Meaning of Ayin (ע) Hebrew Letter

Ayin is the sixteenth Hebrew letter. Historically it represented a voiced pharyngeal consonant and is traditionally associated with the eye and seeing.

Pronunciation and form

Pronounced: AH-yin. Sound: ʿ / guttural. Historically pharyngeal; often weak in Modern Hebrew

Traditional meaning and association

Ayin is traditionally associated with Eye; related teaching associations include See / Perceive. These traditional pictures should be distinguished from the letter’s role as a consonant in actual Hebrew words.

Biblical Hebrew word examples

עץ (Etz) — Tree Genesis 1:11
עם (Am) — People Genesis 11:6
עבד (Eved) — Servant Genesis 9:25
עולם (Olam) — Everlasting / Age Genesis 3:22

Scripture connections and Messiah

עץ — ETZ · TREE
Ayin begins etz, tree. The New Testament speaks of Jesus bearing sins on the tree.
1 Peter 2:24
עולם — OLAM · ETERNAL
Ayin begins olam, everlasting or age. John 3:16 centers eternal life in the Son.
John 3:16

Psalm 119 study passage

The acrostic stanza for Ayin is Psalm 119:121–128. Read the first verse of this stanza in the TOC Bible reader.