י
Yod
Hand, work, deed, power, worship
Yod (י) is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet — just a tiny stroke of the pen — yet it carries immense significance. Jesus himself referenced Yod when he said, 'Not one jot (yod) or tittle shall pass from the law' (Matthew 5:18), using this letter to emphasize that even the smallest detail of God's Word matters. Yod is the first letter of God's sacred name YHVH (יהוה) and also begins the names Yeshua (Jesus), Yisrael (Israel), and Yehudah (Judah). Its ancient pictograph was a hand or arm, representing work, power, and worship. Despite being the smallest letter, Yod is present in every other Hebrew letter — every letter contains at least one Yod-stroke, teaching that the hand of God is in all things.
How to Pronounce Yod
Yod makes a 'Y' sound, like the Y in 'yes' or 'yard.' It's the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter (yod), not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law.”
Ancient Pictographic Form
The ancient pictographic Yod was drawn as an arm and hand, often shown reaching downward. It was the smallest of the pictographs. It evolved through Phoenician into the Greek Iota (Ι) and the Latin letters I and J.
Pictograph: A hand or an arm reaching out
Spiritual Significance
Yod represents the hand of God at work in creation and in our lives. As the smallest letter, it teaches that great things come from small beginnings. Its numerical value of 10 connects to the Ten Commandments, the ten plagues, and the ten days of repentance. Every Hebrew letter is said to begin with a Yod-stroke, suggesting that the hand of God is the starting point of all things.
Connection to Scripture
Yod begins God's sacred name YHVH (יהוה), the name of Jesus/Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ), and Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל). Jesus said 'not one jot (yod) or tittle shall pass from the law' (Matthew 5:18), using Yod to represent the permanence and precision of God's Word.
Words That Begin with Yod
YHVH (Adonai)
The LORD
Yeshua
Jesus/Salvation
Yom
Day
Yad
Hand
Yisrael
Israel
Modern Hebrew Usage
In modern Hebrew, Yod is extremely common. It serves as both a consonant (Y sound) and a vowel marker (for 'ee' sounds). It appears in words like יוֹם (yom, day), יָד (yad, hand), יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael, Israel), and יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yerushalayim, Jerusalem).
People Also Ask
Why is Yod the most important Hebrew letter?
Yod is considered foundational because it's the first letter of God's name (YHVH), the smallest letter (yet referenced by Jesus as eternally significant), and present in every other Hebrew letter as a component stroke. It represents the 'hand of God' that is at work in all things.
What did Jesus mean by 'jot and tittle'?
In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said 'not one jot (yod) or tittle shall pass from the law.' The 'jot' is the Hebrew letter Yod (י) — the smallest letter. The 'tittle' refers to the tiny decorative strokes on Hebrew letters. Jesus was saying that even the smallest detail of God's Word is permanent and significant.
Fun Fact
The English word 'jot' comes directly from the Hebrew letter Yod (via the Greek Iota). When we say 'not one jot or tittle,' we're quoting Jesus' reference to the Hebrew alphabet!
Learn the Hebrew Alphabet Step by Step
Join 12,000+ Christians discovering the depth of Scripture through Biblical Hebrew. Daily lessons delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe Free