Expanding the Hebrew Alphabet – Part 4: Yod (י), Kaf/Chaf (כ/ך), Lamed (ל)
Learn Hebrew for Christians
Hi friend, welcome to Tuesday's letter celebration!
Today you're meeting three special Hebrew letters, including the smallest AND the tallest letters in the alphabet! Plus, you'll discover your first letter that changes shape at the end of words. These three letters appear in countless biblical words, and each one tells a beautiful story through its ancient picture. Let's grow your Hebrew family!
Your Letter Goals Today
What You'll Master:
Meet: Yod, Kaf/Chaf, and Lamed
Learn: Regular and final forms
Discover: Hand, palm, and staff pictures
Practice: Writing and recognition
Find: These letters everywhere!
Letter #10: י (Yod)
Meet Yod - The Tiny Giant
Name: Yod (YOHD)
Sound: "Y" as in "yes"
Number Value: 10
Ancient Picture: Hand/arm 🤚
Meaning: Work, make, throw, praise
How to Write י:
Think "Floating Comma"
Just a small curved stroke
Like an apostrophe
Smallest letter in Hebrew!
Practice Space:
י י י י יWhy Yod Matters:
Smallest but Mightiest!
Jesus said not one "jot" (yod) would pass away (Matthew 5:18)
First letter of God's name יהוה (YHVH)
Represents God's hand at work
Shows that small things matter!
Yod Words:
יָד (Yad) = Hand
יוֹם (Yom) = Day
יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua) = Jesus
יָם (Yam) = Sea
Spiritual Connection:
Yod reminds us:
God's hand is always working
Small acts of faith matter
His hand shapes our days
Letter #11: כ/ך (Kaf/Chaf)
Meet Kaf - The Open Palm
Name: Kaf (KAHF) or Chaf (KHAHF)
Sound: "K" with dot, "Kh" without
Number Value: 20
Ancient Picture: Open palm 🖐️
Meaning: Bend, open, allow, cover
Two Forms of Kaf:
Regular Form: כ
Used at beginning/middle of words
Can have dot (כּ = "k") or not (כ = "kh")
Final Form: ך
Used ONLY at end of words
Never has a dot
Always makes "kh" sound
How to Write:
Regular כ:
Curved line like backwards "C"
Small base at bottom
Final ך:
Straight vertical line |
That's it - simpler!
Practice Space:
כ כ כ | ך ך ךWhy Kaf Matters:
Open palm receives and gives
Represents blessing and openness
First letter with final form!
Shows humility (bending)
Kaf Words:
כֹּל (Kol) = All/every
כָּבוֹד (Kavod) = Glory
כֹּהֵן (Kohen) = Priest
מֶלֶךְ (Melech) = King (ends with ך!)
The Dot Difference:
כּ with dot = "K" sound (like "king") כ no dot = "Kh" sound (like "Bach")
Letter #12: ל (Lamed)
Meet Lamed - The Teacher's Staff
Name: Lamed (LAH-med)
Sound: "L" as in "love"
Number Value: 30
Ancient Picture: Shepherd's staff 🦯
Meaning: Teach, yoke, toward, learn
How to Write ל:
Think "Tall Lighthouse"
Vertical line going UP above other letters
Small base curve at bottom
Tallest Hebrew letter!
Practice Space:
ל ל ל ל לWhy Lamed Matters:
The Learning Letter!
Root of לָמַד (lamad) = to learn
Reaches highest (aspiring to learn)
Shepherd's tool for guiding
Points toward heaven
Lamed Words:
לֵב (Lev) = Heart
לֶחֶם (Lechem) = Bread
לַיְלָה (Laylah) = Night
לְ (Le) = To/for (very common!)
Spiritual Connection:
Lamed teaches us:
Reach high in learning
God shepherds through teaching
Heart (לֵב) connects to learning
Always growing upward!
Your Letter Collection Update
Letters You Know:
First Nine: א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט
Today's Three: י כ/ך ל
That's 12 letters - HALF the alphabet! 🎉
Reading Practice
Can You Read These?
יָד (Yad)
י = "y"
ָד = "ahd"
Say: "YAHD"
Means: Hand
כֹּל (Kol)
כֹּ = "koh"
ל = "l"
Say: "KOHL"
Means: All/every
לֵב (Lev)
לֵ = "layv"
ב = "v"
Say: "LAYV"
Means: Heart
מֶלֶךְ (Melech)
מֶ = "meh"
לֶ = "leh"
ךְ = "kh"
Say: "MEH-lekh"
Means: King (notice final ך!)
Community Challenge
Letter Hunt!
Look back at Hebrew words you've learned. Can you find:
י (Yod) in any words?
כ or ך (Kaf forms)?
ל (Lamed) reaching high?
Hint: Check שָׁלוֹם - see that tall ל in the middle?
Share which letters you spotted!
Memory Helpers
Picture Associations:
י (Yod):
Tiny hand reaching
"Yod is small like a jot"
God's pinky finger!
כ/ך (Kaf):
Open palm receiving
"Cup your hand" shape
Final form stands tall
ל (Lamed):
Lighthouse reaching up
Teacher's pointer
"Lamed loves learning"
Size Matters:
י = Smallest letter (but mighty!)
ל = Tallest letter (aspiring!)
כ/ך = Changes size at word's end
Your Growing Power
Today you learned three letters that each tell a story! Yod may be tiny but represents God's mighty hand. Kaf opens like a palm to receive and give. Lamed reaches highest because learning lifts us up. You're now halfway through the Hebrew alphabet!
Today's Letters:
י (Yod) = Y hand/work
כ/ך (Kaf) = K/Kh palm/bend
ל (Lamed) = L staff/teach
Your Challenge: Find these letters in Hebrew text today!
שָׁלוֹם until tonight's reading celebration!