He (letter)

"He" (ה, 𐤄) is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It has a numerical value of 5.

Pronunciation

In Modern Hebrew, "He" typically represents the voiceless glottal fricative [h], similar to the "h" in the English word "house". However, when not followed by a vowel sound and without a mappiq (a dot inside the letter indicating it should be pronounced), it is often silent, serving as a vowel letter (a mater lectionis) indicating the presence of a vowel sound at the end of a word.

Historical Significance

"He" derives from the Phoenician letter "He" (𐤄). Its shape has evolved over time, but its basic form has remained recognizable. In ancient Hebrew inscriptions, the form of "He" is quite similar to its Phoenician ancestor.

Grammatical Use

Besides its phonetic value, "He" has grammatical functions. It can serve as a definite article prefix ("the"), similar to the English word "the". For instance, adding "He" to the beginning of the word "sefer" (book) creates "ha-sefer" (the book). It can also function as a interrogative particle at the beginning of a question.

Kabbalistic Significance

In Kabbalah, the letter "He" holds deep mystical significance, often associated with the divine name and divine breath. It is considered one of the letters that form the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the most holy name of God in Judaism. The letter is interpreted as representing the feminine aspect of the Divine and the immanence of God in creation.