He (ה) – Old Testament Hebrew words that start with he

Quick reference

Hebrew Name:
הי
English Name:
he
Pronunciation:
heh
Letter:
ה
Speech Sound:
consonant
Numerical Value:
5

Pronunciation guide

The letter He has a gentle breathy sound, much like the “h” in the English word “hope.” Its sound is called a voiceless glottal fricative, meaning that it’s made by letting air flow from your throat, almost like a whisper, and you don’t use your vocal cords to say it.

When paired with a dot to its left (mappiq), it indicates the letter is to be pronounced even at the end of the word, where it might normally be silent. The He at the end of a word can also serve to indicate that the preceding vowel is long. In addition, when used with vowel points, the letter He can change its sound accordingly, as the vowel points direct the specific vocalization. For instance, a He with a patach underneath (הַ) would be pronounced “ha,” while a He with a qamets (הָ) would be pronounced “haw.”

Numerical significance

In the Hebrew numbering system (Gematria), the letter He represents the number five (5). Five has various meanings in Hebrew culture; it can symbolize grace and protection, as seen in the five fingers of the hand or the five books of the Torah, indicating a completeness in revelation.

Cultural and symbolic meaning

Historically, the letter He is thought to have depicted a man with raised arms, suggesting the act of revelation or behold. It’s a letter that also indicates breath or spirit. In Genesis, the letter He is added to Abram and Sarai’s names when God makes a covenant with them, transforming them to Abraham and Sarah, a symbolic act of conferring divine blessing and transformation ().