DESCRIPTION:

This is the first half of a two-quarter introduction to biblical Hebrew; the second half of the course will be offered in the Winter quarter. Students enrolling in the Fall quarter are expected to complete their study in the Winter quarter with the same instructor. No transferring between sections is permitted. The course will seek to develop the mastery of elementary Hebrew grammar and vocabulary, and translation of exercises from Farfán's Gramática elemental del hebreo bíblico as well as provide an introduction to the use of reference material for the reading and translation of Hebrew. At the end of the course, the student will be able to decline Hebrew nouns, adjectives, and pronouns and parse the basic Qal perfect (QTL) verb, will have developed a vocabulary of around 300 Hebrew nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, and verbs and be able to translate simple Hebrew sentences.

The study of biblical Hebrew will help students to better handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Almost two thirds of the Scriptures were written in Hebrew. Learning this language will open a window into the culture and history of the biblical text, enabling us to deal with Scripture more correctly. In this introductory course the students will lay the linguistic foundations for future exegetical courses.

This course will meet twice a week for two hour sessions. We will introduce two new lessons from the textbook in each class by means of class presentations. Each lesson will be followed by selected exercises, which will be examples for students' homework.

Brown, Francis; S. R. Driver; and Charles A. Briggs, eds. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody: Hendrickson. 1979.

Elliger, Karl and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990.

Farfán Navarro, Enrique. Gramática elemental del hebreo bíblico. Estella (Navarra): Editorial Verbo Divino, 1999.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

Williams, Ronald J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1976.

1. Attend class on time every session.

2. Read the lessons in the textbook that will be covered that day.

3. Memorize the vocabulary that is presented in the lessons.

4. Complete the exercises that are assigned and be prepared to hand them in on request (10%).

5. Take four (4) quizzes during the term (20%).

6. Take a midterm (30%) and a final exam (40%).

None. No audits.

The two-course sequence meets M. Div. core requirement in Hebrew (HEB).