Details for Old Testament Hebrew I

This unit provides a foundation in understanding and reading Old Testament Hebrew.

The unit Old Testament Hebrew I is part of the subject area Biblical Studies and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

At the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew, including sentence structure, binyanim, and basic aspects of syntax;
2. understand basic issues in interpreting the Hebrew Bible;
3. confidently and competently use translation tools, such as dictionaries and concordances;
4. confidently read and exegete simple portions of the MT;
5.  translate simple Old Testament Hebrew texts into English

Subject Content

1. Hebrew aleph-bet; dagesh and begad-kepat letters; vowels and matres lectionis
2. Masoretes and the MT
3. Nouns and adjectives
4. Case, number and gender
5. The triliterality of Hebrew words; definite article
6. Prepositions
7. Verbal patterns and aspect
8. Object suffixes; independent personal pronouns and particles
9.  Construct chains 

Assessment Methods

In class test, translation assignment, exam.

Prescribed Text

• Athas, G. and I.M. Young. Elementary Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Sydney: Ancient Vessel Press, 2007.

Representative References

Arnold, B.T. A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge: CUP, 2003.

Dobson, J.H.  Learn Biblical Hebrew, 2^nd edition.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2005.

Kautzsch, E. (ed.). Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, 2nd Edition. Oxford: Clarendon, 2006.

Kittel,  B.P. Victoria Hoffer and Rebecca Abts Wright,  Biblical Hebrew – 2^nd edition.   New Haven:  Yale University Press, 2004.

Ellis, R. Learning to Read Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2006.

Pratico, G.D. and M.V. van Pelt. Basics of Biblical Hebrew: Grammar, 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.

Scott, W.R. A Simplified Guide to BHS: Critical Apparatus, Masora, Accents, Unusual Letters & Other Markings, 4^th edition. Richland Hills TX:  D & F Scott Publishing, 2007

Van der Merwe, C.H.J., J. A. Naudae, and J.H. Kroze. A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.

Van Pelt, M.V.  The Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew.  Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 2003.