Dataset
Tanakh Acronyms, Acrostics, and Telestics Searchable Database: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel
(2018)
Description
This Excel database provides a convenient tool for searching for acronyms (horizontal acrostics), and vertical acrostics/telestics in the Tanakh. There are two identically formatted tables in this 2022 updated file, the table in the Qere tab is based on the traditional qere readings, while the corresponding table in the Ketiv is based on the written ketiv readings. Each verse record displays orthographic word counts, consonantal letter counts, first letters of each Hebrew word, and last letters of each Hebrew word, both in traditional right-to-left sequence. Each verse-record is tagged by book name and chapter/verse reference, and each column-field may be searched and manipulated with Excel Auto-Filter. This 2022 update contains after the last verse of each chapter, a chapter-level summary, tagged with a final underline character, showing word and letter count sums. Each chapter-level record contains two extra Hebrew letter displays; the four columns of letters in the chapter records contain the following sequences:
Initial (First) = the initial letters of the first word of each verse,
Final (First) = the final letters of the first word of each verse,
Initial (Last) = the initial letters of the last word of each verse, and
Final (Last) = the final letters of the last word of each verse.
The characters in the Hebrew letter fields are separated by spaces, and searches may be done using Hebrew Unicode consonants. For example, a search for a Tetragrammaton acronym may be done by entering the sequence Yod-space-Heh-space-Waw-space-Heh, on a Unicode Hebrew-enabled keyboard; a search for a reversed Tetragrammaton acronym would simply involve entering the same sequence in reverse order.
This particular database contains every verse in the major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. It may be opened and used with Excel 2007 or later, or with generic spreadsheet software such as OpenOffice or LibreOffice. The Auto-Filter feature may also in be used to limit searches to a selected book or Hebrew letter column. To search in one particular column, click on the down-arrow in the column label of one of the Hebrew letter fields, select "Text Filters" and then "Contains". The custom filter entry box will allow input of the desired Unicode Hebrew consonants in the format outlined above, with separating spaces. If for any reason the records in a table are out of order, selecting an A to Z Auto-Filter sort in the "Verse/Chap" column will restore the table to its original order.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer 2018
Citation Information
Keith L. Yoder. "Tanakh Acronyms, Acrostics, and Telestics Searchable Database: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel" (2018) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/klyoder/44/