Winter 2020/Fuller Online

LG500

Giorgetti

LG500: HEBREW TOOLS FOR BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Andrew D. Giorgetti.

DESCRIPTION: This course offers a limited introduction to biblical Hebrew, including the writing system, basiclexicon,morphology, and syntax. The emphasis is on theresponsible employmentofstandard reference works, commentaries, and Bible softwareto the practice of Old Testament interpretation in ministry contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to recognize and write the Hebrew alphabet in square script; (2) to read and pronounce Hebrew words easily; (3) to work with standard Hebrew language tools (e.g., lexicons, concordances, analytical concordances, and grammars) in the service of Old Testament exegesis; (4) to discern the syntax of sentences with and without verbs; (5) to discern the meaning of words in sentences; and (6) to recognize the distinctive features of Hebrew poetry in contrast to prose.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING:

Accordance Bible software (see notes below for required packages and pricing).

Walker-Jones, Arthur. Hebrew for Biblical Interpretation. Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. ISBN: 978-1589830868, Pub. Price $37.00 [263 pp.].

Instructional videos available on Canvas.

Notes:

  1. Approved Bible software is mandatory in this course and will be used in other language and biblical studies courses. It can be useful, also, in subsequent ministry. Accordance is available for either PC or Mac (for system requirements, see https://www.accordancebible.com/System-Requirements).
  2. The Accordance Greek and Hebrew combined package (Academic Amber1 Bundle) is $499 with the Fuller discount. Alternatively, one may purchase individual Greek and Hebrew packages with Accordance; however, the full language package (Academic Amber 1 Bundle) includes the requisite software requirements for both LG500 (Hebrew Tools) and LG510 (Greek Tools). With the Fuller discount, the smaller language bundles are priced as follows: 1) The Hebrew Initial (Amber) Bundle is $300 (the Greek Upgrade to this Hebrew Initial Bundle is $250). 2) The Greek Initial (Amber) Bundle is $330 (the Hebrew Upgrade to this Greek Initial Bundle is $220). The Fuller coupon code will be distributed to Fuller students.
  3. Successful completion of the course requires ongoing access to the following reference works, all of which are available in Accordance: the text of the Hebrew Bible (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia); Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002 (HALOT); Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006; Jouon, P. and T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006; Waltke, B. K. and M. O’Connor, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Eisenbrauns, 1990.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brown, A. Philip and Bryan Smith. A Reader's Hebrew Bible. Zondervan, 2008. ISBN: 978-0310269748, Pub. Price $69.99.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Hendrickson, 2006. Compact edition: ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $89.95.

Vance, Donald A., George Athas, and Yael Avrahami. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: A Reader’s Edition. Hendrickson, 2015. ISBN: 978-1598563429, Pub. Price $59.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 200 pages of assigned reading [15 hours].
  2. How-to videos and other technological instruction [15 hours].
  3. Instructional videos [30 hours].
  4. Posting in forums and other online activities, 250-word initial posts and 100-word reply posts: Each week, we will engage in discussions (by means of forums) or engage in other online activities (e.g., wikis) related to the topics for the week. (20% of final grade). [This is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [40 hours].
  5. Mini-quizzes: frequent (e.g., weekly), small quizzes (10%). [10 hours].
  6. Quiz on the Hebrew alphabet (5%). [This is related to learning outcome 1] [2 hours].
  7. Oral exam on reading simple Hebrew texts aloud (10%). [This is related to learning outcome 2] [3 hours].
  8. Two tests related to nouns, conjunctions, prepositions, and/or verbs (20%). [This is related to learning outcomes 3 and 4] [20 hours].
  9. Exegetical exercises (15%). [This is related to learning outcomes 3, 4, 5, 6] [15 hours].
  10. Final exam (20%). {This is related to learning outcomes} [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. No Audits.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Biblical Hebrew (HB).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.