BLA 520/220 Beginning Old Testament Hebrew
Cincinnati Christian University
3 credit hours, Monday 3:20-6:00
Fall semester 2010
Professor: Sara Fudge
Office: Presidents Hall
244-8445 office
sara.fudge@ccuniversity.edu
Syllabus
Course Description
This is the first semester of a one year-course focused on the study of the fundamentals of Old Testament Hebrew directed
toward developing translation skills. Learning the biblical languages is key to a thorough exegesis of the text.
Course Objectives
The student who satisfactorily completes the first semester of this course should be able to [These objectives support the
Bible outcome #1]:
•
vocalize Hebrew words
•
parse various parts of speech (verbs, nouns, adjectives)
•
understand basic Hebrew syntax for translation
•
have the beginnings of a working vocabulary
•
translate and grammatically explain the Hebrew exercises covered in class
Instructional Materials
Required
The Cambridge Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, Brian L. Webster. Cambridge University Press, 2009. (The student will
need to print the workbook, flash cards and paradigms found on the CD at the back of this textbook.)
Optional (These will be required second semester)
Holladay, William. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
1988.
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
Course Requirements
1.
Weekly Assignments – Weekly assignments will come from the workbook exercises found on the CD. After
completing the exercises, check your homework with the answer key.
2.
Quizzes - Quizzes will be given each week on vocabulary and selected points of grammar covered in class.
3.
Exams - There will be a midterm and a final exam. These exams will cover grammar, vocabulary and translations.
Preparation for these exams will merely be review if regular study has been consistent throughout the semester.
4.
Attendance - Regular attendance is required. The school’s attendance policy will be followed which allows a
student to miss six hours, two class periods, before being dropped. See Class Attendance Policy.
Study Hint: The demands of a language study require regular attention.
 It is more beneficial for your understanding and retention of the material to distribute your study-time into smaller
segments throughout the week, than to cram the material in at one sitting.
 Reread every Hebrew sentence you translate several times. Read it from the Hebrew, not your English translation.
 Learn your vocabulary words in groups of 4 or 5 words.
 All of the workbook exercises will not be assigned, but it is recommended that you complete all of the exercises.
 Read the chapter to be covered in class before you come to class.
Late work: Late work is discouraged and will carry a penalty of 10-50%. This applies to homework as well as late quizzes
and exams.
Class Procedure
Ideally the class will work to the following procedure. This may be adjusted depending on the progress and needs of the
class. A quiz will be given at the beginning of class followed by a time to review homework and answer questions. The
next section in Webster will be introduced with exercises to illustrate the new material. Class participation is very
important.
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Grading
Homework/Class Participation (Reading) . . . . 20%
Quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Mid-term Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30%
The professor reserves the right to alter the schedule including homework assignments, exams, quizzes, and lecture topics
at her discretion.
Course Agenda (subject to revision)
Lesson Date
Topics for discussion
Webster Chapter
1
8-23
The Signs and Sounds of Hebrew: Orthography and Pronounciation
1
2
8-30
Syllables: The Structural Girders of Hebrew
2
9-6
No Class: Labor Day
3
9-13
Nouns Part One: Gender, Number, State
3
4
9-20
Nouns Part Two: More Noun Patterns
4
5
9-27
Prepositions, Conjunction, Article, Interrogative, Direct Object
6
10-4
Pronouns, Pronominal Suffixes on Substantives and Prepositions
7
10-11
Vocabulary exam and Review
8
10-18
Mid-term Exam
9
10-25
Participles, Infinitive Construct
11
11-8
Selected Words v@@y@@@@@@# /ya#@ hN@#h! rva -hm~, Numbers
12
11-15
Introduction to Verbs; Qal Perfect
11-22
No Class: Thanksgiving Break
13
11-29
Qal Perfect: Weak Verbs
14
12-6
Vocabulary exam and Review
12-13
Final Exam
5
6
8
10
11
2
9
Bibliography for Hebrew
Hebrew Bible
BH Biblia Hebraica. 3rd ed. Eds. R. Kittel, et. al. Stuttgart: Privilegierte Wurttembergische
Bibelanstalt, 1937.
BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Eds. K. Elliger and W. Rudoplh. Stuttgart: Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft, 1967.
Interlinear Bibles
Fisch, Harold, ed. (English text) The Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem: Koren Publishers, 1992.
Green, J. P., ed. The Interlinear Bible: Hebrew/English. 3 vols. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,
1976.
Kohlenberger III, J. R. , ed. The NIV Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament. 4 vols. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1987.
Grammars
Chisholm, Robert B. A Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew: Grammar, Exegesis, and Commentary
on Jonah and Ruth. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2006.
Claisse-Walford, Nancy de. Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Textbook. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice
Press, 2002.
Davidson, A. B.
An Introductory Hebrew Grammar with Progressive Exercises in Reading,
Writing and Pointing. 26th rev. ed. By Mauchline. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1966.
Ellis, Robert Ray. Learning to Read Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Waco, TX: Baylor
University Press, 2006.
Fuller, Russell T. & Kyoungwon Choi. Invitation to Biblical Hebrew: A Beginning Grammar. Grand
Rapids: Kregel, 2006.
Garrett, Duane A., Jason S. DeRouchie. A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. B & H Publishing
Group, 2009.
Gesenius, F. W.; Kautzsch, E.; Cowley, A. E. Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammer. 2nd English ed. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1910, Reprinted 1983.
**This may be old but is very useful (once you figure out how to use it).
Greenburg, M. Introduction to Hebrew. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. 1965.
Jouon, P. Paul. Grammaire de l’Hebreu Biblique. 2nd ed. Institut Biblique Pontifical.
**CCU Library has an English translation of this grammar. 1947.
Kelley, Page H. Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.
Lambdin, Thomas O. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. New York: Scribner’s, 1971.
**This grammar goes into more detail than Weingreen to explain some of the more
difficult points of grammar.
Mansoor, Menahem. Biblical Hebrew Step by Step. vol. 1, 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 10th printing, 1991.
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Pratico, G.D. & M.V. Van Pelt. Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
________. Basics of Biblical Hebrew; Workbook. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
Ross, Allen. Introducing Biblical Hebrew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2001.
Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990.
Webster, Brian L. The Cambridge Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Weingreen, J. A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959.
Zvi, Ehud Ben, Maxine Hancock & Richard Beinert. Readings in Biblical Hebrew: An Intermediate
Textbook. London: Yale University Press, 1993.
Hebrew Syntax
Chisholm, Robert B. From Exegesis to Exposition: A practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew. Grand
Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.
Davidson, A. B. Hebrew Syntax. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1985.
Driver, S. R. A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock Publishers,
1892.
Fields, Lee. Hebrew for the Rest of Us. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.
Waltke, Bruce K. and O’Conner, M. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, IN.
Eisenbrauns, 1990.
**This work is good for expanded answers to questions on grammar and syntax.
Williams, Ronald J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1976.
**This user- friendly summary is very helpful and easy to read.
Lexicons
Brown, F.; Driver, S. R.; and Briggs, C. A., eds. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament
with an Appendix Containing the Biblical Aramaic. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1979.
**A bit bulky to use but very useful.
Davidson, Benjamin. The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson
Publishers,1990.
Halladay, William L. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1971.
**Easy to use giving the forms of the verb to help identify your form.
Vocabularies
Landes, George M. A Student’s Vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew: Listed According to Frequency and
Cognate. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1961.
_____________
Building Your Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary, 2001.
Mitchel, Larry A. A Student’s Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Concordances
Evan-Shoshan, Abraham. A New Concordance of the Old Testament Using the Hebrew and Aramaic
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Text. Jerusalem: Kiryat Sefer Publishing House, 1985.
Wigram, George V. The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970.
Analytical Helps & Misc.
Davidson, B. The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. 2nd ed. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1990.
Owens, J. J. Analytical Key to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1989.
**For an extensive bibliography on Hebrew, Aramaic, and other Semitic languages see
the bibliography at the end of the Waltke and O’Conner book referred to above
(Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax).
Murphy, Todd J. Pocket Dictionary: For the Study of Biblical Hebrew. Downers Grove, IL: Inter
Varsity Press, 2003.
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