DESCRIPTION: This course comprises the first half of a two-quarter
introduction to biblical Hebrew, with the second half offered the next quarter.
Students enrolling in this course are expected to enroll in LG502B the
following quarter with the same instructor as transferring between sections is
not permitted.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
(1) read orally from the Hebrew text of the Old Testament; (2) write in a
standard biblical Hebrew script; (3) recognize basic vocabulary and
morphological features of biblical Hebrew; (4) use a lexicon for biblical
Hebrew; (5) translate short passages from the Hebrew text of the Old
Testament.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The written word of God in the Old Testament is a gift
to the church "to make us wise for salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15-16) and is to be
treasured and studied (Psalm 19:7-10). Indeed, those of us who aspire to teach
the Scriptures "will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1) and so are
called to deepen our understanding of the written word of God so that we might
render our best service to the people of God. By learning biblical Hebrew
students have the opportunity to enter into the thought-world of ancient
Israel, to understand the Old Testament in its primary language, and so to
deepen their own grasp of the God of the Bible as witnessed to by the Old
Testament.
COURSE FORMAT: The class meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions. Class time
will consist of lecture, reading, and translating from the Hebrew Bible,
translation exercises, and daily quizzes. Attendance is of paramount importance
for successfully completing this course and acquiring the skill of reading
biblical Hebrew. Students should expect to spend at least two hours of outside
preparation/homework for every hour of class time.
REQUIRED READING: