ABCDE
Paleo-Hebrew letters (the ancient script likely used on the tablets) compared to modern Hebrew. This gives you a sense of what the Ten Commandments might have looked like visually:
Paleo-Hebrew vs Modern Hebrew
| Letter | Paleo-Hebrew (ancient) | Modern Hebrew (square script) | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 饜 | 讗 | Aleph | |
| 饜 | 讘 | Bet | |
| 饜 | 讙 | Gimel | |
| 饜 | 讚 | Dalet | |
| 饜 | 讛 | He | |
| 饜 | 讜 | Vav | |
| 饜 | 讝 | Zayin | |
| 饜 | 讞 | Het | |
| 饜 | 讟 | Tet | |
| 饜 | 讬 | Yod | |
| 饜 | 讻 | Kaf | |
| 饜 | 诇 | Lamed | |
| 饜 | 诪 | Mem | |
| 饜 | 谞 | Nun | |
| 饜 | 住 | Samekh | |
| 饜 | 注 | Ayin | |
| 饜 | 驻 | Pe | |
| 饜 | 爪 | Tsade | |
| 饜 | 拽 | Qof | |
| 饜 | 专 | Resh | |
| 饜 | 砖 | Shin | |
| 饜 | 转 | Tav |
Notice how the Paleo-Hebrew script looks more pictographic and angular, while the modern Hebrew letters are block-like and standardized. The Ten Commandments, given to Moses, would have been carved in something close to the Paleo-Hebrew style.
Ten Commandments written in Hebrew letters alongside their English translation. This way you can see the script that would have been carved into the Moses' tablets.
Ten Commandments in Hebrew & English
| # | Hebrew (Biblical text) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 诇ֹ讗 讬ִ讛ְ讬ֶ讛־诇ְ讱ָ 讗ֱ诇ֹ讛ִ讬诐 讗ֲ讞ֵ专ִ讬诐 注ַ诇־驻ָּ谞ָ讬 | You shall have no other gods before Me |
| 2 | 诇ֹ讗 转ַ注ֲ砖ֶׂ讛 诇ְ讱ָ 驻ֶ住ֶ诇 | You shall not make for yourself an idol |
| 3 | 诇ֹ讗 转ִ砖ָּׂ讗 讗ֶ转־砖ֵׁ诐־讬ְ讛讜ָ讛 讗ֱ诇ֹ讛ֶ讬讱ָ 诇ַ砖ָּׁ讜ְ讗 | You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain |
| 4 | 讝ָ讻讜ֹ专 讗ֶ转־讬讜ֹ诐 讛ַ砖ַּׁ讘ָּ转 诇ְ拽ַ讚ְּ砖ׁ讜ֹ | Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy |
| 5 | 讻ַּ讘ֵּ讚 讗ֶ转־讗ָ讘ִ讬讱ָ 讜ְ讗ֶ转־讗ִ诪ֶּ讱ָ | Honor your father and your mother |
| 6 | 诇ֹ讗 转ִ专ְ爪ָ讞 | You shall not murder |
| 7 | 诇ֹ讗 转ִ谞ְ讗ָ祝 | You shall not commit adultery |
| 8 | 诇ֹ讗 转ִ讙ְ谞ֹ讘 | You shall not steal |
| 9 | 诇ֹ讗־转ַ注ֲ谞ֶ讛 讘ְ专ֵ注ֲ讱ָ 注ֵ讚 砖ָׁ拽ֶ专 | You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor |
| 10 | 诇ֹ讗 转ַ讞ְ诪ֹ讚 | You shall not covet |
These Hebrew letters are from the Masoretic Text, the traditional Hebrew Bible. In Moses’ time, they would have been written in Paleo-Hebrew script, which looks more ancient and pictographic compared to modern Hebrew.
Timeline from Adam to Jesus
Adam & Eve (6000 BCE) – The first humans, placed in the Garden of Eden.
Noah (c. pre-2000 BCE) – Built the Ark, survived the Flood.
Abraham (c. 2000–1800 BCE) – Patriarch, covenant with God.
Isaac (c. 1900–1700 BCE) – Son of Abraham, continued covenant.
Jacob (c. 1800–1600 BCE) – Grandson of Abraham, renamed Israel, father of the twelve tribes.
Joseph (c. 1700–1600 BCE) – Son of Jacob, rose to power in Egypt.
Moses (c. 1500–1200 BCE) – Led the Exodus, received the Ten Commandments.
Joshua (c. 1200–1100 BCE) – Successor to Moses, led Israelites into Canaan.
David (c. 1040–970 BCE) – Second king of Israel, united the tribes.
Solomon (c. 970–930 BCE) – Built the First Temple in Jerusalem.
Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc., c. 800–500 BCE) – Guided Israel through monarchy, exile, and return.
Jesus of Nazareth (c. 4 BCE – 30 CE) – Born under Roman rule, central figure of the New Testament.
Here’s a visual comparison of Proto-Canaanite symbols and Paleo-Hebrew letters so you can see how the alphabet evolved over time:
Proto-Canaanite → Paleo-Hebrew
| Sound | Proto-Canaanite Symbol | Paleo-Hebrew Letter | Modern Hebrew |
|---|---|---|---|
| /蕯/ (glottal stop) | 饜 (ox head pictograph) | 饜 | 讗 (Aleph) |
| /b/ | 饜 (house floor plan) | 饜 | 讘 (Bet) |
| /g/ | 饜 (camel shape) | 饜 | 讙 (Gimel) |
| /d/ | 饜 (door symbol) | 饜 | 讚 (Dalet) |
| /h/ | 饜 (man with arms raised) | 饜 | 讛 (He) |
| /w/ | 饜 (peg/hook) | 饜 | 讜 (Vav) |
| /m/ | 饜 (water waves) | 饜 | 诪 (Mem) |
| /n/ | 饜 (snake) | 饜 | 谞 (Nun) |
| /蕛/ | 饜 (tooth) | 饜 | 砖 (Shin) |
| /t/ | 饜 (cross mark) | 饜 | 转 (Tav) |
Notice how Proto-Canaanite began as pictographs (ox head, house, camel, door, etc.), while Paleo-Hebrew standardized these into abstract letters. Modern Hebrew later evolved from the Aramaic “square script,” but the roots are still visible.
So when the Ten Commandments were carved, the Israelites were using Paleo-Hebrew, the script that had already evolved from Proto-Canaanite into a consistent alphabet.
The Hebrew letters originated from the ancient Proto-Canaanite alphabet, which evolved into the Phoenician script around 1200 BCE. From Phoenician came the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, used in early Israelite inscriptions, and later the Aramaic alphabet, which gave rise to the modern "square" Hebrew script still used today.
Origins of Hebrew Letters
Proto-Canaanite Roots (c. 19th–15th century BCE)
- The earliest alphabetic writing in the Levant was Proto-Canaanite.
- It was a major innovation: instead of pictographs, each symbol represented a consonant sound.
- This system influenced Phoenician, Hebrew, and other Semitic scripts.
Phoenician Alphabet (c. 1200 BCE)
- The Phoenicians standardized the alphabet and spread it widely through trade.
- Paleo-Hebrew is essentially the Phoenician script adapted for Hebrew language use.
Paleo-Hebrew Script (c. 1000–500 BCE)
- Used in early Israelite inscriptions, including the Gezer Calendar and Samaritan texts.
- The Ten Commandments, if written in Moses’ time, would likely have been in this style.
- Letters looked more pictographic compared to modern Hebrew.
Aramaic Influence (c. 500 BCE onward)
- During the Persian Empire, Aramaic became the dominant administrative language.
- Hebrew writing shifted from Paleo-Hebrew to the Aramaic-derived "square script."
- This is the ancestor of the modern Hebrew alphabet.
Modern Hebrew Script
- Consists of 22 consonantal letters.
- Developed fully by the 1st century CE and used in Jewish texts ever since.
- Each letter carries not only phonetic value but also symbolic and numerical meaning.
The Hebrew alphabet is part of the Semitic language family’s writing tradition, tracing back to Proto-Canaanite pictographs, through Phoenician and Paleo-Hebrew, and finally shaped by Aramaic into the square script we recognize today. In short: Proto-Canaanite → Phoenician → Paleo-Hebrew → Aramaic → Modern Hebrew.
Expanded Timeline of Hebrew Script Evolution
Proto-Canaanite / Proto-Sinaitic (c. 1800–1500 BCE)
- Origin: Derived from Egyptian hieroglyphs, simplified into consonantal signs.
- Artifact Example: Serabit el-Khadim inscriptions (Sinai Peninsula).
- Biblical Context: If Moses lived around 1500 BCE, this is the script closest to what the Ten Commandments could have been written in.
Paleo-Hebrew (c. 1000–500 BCE)
- Origin: Directly descended from Phoenician script.
- Artifact Examples:
- Gezer Calendar (c. 10th century BCE) — earliest Hebrew inscription, listing agricultural seasons.
- Siloam Inscription (c. 700 BCE) — records the construction of Hezekiah’s tunnel in Jerusalem.
- Biblical Context: Used during the monarchy (David, Solomon) and prophets. The Samaritan Torah still preserves this script.
Square Hebrew (Aramaic-derived, c. 500 BCE onward)
- Origin: Adopted during the Babylonian exile, influenced by Aramaic script.
- Artifact Examples:
- Dead Sea Scrolls (c. 200 BCE–70 CE) — biblical manuscripts in square Hebrew.
- Torah scrolls today use this script.
- Biblical Context: Became the standard script for Jewish texts after the exile.
- Proto-Canaanite → earliest alphabet, Moses’ era.
- Paleo-Hebrew → Israelite national script, monarchy & prophets.
- Square Hebrew → post-exile, still used today.
This shows why the Ten Commandments are often imagined in Paleo-Hebrew: later scribes retroactively pictured them in the script they knew, even though Moses’ time was closer to Proto-Canaanite.
The Bible was compiled gradually over more than 1,000 years: the Old Testament was formed between about 1200–100 BCE, and the New Testament was written between 50–100 CE, with the canon finalized in the 4th century CE.
Timeline of Bible Compilation
Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)
- 1200–1000 BCE – Early writings (Torah/Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) traditionally attributed to Moses begin to circulate.
- 1000–500 BCE – Historical books (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Job) are written and preserved by scribes.
- 800–400 BCE – Prophetic books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Minor Prophets) are composed.
- 400–100 BCE – Final editing and collection of Hebrew Scriptures. By the time of Jesus, the Jewish Scriptures (Tanakh) were largely recognized as authoritative.
New Testament
- 50–100 CE – Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts, Paul’s letters, and other epistles are written.
- 2nd century CE – Early Christian communities circulate collections of apostolic writings. Some texts are debated (e.g., Revelation, Hebrews).
- 4th century CE – Church councils (Hippo in 393 CE, Carthage in 397 CE) affirm the canon of 27 New Testament books.
Canonization
- Old Testament canon – Recognized in Judaism before Jesus’ time, though divisions (Law, Prophets, Writings) were finalized later.
- New Testament canon – Officially recognized by the Church in the late 4th century CE.
- Bible as a whole – By the 5th century CE, the Bible existed in the form we recognize today: Old Testament + New Testament.
The Bible wasn’t written or compiled all at once. It began with oral traditions, moved to written scrolls, and was gradually collected into authoritative scriptures. The Old Testament is the book of judaism, while the New Testament was added by the roman catholics about 300 years later.
The Issue
- Moses traditionally dated ~1500–1200 BCE (depending on interpretation).
- Paleo-Hebrew script appears ~1000 BCE, derived from Phoenician.
- So if Moses lived earlier, the Ten Commandments couldn’t have been written in Paleo-Hebrew at that time.
Possible Explanations
Proto-Canaanite / Early Alphabet
- Around 1800–1500 BCE, the Israelites (living in Canaan and Egypt) would have used Proto-Canaanite (Proto-Sinaitic) script.
- This was the ancestor of Phoenician and Paleo-Hebrew.
- If Moses lived in that era, the tablets would likely have been inscribed in this early alphabet, not Paleo-Hebrew.
Later Tradition / Retelling
- By the time biblical texts were written down (between 1000–500 BCE), scribes naturally used Paleo-Hebrew (their current script).
- So when later generations described the Ten Commandments, they imagined them in the script they knew.
- This doesn’t mean Moses himself used Paleo-Hebrew — it reflects later transmission.
Aramaic & Square Hebrew Script
- After the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), Hebrew writing shifted to the Aramaic-derived square script (the one used today).
- That’s why Torah scrolls today are written in square Hebrew, not Paleo-Hebrew.
- The Samaritan community, however, preserved Paleo-Hebrew in their Torah tradition, claiming it was the original script.
If Moses lived around 1500 BCE, the Ten Commandments would most likely have been written in Proto-Canaanite script, not Paleo-Hebrew. The association with Paleo-Hebrew comes from later Israelite scribes (after 1000 BCE) who used that script and retroactively imagined the tablets in their own writing system.
So: Moses → Proto-Canaanite era. Later scribes → Paleo-Hebrew. Modern Judaism → Square Hebrew.
The alphabet originated around 1800–1500 BCE with Proto-Sinaitic (Proto-Canaanite) script, evolving through Phoenician, Greek, Latin, and eventually into the alphabets we use today.
Timeline of the Origin of the Alphabet
Early Foundations
- Egyptian Hieroglyphs (c. 2700 BCE)
- Egyptians developed a set of “uniliteral” signs (22 symbols) representing single consonants.
- Not a true alphabet, but a precursor system.
Proto-Alphabet
- Proto-Sinaitic / Proto-Canaanite (c. 1800–1500 BCE)
- Created by Semitic workers in the Sinai Peninsula, inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- First true alphabet: symbols represented consonantal sounds.
Phoenician Alphabet
- Phoenician Script (c. 1050 BCE)
- Standardized alphabet used by Phoenician traders.
- Spread across the Mediterranean through trade.
- Direct ancestor of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Arabic scripts.
Greek Alphabet
- Greek Alphabet (c. 800 BCE)
- Adapted Phoenician letters.
- Innovated by adding vowels, creating the first full phonetic alphabet.
- Basis for Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.
Latin Alphabet
- Latin Alphabet (c. 700–600 BCE)
- Derived from Greek via the Etruscans.
- Adopted by the Romans, spreading across Europe.
- Today’s English alphabet is a direct descendant.
Global Spread
- Cyrillic (9th century CE) – Developed for Slavic languages.
- Arabic (4th century CE) – Evolved from Nabataean Aramaic.
- Modern Alphabets – Nearly all alphabets today trace back to Proto-Sinaitic roots.
Timeline of People on Earth
Prehistoric Humanity
- Australopithecus (c. 4–2 million BCE)
- Early hominins in Africa, walked upright.
- Homo habilis (c. 2.4–1.4 million BCE)
- Known as “handy man,” used simple stone tools.
- Homo erectus (c. 1.9 million–110,000 BCE)
- Spread from Africa to Asia and Europe.
- First to use fire and more advanced tools.
- Neanderthals (c. 400,000–40,000 BCE)
- Lived in Europe and western Asia.
- Skilled hunters, buried their dead.
- Homo sapiens (c. 300,000 BCE–present)
- Modern humans, originated in Africa.
- Migrated worldwide, developed language, art, and complex societies.
Ancient Civilizations
- Mesopotamia (c. 3500 BCE) – First cities, writing (cuneiform).
- Egypt (c. 3100 BCE) – Pharaohs, pyramids, hieroglyphs.
- Indus Valley (c. 2500 BCE) – Urban planning, trade networks.
- China (c. 2000 BCE) – Dynasties, bronze culture.
- Mesoamerica (c. 1500 BCE) – Olmec civilization, later Maya and Aztec.
Biblical & Classical Eras
- Abraham (c. 2000–1800 BCE) – Patriarch of Israel.
- Moses (c. 1500–1200 BCE) – Exodus leader.
- David & Solomon (c. 1000–930 BCE) – Kings of Israel.
- Greek Civilization (c. 800–300 BCE) – Philosophy, democracy.
- Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE) – Law, engineering, Christianity spreads.
Medieval to Modern
- Middle Ages (500–1500 CE) – Feudalism, rise of Islam, Crusades.
- Renaissance (1300–1600 CE) – Art, science, exploration.
- Industrial Revolution (1700s–1800s) – Machines, factories, modern cities.
- Modern Era (1900s–present) – Technology, globalization, space exploration.
The timeline of people on Earth flows:
Early hominins → Homo sapiens → Ancient civilizations → Biblical & classical figures → Medieval → Modern humanity.
Chronological List of Ancient Civilizations
- Sumerians (c. 4500–1900 BCE) – First cities in Mesopotamia, invented cuneiform writing.
- Ancient Egypt (c. 3100–30 BCE) – Pharaohs, pyramids, hieroglyphs.
- Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500–1900 BCE) – Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, advanced urban planning.
- Akkadian Empire (c. 2334–2154 BCE) – First empire under Sargon of Akkad.
- Assyrian Civilization (c. 2500–609 BCE) – Powerful Mesopotamian empire, Nineveh’s library.
- Babylonian Civilization (c. 1894–539 BCE) – Hammurabi’s laws, astronomy, mathematics.
- Ancient China (c. 2000 BCE onward) – Xia, Shang, Zhou dynasties; bronze culture, oracle bones.
- Nubia/Kush (c. 2000 BCE–350 CE) – Kingdom south of Egypt, rival and partner at times.
- Minoan Civilization (c. 2000–1450 BCE) – Crete, palace of Knossos.
- Hittite Empire (c. 1600–1178 BCE) – Anatolia, ironworking, treaties.
- Mycenaean Civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE) – Early Greek culture, Homeric epics.
- Phoenicians (c. 1500–300 BCE) – Maritime traders, alphabet.
- Hebrews/Israelites (c. 2000 BCE onward) – Monotheism, Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
- Persian Empire (c. 550–330 BCE) – Cyrus the Great, Royal Road, Zoroastrianism.
- Carthage (c. 800–146 BCE) – Phoenician colony, rival of Rome.
- Ancient Greece (c. 800–146 BCE) – Philosophy, democracy, art.
- Etruscans (c. 900–27 BCE) – Pre-Roman Italy, advanced art and engineering.
- Ancient Rome (27 BCE–476 CE) – Law, engineering, empire spanning Europe.
- Olmec Civilization (c. 1200–400 BCE) – Mesoamerica’s “mother culture.”
- Maya Civilization (c. 2000 BCE–1500 CE) – Astronomy, calendars, pyramids.
- Aztec Empire (c. 1300–1521 CE) – Central Mexico, powerful empire.
- Inca Empire (1438–1533 CE) – Andes, road systems, Machu Picchu.
- Ancestral Pueblo (c. 200–1600 CE) – North America, cliff dwellings.
- Earliest (4500–2000 BCE): Sumer, Egypt, Indus, Akkad, Assyria, Babylon, China.
- Middle (2000–500 BCE): Nubia, Minoans, Hittites, Mycenaeans, Phoenicians, Hebrews, Persia.
- Later (500 BCE–500 CE): Carthage, Greece, Etruscans, Rome.
- Americas (1200 BCE–1500 CE): Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca, Pueblo.
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