Samaritan Hebrew

Samaritan letters and Jerusalem coin, Guillaume Postel 1538, Linguarum duodecim characteribus differentium alphabetum, introductio

Genesis 5 18 as published by Jean Morin in 1631 in the first publication of the Samaritan Pentateuch

Samaritan Pentateuch (detail)

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Samaritan Hebrew is a reading tradition and dialect of the Hebrew language used by the Samaritans, a religious and ethnic group residing primarily in the Palestinian territories and in Israel. Samaritan Hebrew is derived from ancient forms of Hebrew used in the Israelite kingdom of Northern Israel during the second half of the first millennium BCE. Over the centuries, it has evolved under significant influence from Aramaic and to a lesser extent from Arabic, reflecting the historical changes in the region.

History and Development

Samaritan Hebrew's origins can be traced back to the period following the Assyrian conquest of the kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE. The Assyrians deported many Israelites, replacing them with people from other parts of their empire. This led to a blending of cultures and languages, but the Israelites who remained and their descendants, including the Samaritans, continued to use a form of Hebrew. Over time, as the Samaritans became more isolated from mainstream Jewish communities, their version of Hebrew began to diverge significantly from the Masoretic Text used by other Jewish communities.

Characteristics

Samaritan Hebrew retains many features of ancient Hebrew but also shows signs of simplification and influence from other languages. Phonetically, it preserves some sounds that are lost in other Hebrew dialects but also introduces changes in pronunciation influenced by Aramaic and Arabic. Grammatically, it tends to simplify some of the complexities found in classical Hebrew. The vocabulary of Samaritan Hebrew includes words that are not found in other Hebrew dialects, reflecting the unique cultural and religious identity of the Samaritans.

Script

The Samaritans have their distinct version of the Hebrew alphabet, known as the Samaritan script. This script is directly descended from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew alphabet used by the Israelites before the Babylonian exile. Over time, the Jewish communities adopted the Aramaic script for writing Hebrew, which eventually evolved into the modern Hebrew alphabet. In contrast, the Samaritans continued to use their version of the Paleo-Hebrew script, preserving its ancient form.

Religious Texts

Samaritan Hebrew is primarily used in religious contexts, particularly in the reading and interpretation of the Samaritan Pentateuch, a version of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible that differs in some respects from the Masoretic Text. The Samaritan Pentateuch is written in the Samaritan script and contains unique linguistic features that distinguish it from other Hebrew texts. Samaritan Hebrew is also used in liturgical texts, prayers, and religious poetry.

Modern Status

Today, Samaritan Hebrew is a liturgical language among the Samaritans, with the community also using Arabic and Modern Hebrew for daily communication. The number of fluent speakers is small, reflecting the small size of the Samaritan community, which numbers approximately 800 people. Efforts are being made within the community to preserve and revive Samaritan Hebrew as a living language, including teaching it to children and using it in religious ceremonies.

See Also

• Hebrew language
• Samaritans
• Samaritan Pentateuch
• Paleo-Hebrew alphabet