Hebrew 2 (May-June)

OT 1H03

This course is a continuation of OT 1G03 and continues the journey of learning Hebrew with the aim of enhancing the student’s capacity for study in the biblical texts and for interpretation of these texts. Building on the previous course, students will learn more grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the language of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. There will be continued emphasis on morphology (words and their forms) and syntax (how words fit together to make coherent sentences). Students will also continue to acquire a broad vocabulary for reading and translation and more skill will be developed in the use of lexicons. Pronunciation and oral reading will be practiced. The knowledge acquired should enable the student to read the simple prose and poetry of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in its original language.

N.B.: The study of Hebrew is challenging for most students but is very rewarding for those who persevere. You should plan on spending several hours every day listening to lectures, completing assignments, and reviewing. You cannot “set this course aside” for a week or two while you work on a paper for another course! The secret of success is to keep to a regular schedule of study, to complete your assignments carefully and on time, and to review what you have learned on a consistent basis. Because this is an accelerated summer course, you will need to be especially proactive to keep up learning new concepts.

Note: You must have some basic familiarity with computers if you choose to take an online course. You should be able to navigate web pages, make PDF documents, and upload these files.

Knowing…

  • To continue to build a solid basic vocabulary of Classical Hebrew words
  • To understand more of the basic forms of Hebrew words as they are used in various ways in sentences
  • To further understand the use of grammars and dictionaries in translating Hebrew texts

Being…

  • To embrace the value of understanding the original language in exegeting the biblical text
  • To enrich one’s understanding of another culture through knowledge of that culture’s language
  • To deepen one’s relationship with God through interacting with Scripture.

Doing…

  • To further develop skill in translating texts from the Hebrew Scriptures
  • To engage with the Scriptures in their original language and context