A Rare Book: ‘’Hebrew is Greek’’ by Joseph E. Yahuda

by Admin on October 6, 2011 · Market Analysis, Rare Book Education

In a recent article, Rare Books: What makes them rare, we mentioned the nine reasons a book may become rare and in demand,with a high  monetary value. One of the nine reasons mentioned was Scarcity. Scarcity is the factor that has driven the value to the book, ‘’Hebrew is Greek’’  by Joseph Ezekiel Yahuda, to high values.

For about 30  years, the genius Jewish researcher Joseph Ezekiel Yahuda compared 3 languages:  Jewish, Arabic and Ancient Greek Homeric. Finally, in the year 1982, in London UK, he published a 680-page book titled ’’ Hebrew is Greek’’. Suprisingly, most of the copies of this book have mysteriously disappeared. They disappeared from bookstores and most libraries, leaving only very few copies available. This scarcity gives the book the prospect to have increasing value as the years pass. It should be noted that in 2009 the book’s value was about 500 USD while today, two years later, the value of this book on the Amazon online bookstore is currently 1500 USD.

The brilliant Joseph Ezekiel Yahuda, was born in Jerusalem in 1900. He was a Jewish lawyer who practiced in London, as well as a freelance author, and a teacher of linguistics of Hebrew at the Judaic school of Tangiers. He was a Jew by nationality and religion, who was well versed in the Old Testament, the ancient and modern Jewish language, half of the Koran, the ancient and modern Arabic language, and French, English and Latin.

After becoming familiar with the Greek language, Yahuda learned the ancient Homeric Greek. He then decided to start research  to compare the relationship between the  Hebrew, Arabic and ancient Greek languages. His research took him about 30 years, as he compared the three languages from many aspects and in many ways. Finally in 1982 he published in London a 680-page book called ‘’Hebrew is Greek’’. (Becket Publications Oxford, 1982, ISBN 0-7289-0013-0). It should be noted that in the book he proves that Arabic is also Greek, but this is not reflected in the title, by economy.

The foreword of the book is by the  Professor Saul Levin, of the Ancient languages of the University of New York. In his foreword Dr Levin states that in Yahuda’s book there is overwhelming evidence which proves that Hebrew, actually Biblical Hebrew, is camouflaged Greek. He goes on to say that their difference is merely found in the pronunciation of the languages. In this book, there are many examples which prove how the Jewish words are linked with Greek words. It is also stated that the Jewish, Christian and Islamic civilizations are the three pillars of modern civilization, which all have an ancient Greek foundation in common.

Why and how did the book disappear? The answer remains an enigma. If one searches the well known libraries of the world, the book may not be found.  The Oxford library has one copy, but strangely enough, this copy has been on-loan for many years. If curiosity is aroused as to what the book  is all about, electronic pdf versions of this book are available on the Internet. However for the real and original book one is required to pay dearly.

Joseph E. Yahuda died in Westcott, Surrey UK in 1995. In his lifetime, he wrote three other books besides “Hebrew is Greek”, but none of them have fetched a value as high as it. One never knows however, if and when these books will become expensive to own, as another factor for a book to be classified as rare depends on who has written it.  There is potential therefore, as one of Yahuda’s books has certainly gained a great monetary value.

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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }

Isaac Bartolomei December 21, 2023 at 7:53 pm

Does anyone have any information on how professor Yahuda passed away? I remember reading somewhere that he was murdered a La John Lennon… is that accurate ?

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BP Beach September 1, 2023 at 9:48 pm

I have a copy of this book and am interested in selling it. Please let me know if you are interested. Thank you.

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Gerorges Luiz Segundo November 5, 2023 at 6:28 pm

i have interest in acquiring your copy, how much do you want for it?

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Alexander December 27, 2023 at 2:04 am

I have been looking for this book for more than a decade and I would appreciate if I can purchase it from you. Please contact me on my email [email protected]

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Θεοχάρης Κοτσινονός May 6, 2022 at 6:37 pm

Ενδιαφέρομαι για το εν λόγω βιβλίο, παρακαλώ οποιος μπορεί να το διαθέσει ας μου αποστείλει mail.Σας Ευχαριστώ!

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Mj September 2, 2021 at 10:48 am

I have the original 1st . what is it worth.

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Gerorges Luiz Segundo November 5, 2023 at 6:29 pm

Do you want to sell it?

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Gerorges Luiz Segundo November 5, 2023 at 6:29 pm

Do you have any interest in selling it?

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Des June 4, 2021 at 3:42 pm

If you need a copy I will make copies, but I kind of misplaced it right now for my house is a mess due to Construction but it is for sure in my house. I was luckier I paid under 1500. I think 1100. Same exact book. When I find it I will post that I will make a copy for whoever wants it. It will be the cost of the ink and paper only.

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georgios July 1, 2021 at 12:41 pm

I would love to have a copy if you ever find it!

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Peter August 3, 2021 at 7:29 am

You can download the book from the internet

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Cletis July 14, 2021 at 1:08 pm

I would appreciate a copy of Hebrew is Greek. Gladly, pay the ink and paper cost.

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Yaakov S. Kupitz May 30, 2021 at 2:16 pm

Joseph Yahuda`s book ‘Hebrew is Greek’ is a great achievement indeed, but it demands painstaking studies on the part of the reader in order to appreciate it, e.g., he must be fluent in Biblical Hebrew as well as in Ancient Greek (let alone English). Yahuda refers frequently to Liddell-Scott-Jones` Greek Lexicon (LSJ) which is very helpful for those who are not fluent in Ancient Greek (as me –Yahuda says that he studied Ancient Greek with the help of this lexicon). Having a 28 years old perspective on the subject (on which I embarked before becoming aware of Yahuda` book), I can judge that the book can be corrected in many details, but the basic precept is sound: Biblical Hebrew has many Greek loan words. It should be mentioned that Yahuda has a fore runner: Maurice Vernes ‘Les Emprunts de la Bible Hebraiqus au Grec et au Latin’, Paris 1914; Vernes observes circa 300 Greek loans in Biblical Hebrew. This French book is seemingly overlooked by Yahuda. Both books are fortunately available online in Internet Archive. Yahuda claims that Arabic has many Greek loan as well, but this must be judged by one who is fluent in Arabic. Anyway, my poor Arabic allows me to observe some Greek loans in it, e.g., Ar. ruch ‘go, walk, come’ seems to be loaned from Gr. erchomai-stem ‘go’.

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Irene January 18, 2021 at 9:57 pm

I own this rare book. and I wanna sell it, but ebay and amazon does not look so safe to me.
If any is interested, preferably located in Greece I would be happy to make a deal.

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Admin January 19, 2021 at 12:07 am

Hi Irene,
Will have one of our representatives in Greece get in-touch. Thank you for reaching out.

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Peter Vlahakis May 9, 2021 at 9:43 pm

Adonis Georgiadis will buy it,

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Evan October 16, 2023 at 10:31 am

I would like to get hold of this book. Has anyone got a spare one?

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Christos Ioannides June 9, 2023 at 10:46 am

Hi! Do you still have that book?

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Peter Vlahakis October 27, 2020 at 5:54 am

I do have two of those books new ones
One however, with out the cover
I bought them 7 years ago one from England, one from USA through Amazon.com
Another one that I paid for it through Amazon as well, never arrived never got refund,
Regards

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georgios July 1, 2021 at 12:42 pm

where in England did you find it? I want to find one too

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James Thompson July 8, 2021 at 6:46 am

Hello-

I willing to buy one of your copies !! Please , contact me at : yahmes1983@ gmail. Com

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Kathy January 3, 2022 at 11:43 am

My husband is a health professional of 20 years and acquired two copies of this book after learning about it through a random encounter with a very old professor of linguistics in 2009.
One is in excellent to mint condition – the other in excellent condition with penciled notes. Both 1st edition. Please reach out if interested as we are willing to sell.

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Cletis March 24, 2022 at 3:26 am

Hi, do you still have copies of Hebrew is Greek Book for sale? A rare book and looking high and low for copy. If so, how much for a copy, thanks.

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Christos Ioannides June 9, 2023 at 10:49 am

Hello,

Are those books still available?

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Peter March 31, 2019 at 6:16 pm

The last one i’ve Seen for sale was at A
Mason.com $12,000 us 2 years ago,

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Kip September 20, 2018 at 8:08 pm

I found this book in my old house library. Didn’t know it is worth that much.

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Ellejay December 12, 2018 at 9:31 pm

Would you be willing to make copies?

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Howard September 7, 2018 at 10:13 pm

I believe the rereity of this particular book (Hebrew is Greek) is due to: social political inperiority amongst the western zionist cultures, unwilling to relinquish their dominance over historical evolution of historical events across the world. Eventually, factual truth will prevail and false naratives orcistrated by a powerful minority will be exposed for all to see. The dominos are falling, the religious naratives orchistrated to deceive and dominate various races and cultures throughout the world is at a end. The prophasies of Biblical revelations are not to impict destruction. But, enlightenment of truth, the ultimate evolution of the generation of logic and reason. The intentional censorship of literature such ass (Hebrew is Greek), etc. is useless. Unless physical present throughout the planet are permanently removed from from existence, the true will eventually expose itself to the inhabitance of this planets inhabitance. The life of the lie will determine the degree of its punishment, and the penalty will most likely match ones punishment. Saying this, the burner of books and truth will surely burn themselves.

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DESPINA September 24, 2019 at 2:32 am

THAT’S FOR SURE I AGREE. THE TRUTH CAN HIDE FOR SO LONG ANYWAY WE MUST FEEL SORRY EVEN FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO STEAL OUR HISTORY BECAUSE ITS NOT ONLY HISTORY THEY ARE STEALING. THEY ARE STEALING THE QUALITY OF LIFE. TAKING THE DEMONS SIDE TO DESTROY THE WORLD INCLUDING THEMSELVES AND WHEN THEY MEET THEIR GOD, THEY WILL SCREAM BUT IT WILL BE TOO LATE..

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Despina December 22, 2017 at 8:52 pm

Its hard to, you may have to be lucky to get a hold of somebody, I downloaded the pages but its too many. there were translattions written on the side because we don’t speak hebrew. but I believe the person had said you have to understand english greek and hebrew. The main book is in English but there is Greek and hebrew too to describe certain words ( most likely the etymology of them) not sure. I wish you luck but right now I can’t find where my dad put them, he has such a library. Where to begin I don’t know. If I ever do I’ll look for this blog to write see if I can make a copy and just for the cost of the ink to print it out

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DESPINA September 24, 2019 at 2:36 am

ARABIC TOO. YOU HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE LANGUAGES. GREEK ARABIC HEBREW AND ENGLISH TO READ IT. HIDING IT AND MAKING IT UNAFFORDABLE IS A HINT THEY ARE SCARED OF PEOPLE READING THIS BOOK. THEY ALSO BURNED THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA AND BLAMED IT ON THE ARABS. IT WAS EASY TO BLAME THE ARABS BECAUSE THE ARABS WERE KNOWN TO DESTROY ANYTHING OF PROGRESS BUT DESPITE THAT, IT WASN’T THEM.

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John Ntamas November 6, 2017 at 11:36 am

How can one got a hold of thiw particular book?

Thank You

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Manolis Heliotis October 15, 2020 at 5:11 am

I ordered this book on 25 August 2020 through Amazon. The bookstore was ErgodeBooks in the US. They have an excellent reputation. The price of the book was just over £1500. ErgodeBooks informed me yesterday that they dispatched it the next day. It was meant to arrive by 12 October due to Corona virus etc. It never did. They will refund me, that is not the problem. The bookseller is obviously descent. They of course don’t have a replacement. I was told before by another person “good luck getting it”. I didn’t believe them. I don’t believe in conspiracies, particularly about a book. It’s an academic book. I have a deep interest in the Greek language as a hobby and languages as a whole. I am a medical doctor and have no conspiracy theories. I wanted to have the original to study but also to have as a collectors item. I have a lot of Jewish friends who I wanted to work the book through, who had an immediate interest and fascination when I mentioned, as they are versed in Hebrew and I in Greek. Suffice to say, the prediction of my friend was correct. The book never got to me. Good luck getting it. This book seems to disappear in transit. Perhaps it was co-incidence. But it does seem that it is as rare as hens teeth and the originals, like in my case seem to disappear in transit after they leave the safety of the previous owner. It is genuinely sad that the original piece of this linguistically fascinating work is getting lost.

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