| Region | |
| Alphabet | |
| Modern users | |
| Modern status | Resurgence and widespread use |
| Language family | |
| Influenced scripts | Imperial Aramaic • Syriac alphabet |
| Primary historical users | |
| Alternate historical status | Replaced as primary language of Judaism |
In this alternate timeline, the Hebrew language developed differently than in our universe, undergoing a major linguistic shift that replaced it as the primary language of Judaism and Torah study.
Like in our reality, Hebrew originated from the Semitic alphabets, specifically evolving from the Canaanite alphabet during the Late Bronze Age. However, in this timeline, Hebrew was heavily influenced by the spread of Aramaic, which became the lingua franca of the Middle East following the rise of the Neo-Assyrian, neo-Babylonian, and Achaemenid empires. The adoption of the Hebrew language was mainly driven by religious and cultural considerations, as it was used to record and interpret the Jewish Bible, Tanakh.
Due to the growing influence of Aramaic and other Semitic languages, Hebrew began to lose its prominence as a primary language for Judaism and Torah study. Eventually, another Semitic language replaced Hebrew as the dominant language in Jewish religious practices. This linguistic shift deeply impacted the religious and cultural landscape of Jewish communities in the Middle East and had far-reaching consequences for their cultural and linguistic heritage.
Hebrew, like other Semitic languages, is written from right to left, and primarily uses consonantal letters. Unlike Aramaic, Hebrew adapted to include vowel markers (nikkud) to improve the pronunciation and understanding of its script. The language can be written in either cursive or lapidary scripts, with the latter commonly used for monumental inscriptions.
Despite being replaced as the primary language in Jewish religious practices, Hebrew continued to impact the development of other Semitic scripts and alphabets. For instance, the Imperial Aramaic script and its variations, such as Imperial Aramaic, Syriac, and Mandaean, were heavily influenced by Hebrew. The language has also been instrumental in the documentation and dissemination of the Jewish Bible, which includes passages written in Hebrew.
In recent times, Hebrew has experienced a resurgence in use among Jewish communities in the Middle East and beyond. Efforts have been made to preserve and revitalize the language, fostering a renewed interest in Hebrew literature, history, and culture. As a result, Hebrew remains an important language for millions of people, both as a native language and a second language for religious and cultural purposes.
