I get this question repeatedly. Although my mission is to teach Hebrew, here is what language scholars say: Hebrew is generally considered to be the older language compared to Arabic. Hebrew has ancient roots dating back to at least the 10th century BCE, with evidence of its usage in ancient texts such as the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). The Hebrew language has evolved over thousands of years, undergoing significant changes from its ancient form to its modern revival in the late 19th century. Arabic, on the other hand, emerged as a distinct language around the 4th century CE. It evolved from earlier Semitic languages and was strongly influenced by the Arabic dialects spoken by the Bedouin tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The Quran, which was revealed in the 7th century CE, played a crucial role in the development and standardization of the Arabic language. While Hebrew and Arabic share a common Semitic linguistic heritage, they have different historical trajectories and influences, leading to distinct characteristics: 1 Ancient Origins: Hebrew has a documented history dating back to ancient times, with texts written in ancient Hebrew. In contrast, Arabic as a distinct language emerged later and developed alongside the rise of Islam. 2 Script: Hebrew has its own unique alphabet, while Arabic has a distinct script with its own set of characters. The Hebrew alphabet has a direct lineage from the ancient Phoenician script, whereas the Arabic script evolved from the Nabatean script. 3 Vocabulary: Hebrew and Arabic have different vocabularies, reflecting their historical and cultural contexts. While they share some common vocabulary due to linguistic connections, each language has its own unique words and expressions. 4 Influence: Arabic has had a significant influence on other languages due to the spread of Islam and the Arabic-speaking Islamic civilization. It has left a lasting impact on various languages, including Spanish, Persian, and Urdu. Hebrew, on the other hand, has had a more limited influence, primarily on Jewish dialects and religious terminology. Hope this helps understand the origins of these beautiful languages. #peace #middleeast #hebrew #arabic #fyp - @hebrewbyinbal