What Languages Predate Hebrew?
While Hebrew is traditionally dated to around the 10th century BCE, several other ancient languages emerged much earlier. This article explores the origins of these languages, including Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Elamite, and Hittite. Each of these languages has a rich history that predates Hebrew by several centuries.
Sumerian: One of the Oldest Written Languages
Sumerian is one of the earliest known written languages, with its origins dating back to at least 3100 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerian is ideographic and cuneiform, a script that emerged as early as the 4th millennium BCE. This language, like many ancient languages, tells us a great deal about the cultures and civilizations that developed in the region.
Akkadian: Earliest Semitic Language Records
Akkadian, a Semitic language, has its earliest written records dating back to around 2500 BCE. It includes both the Babylonian and Assyrian dialects, which were key in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Akkadian was widely used for administrative, literary, and religious purposes and played a crucial role in the cultural and intellectual development of the region.
Egyptian: The Language of Hieroglyphics
Egyptian is another ancient language with roots stretching back to around 3000 BCE. Its hieroglyphic script is one of the oldest known writing systems, dating back to the predynastic period. This script was used for religious and monumental purposes, and the language profoundly influenced the development of the region's culture and history.
Elamite: Language of Southwest Iran
Elamite is a language spoken in what is now southwestern Iran, with origins dating back to around 3000 BCE. It was used in the region of Elam, which was located in what is now modern-day Iran. Elamite texts provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the region, and it remains one of the most important ancient languages of the Near East.
Hittite: An Indo-European Language
Although the Hittite language is part of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European languages, its texts date back to the 17th century BCE. Hittite was used in the Hittite Empire, which was located in modern-day Turkey. The Hittite language is important for understanding the history and culture of this ancient civilization.
The Time Before Hebrew: Midrashic Insights
While these ancient languages date from before the emergence of Hebrew, Jewish tradition also offers insights into what is known as "pre-Hebrew" time. According to the midrash, Hebrew was the language of creation. In Torah culture, this language was the original and divine tool for communication with God.
The concept of "974 worlds" arises from the midrash. This number is derived from Tehillim 105:8, which mentions "a word He commanded for a thousand generations." The rabbis interpret this to mean 1,000 generations, from which they subtract 26 to arrive at 974. This number represents the number of previous creations, with Hebrew being the language of the 974th creation.
According to the midrash, Adam and Eve, the first humans, were created with Hebrew as their language, reflecting their place as the first spiritual beings. Subsequent humans spoke languages derived from Hebrew but were simpler in structure and phonetics. These languages were not as complex, as Hebrew is more metaphorical and can be interpreted on multiple levels.
The Hebrew language was also corrupted, as mentioned in the concept of the "Tower of Babylon," though this process was gradual and occurred over many generations. The language of codes and divine communication was retained by the Assyrian-Ashur population and re-acquired by the Yisraelites (Hebrews) during their exile in Assyria, although Ashur did not communicate in the same "Torah-ready" phonetic form of Hebrew.
These ancient languages and the midrashic insights provide a rich tapestry of human history and spiritual tradition, highlighting the significance of language in shaping our understanding of the world and our place within it.