Quick Answer: The 12 Hebrew Months
The Hebrew Calendar Months:
1. Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) - tish-REI - September/October
2. Cheshvan (חֶשְׁוָן) - chesh-VAHN - October/November
3. Kislev (כִּסְלֵו) - kis-LEV - November/December
4. Tevet (טֵבֵת) - te-VET - December/January
5. Shevat (שְׁבָט) - she-VAT - January/February
6. Adar (אֲדָר) - ah-DAHR - February/March
7. Nisan (נִיסָן) - nee-SAHN - March/April
8. Iyar (אִיָּר) - ee-YAHR - April/May
9. Sivan (סִיוָן) - see-VAHN - May/June
10. Tammuz (תַּמּוּז) - tah-MOOZ - June/July
11. Av (אָב) - ahv - July/August
12. Elul (אֱלוּל) - eh-LOOL - August/September
Note: The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, so months align with both the moon and the sun.
Introduction to the Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it aligns with both the moon (lunar) and the sun (solar). It has 12 months, with some years having 13 months (leap years). Understanding Hebrew months is essential for reading biblical dates and understanding Jewish festivals.
Key Insight: The Hebrew calendar begins in the month of Tishrei (around September/October), which is when Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year) occurs. However, the biblical year originally began in Nisan (around March/April), the month of Passover. The months alternate between 29 and 30 days, and a leap month (Adar II) is added approximately every 3 years to keep the calendar aligned with the solar year.
The 12 Hebrew Months: Complete List
Here are all 12 Hebrew months with pronunciation, biblical names, and their approximate Gregorian calendar equivalents:
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Pronunciation | Gregorian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | תִּשְׁרֵי | Tishrei | tish-REI | Sep/Oct |
| 2 | חֶשְׁוָן | Cheshvan | chesh-VAHN | Oct/Nov |
| 3 | כִּסְלֵו | Kislev | kis-LEV | Nov/Dec |
| 4 | טֵבֵת | Tevet | te-VET | Dec/Jan |
| 5 | שְׁבָט | Shevat | she-VAT | Jan/Feb |
| 6 | אֲדָר | Adar | ah-DAHR | Feb/Mar |
| 7 | נִיסָן | Nisan | nee-SAHN | Mar/Apr |
| 8 | אִיָּר | Iyar | ee-YAHR | Apr/May |
| 9 | סִיוָן | Sivan | see-VAHN | May/Jun |
| 10 | תַּמּוּז | Tammuz | tah-MOOZ | Jun/Jul |
| 11 | אָב | Av | ahv | Jul/Aug |
| 12 | אֱלוּל | Elul | eh-LOOL | Aug/Sep |
Biblical vs. Modern Month Names
In the Bible, months were often numbered rather than named. The modern Hebrew month names come from the Babylonian calendar, adopted during the exile:
Biblical Numbering System
In the Bible, months are often referred to by number:
First month: Nisan (נִיסָן) - "the month of Aviv" (Exodus 12:2)
Second month: Iyar (אִיָּר) - "the second month" (Genesis 7:11)
Seventh month: Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) - "the seventh month" (Leviticus 23:24)
Note: The biblical year began in Nisan (the month of Passover), but the modern Jewish calendar year begins in Tishrei (Rosh HaShanah).
Modern Hebrew Month Names
The modern names come from Babylonian origins:
Most Hebrew month names (Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul) were adopted from the Babylonian calendar during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE). These names appear in post-exilic biblical books like Esther, Nehemiah, and Zechariah.
The Hebrew Calendar System
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar with unique features:
Lunisolar Calendar
The Hebrew calendar follows both the moon (lunar) and the sun (solar). Each month begins with the new moon (Rosh Chodesh), but the year is adjusted to align with the solar year through leap months.
Leap Years
Approximately every 3 years, a 13th month (Adar II) is added to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons. This ensures that Passover always occurs in the spring and other festivals occur in their proper seasons.
Rosh Chodesh (New Month)
רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ
Rosh Chodesh
"Head of the month" - The beginning of each Hebrew month, marked by the new moon. This was a significant time in biblical Israel (Numbers 10:10, 28:11-15).
Biblical Significance of Hebrew Months
Many Hebrew months are associated with important biblical events and festivals:
Nisan (נִיסָן) - The Month of Passover
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים
Hachodesh hazeh lakhem rosh chodashim
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months" (Exodus 12:2)
Nisan is the first month of the biblical year and the month of Passover, when the Israelites were delivered from Egypt.
Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) - The Month of Rosh HaShanah
בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ
Bachodesh hashvi'i be'echad lachodesh
"In the seventh month, on the first day of the month" (Leviticus 23:24)
Tishrei is the seventh month of the biblical year but the first month of the modern Jewish calendar year. It contains Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
Practical Tips for Learning Hebrew Months
How to Practice
- Memorize the 12 months: Start with the months that contain major festivals (Nisan, Tishrei)
- Practice pronunciation: Say each month name aloud, emphasizing the stressed syllable
- Learn the festivals: Associate each month with its biblical festivals and events
- Study biblical references: Look up verses mentioning specific months to see them in context
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