If you were sitting at my table right now, I’d tell you to pull up a chair, grab a cool drink, maybe a pen and something to write on—and most of all, grab your Bible. Because this conversation about Hebrew isn’t really just about Hebrew.
It’s about language.
It’s about learning.
It’s about faithfulness.
And honestly, it’s about pleasing our Savior and Messiah—both as parents and as disciples.
At Homeschooling Torah, Hebrew is the language we focus on most. But everything I’m about to say applies just as much to learning English well, teaching phonics to your children, learning another modern language, or even learning how to cook a new recipe in your kitchen.
Why Hebrew Feels So Hard at First (And Why That’s Normal)
I grew up in a very American, small Baptist church. I learned to read using a King James Bible that actually broke words down syllable by syllable—especially the long Bible names. We sounded them out slowly. We did the same thing in hymnals, where syllables were matched to musical notes.
So those English pronunciations became deeply ingrained in me.
Then one day I learned that Zephaniah doesn’t really sound like “Zeph-an-i-yah.” In Hebrew, it’s closer to Tzefanyah.
And Isaiah? That’s Yeshayahu.
And Jesus? That’s Yeshua.
Suddenly I realized something important: when you’ve never heard a language spoken natively—when you weren’t taught it as a child—you’re going to struggle. You don’t know how words are actually supposed to sound. So you guess. That’s normal.
It’s no different than how Americans say “Chile” instead of Chee-lay, or how in Michigan we have a town spelled Charlotte but everyone who lives here knows you say Shar-LOT.
So here’s what I tell myself, and what I tell my students:
“Swallow, take a breath, and say: I don’t care if I sound dumb. I’m going to try.”
The Verse That Changed Everything for Me
Why learn Hebrew anyway? Why make it a priority?
One verse that continually pulls me back to Hebrew is Zephaniah 3:9:
“For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,
that they may all call on the name of Yehovah,
to serve Him with one accord.”
That verse doesn’t stand alone. It reaches all the way back to Genesis 11, to the Tower of Babel.
Before Babel, humanity had one language—and one purpose. Unfortunately, that unity was being used for rebellion. So Yehovah confused their language and scattered them.
But Zephaniah promises a reversal.
A restoration.
A pure language—so that His people can once again serve Him with one accord.
I believe there is strong biblical evidence that this restored language will be Hebrew—or something very closely related to it. Even if it isn’t exactly what people speak as Hebrew today, I believe Hebrew matters deeply in the story of restoration.
And that belief shapes how I live.
My “Kingdom Preparation” Theory
Here’s a theory I live by—and it affects my homeschooling, my teaching, and my personal study.
I don’t believe that when Yeshua returns and establishes His Kingdom, everything will instantly be “magically fixed” without effort or responsibility.
We don’t see that pattern in Scripture.
When Israel entered the Promised Land, there was work to do. When servants were given talents, they were expected to use them. Faithfulness with little mattered.
So I ask myself:
What if the Kingdom is something we are invited to help steward?
What if faithfulness now matters then?
I don’t want to be the servant who buried his talent and said, “I’ll learn later.” I want to be someone who was faithful with what was available to me.
That’s one of my biggest motivations for learning Hebrew—and for teaching it.
Language and the Great Commission
There’s another reason language matters so much.
In Matthew 28, Yeshua tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. And in Romans 10, Paul asks the obvious question:
“How will they believe unless they hear?
And how will they hear without someone telling them?”
That’s not just theology—that’s math.
If we can’t communicate, people can’t hear.
But if the message of the gospel matters to us, it should be the most important thing we ever try to communicate. However, English translations of Yah’s words don’t always communicate truth in the best way. Hebrew, on the other hand, is His heart language.
And this applies just as much to teaching our children. If they don’t understand our words, how can they learn? Language is the foundation of everything we teach.
You CAN Learn a Language (Yes, You)
We don’t have a special “language gene” that some people get and others don’t.
We all have a God-given capacity for language.
What most adults lack isn’t ability—it’s exercise.
Neurons strengthen with use.
That’s why children seem to learn languages more easily: their brains are already being exercised through memorization, reading, copying, and daily learning. But adults can learn just as well—sometimes better—if we’re willing to practice consistently.
And here’s the good news: you don’t need hours a day.
Ten to fifteen minutes.
Every day.
With review.
That’s it.
How I Actually Learn Hebrew (Practically)
Here’s what has worked for me:
Schedule it. If it’s not on the calendar, it won’t happen.
Keep it short. My brain maxes out around 15 minutes.
Review later. Flashcards before lunch. A few more before bed.
Learn the alphabet deeply—letter names and sounds.
Learn vowels early to support accurate pronunciation.
Read syllable by syllable before worrying about meaning.
Copy Scripture in Hebrew—one verse a day if that’s all you can do.
Read aloud daily, even when it feels painfully slow.
Listen to native speakers constantly—Torah readings, prayers, songs.
Yes, you’ll feel like a child again.
That’s okay.
Mistakes Are Not Failure—They’re the Process
Don’t apologize for learning.
Don’t constantly say, “Sorry, I’m bad at this.”
You’re not bad—you’re learning.
Mistakes are what cement knowledge. And humility is what keeps us growing.
Why Learning Hebrew Makes Me a Better Teacher (and a Better Person)
Learning a language has given me more patience with my children.
It’s reminded me how long things take to stick.
How often explanations need to be repeated.
How much grace learners need.
And it’s taught me to apply these lessons everywhere—math, science, Scripture memory, even cooking in the kitchen.
Learning alongside our children changes everything.
It softens us.
It humbles us.
And it brings joy back into the process.
Let’s Keep Learning Together
I don’t want this conversation to end.
I want us to keep learning—together.
Whether you’re learning Hebrew, another language, or simply learning how to teach more faithfully in your home, you are not alone.
Be faithful with the little.
Practice daily.
Embrace mistakes.
And trust that Yehovah honors faithfulness.
Shalom,
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