What are the Languages of Biblical Times?
There were four primary languages spoken by people in Biblical times: Latin, Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew. The Old Testament of the Bible was originally written in Aramaic and Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek. This mixture of languages reflects the origins of the varying people who contributed to the Bible, as spoken and written languages varied by ethnicity, class, and education. Three of the four languages spoken in Biblical times are considered dead languages, meaning that they are not spoken anymore although scholars continue to read and study them. The fourth, Hebrew, is still used in parts of the Middle East and in the Books of the Torah, the Jewish Bible.
Aramaic is probably the least well known of the languages of Biblical times. Aramaic actually refers to a family of ancient Semitic languages that were spoken widely across the Middle East during Biblical times. Aramaic is closely related to Hebrew, which borrowed the Aramaic script for its alphabet. Biblical Aramaic is no longer used. Modern languages in the Aramaic family are employed in scattered parts of the world for liturgy, religious practice, and communication in some regions. The Aramaic of Biblical times was the common language in Palestine, and was most likely the language that Jesus himself spoke. Aramaic was replaced in the Middle East by Arabic in the seventh century.
The Greek spoken in Biblical times was Common Greek, which is related to Modern Greek, although different enough that Modern Greek speakers cannot understand Common Greek. Common Greek was a more basic dialect than the refined Ancient Greek used by Aristotle and Plato. While Biblical Greek is no longer spoken, some scholars still read the New Testament in Greek. Many Greek speakers and scholars lived in the Eastern parts of the Roman empire, and contributed language and culture to the region.
The Latin spoken in Biblical times was spoken by scholars and administrators. Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire, and paperwork, decrees, and announcements would have been offered in Latin. It is unlikely that Latin was widely spoken among the common citizens, although more educated individuals might have used Latin. Latin was not adopted for religious liturgy until the second century, when Latin displaced Greek across the Empire. Latin is the parent of the Romance Languages, including Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Few people spoke Hebrew in Biblical times because it had been largely replaced by Aramaic. However, most Jews read the Bible in Hebrew. A Hebrew revival in the 1800s brought Biblical Hebrew back to life, preserving Hebrew as a living language although it is spoken by a limited number of individuals.
The four primary languages of Biblical times represent a variety of cultures and ethnicities, all of which figure prominently in the Bible. Bible scholars often study two or more of these languages in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible, and the people who inhabit its pages.
Written by S.E. Smith
