The role of Hebrew in the linguistic repertoire of Jewish milieux in the Hellenistic and early Roman period: new insights from the New Testament

Abstract This study addresses the use and diffusion of Hebrew in Palestine and Jewish environments during the Hellenistic and early Roman period (roughly, 3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE). While the central role of Greek and Aramaic in the linguistic repertoire of the Jewish population has long been accepted, the use of Hebrew was gradually acknowledged only in the 20th century, especially since the discovery of the Qumran scrolls. Based on data coming from the New Testament, the discussion provides support for the diffusion of Hebrew as a spoken language and contributes to shedding light on the well-known contact-induced similarities that characterized Hebrew and Aramaic at that time. Furthermore, the analysis of a few Hebrew Bible citations occurring in the New Testament reveals that the former could be interpreted with reference to later Hebrew usage, as (also) attested in Mishnaic Hebrew, providing further support for the active role of post-biblical Hebrew in the linguistic repertoire of Jewish translators of Hellenistic-Roman times.