְרִית‎, Ivrit [ivˈʁit] (listen) or [ʕivˈɾit] (listen)) is a Northwest Semitic language native to Israel, spoken by over 9 million people worldwide. Historically, it is regarded as the language of the Israelites and their ancestors, although the language was not referred to by the name Hebrew in the Tanakh.[note 1] The earliest examples of written Paleo-Hebrew date from the 10th century BCE. Hebrew belongs to the West Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family. Hebrew is the only living Canaanite language left, and the only truly successful example of a revived dead language.

Hebrew had ceased to be an everyday spoken language somewhere between 200 and 400 CE, declining since the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt.[note 2] Aramaic and to a lesser extent Greek were already in use as international languages, especially among elites and immigrants. Hebrew survived into the medieval period as the language of Jewish liturgy, rabbinic literature, intra-Jewish commerce, and poetry. Then, in the 19th century, it was revived as a spoken and literary language. It became the lingua franca of Palestine's Jews, and subsequently of the State of Israel. According to Ethnologue, in 1998, it was the language of 5 million people worldwide. After Israel, the United States has the second largest Hebrew-speaking population, with 220,000 fluent speakers, mostly from Israel.

Modern Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel, while premodern Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world today. The Samaritan dialect is also the liturgical tongue of the Samaritans, while modern Hebrew or Arabic is their vernacular. As a foreign language, it is studied mostly by Jews and students of Judaism and Israel, and by archaeologists and linguists specializing in the Middle East and its civilizations, as well as by theologians in Christian seminaries.

The Torah (the first five books), and most of the rest of the Hebrew Bible, is written in Biblical Hebrew, with much of its present form specifically in the dialect that scholars believe flourished around the 6th century BCE, around the time of the Babylonian captivity. For this reason, Hebrew has been referred to by Jews as Lashon Hakodesh (לשון הקדש), "the Holy Language", since ancient times.

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Matching Hebrew Language and Literature Colleges

New York University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $53,770 average out-state tuition; $53,770 average in-state tuition

CUNY Hunter College

Four or more years; Public; $14,880 average out-state tuition; $6,930 average in-state tuition

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Four or more years; Public; $54,769 average out-state tuition; $16,865 average in-state tuition

Multnomah University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $28,160 average out-state tuition; $28,160 average in-state tuition

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $25,433 average out-state tuition; $10,099 average in-state tuition

Yeshiva University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $44,300 average out-state tuition; $44,300 average in-state tuition

Hofstra University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $50,265 average out-state tuition; $50,265 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Hebrew Language and Literature Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

U.S. Department of Education

Up to $20,000 Varies See Details
 

U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

U.S. Department of Education

award

Up to $20,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Penner Family Experiences Award

Georgetown University

Up to $4,000 April 09, 2024 See Details
 

Penner Family Experiences Award

Georgetown University

award

Up to $4,000

deadline

April 09, 2024
See Details
 

Todd and Dawn Aaron Endowed Presidential Scholarship

University of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts

$2,500 March 29, 2024 See Details
 

Todd and Dawn Aaron Endowed Presidential Scholarship

University of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts

award

$2,500

deadline

March 29, 2024
See Details
 

Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

$1,000 Varies See Details
 

Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

$1,000 Varies See Details
 

Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Bilingual Scholarship - Worcester State College

Worcester State University

$1,000 May 01, 2024 See Details
 

Bilingual Scholarship - Worcester State College

Worcester State University

award

$1,000

deadline

May 01, 2024
See Details
 

Undergraduate Research Award - University of Texas, Austin

University of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts

$1,000 March 31, 2024 See Details
 

Undergraduate Research Award - University of Texas, Austin

University of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts

award

$1,000

deadline

March 31, 2024
See Details
 

Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

$1,000 April 02, 2024 See Details
 

Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

award

$1,000

deadline

April 02, 2024
See Details
 

Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

$1,000 April 02, 2024 See Details
 

Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

award

$1,000

deadline

April 02, 2024
See Details