Language Information
Biblical Hebrew, also called Classical Hebrew, was the language of the early Jews. It is a Semitic language and a member of the Canaanite language branch. Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) as well as numerous other religious and literary works.
Around 586 BCE the language started to be largely replaced by Aramaic. By 200 CE, use of Hebrew as an everyday language had largely ceased, but it continued to be used for literary and religious functions, as well as a lingua franca among Jews from different countries.
At Indiana University, the Borns Jewish Studies Program offers elementary through intermediate Biblical Hebrew language courses as well as related cultural and religion courses.