# Hewbrew-English translation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 9, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127 "2004-04-09T04:34:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ryanhooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryanhooper)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/1 "2004-04-09T04:34:51Z")
Anybody out there speak Hebrew or have a good dictionary? I am trying to find the meaning of the word “bekor” (I don’t know how to render it properly in ASCII, it has the e with the little ‘u’ over it and the o with the little upside-down ‘u’ over it.) Also, I’m looking for the hebrew word that means “beloved son/chosen son/only son.” I believe this is all one word. Help.
“The ACLU is the biggest threat currently inside the United States.”
Bill O’Reilly, The O’Reilly Factor, Nov. 6 2003.
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/2 "2004-04-09T04:42:23Z")
bekor = ‘first-born boy’.
beloved son = ben ahov
chosen son = ben bahir
only son = ben yahid
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/3 "2004-04-09T04:45:14Z")
The name “Benjamin” means “son of the right (hand).” Typically, the metaphor of “being at the right hand” meant “being in a place of favor.”
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### Author:  [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/4 "2004-04-09T05:01:10Z")
And only 'cause this thread is open and I might get some help…
I was watching _Prince of Egypt_ the other night and wondered what Moses’ mother is singing to him in Hebrew. I seen translations for the chorus in Hebrew for the song _If You Believe_ later in the film but not for this part. I Googled around and got lots of lyrics sites and translation services.
The lyrics, at least from the sub-titles, are:
Yaldi Hatov Veh Harach
Al Tirah Veh Al Tifchad
Any help is more than I was getting…
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### Author:  [@ryanhooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryanhooper)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/5 "2004-04-09T05:01:12Z")
Sounds pretty definitive. Thank you. I am a little surprised that there are three different words for the terms I thought were trans. from one word. Is it possible that contemporary hebrew has made three words where previously there was one?
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/6 "2004-04-09T05:15:32Z")
I think that means something like “My boy, the good and the gentle, on trouble and on fear.”
**ryanhooper** , would you mind explaining what exactly you are talking about?
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### Author:  [@ryanhooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryanhooper)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/7 "2004-04-09T05:22:43Z")
I am reviewing an academic paper on sacrifice motifs in the new testament. The paper mentions a translation from Hebrew of a term meaning “beloved son/chosen son/only son.” I was curious about the original Hebrew.
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/8 "2004-04-09T05:29:29Z")
> [@Jomo Mojo](#):
>
> I think that means something like “My boy, the good and the gentle, on trouble and on fear.”
correction–it means “My good, gentle boy–have no trouble, don’t be afraid”
You translated the word “al” as “on” (Which is correct if Al is spelled with the letter Ayin–but if Al is spelled with the letter aleph, it means “don’t’” )
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/9 "2004-04-09T14:39:16Z")
> [@MonkeyMensch](#):
>
> And only 'cause this thread is open and I might get some help…
>
> I was watching _Prince of Egypt_ the other night and wondered what Moses’ mother is singing to him in Hebrew. I seen translations for the chorus in Hebrew for the song _If You Believe_ later in the film but not for this part. I Googled around and got lots of lyrics sites and translation services.
>
> The lyrics, at least from the sub-titles, are:
>
> Yaldi Hatov Veh Harach
> Al Tirah Veh Al Tifchad
>
> Any help is more than I was getting…
The prefix “ha” before a word means “the.”
The prefix “veh” (it’s a prefix, not a separate word) means “and.”
_yaldi_ = my child
_tov_ = good
_veharach_ (it’s one word) and the gentle
_al_ do not
_tirah_ be afraid
_tifchad_ be frightened.
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hewbrew-english-translation/239127/10 "2004-04-09T14:48:57Z")
Thank you, **zev\_steinhardt**.
That’s a seriously terrific response.