Fall 2012-Winter 2013/Pasadena
LG502A/B
Bunn
LG502A/B: BEGINNING HEBREW. Daniel D. Bunn Jr.
DESCRIPTION: This two-quarter introduction to biblical Hebrew consists of the
first half, offered in Fall, and the second half, offered in Winter quarter.
Students enrolling in this course must enroll in both LG502A and LG502B with
the same instructor (transferring between sections is not permitted).
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Interpreting the Bible in a critically
responsible and faithful way is vitally important in guiding our lives together
as Christians and in whatever ministry God calls us to. The ability to read,
translate, and analyze the text of the Bible in its original languages greatly
enhances our search to discern God's message to us. With a basic understanding
of the Hebrew language, the Old Testament comes alive in new ways and allows us
to open ourselves to more of what God may be saying to us through God's
word.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this two-quarter course
will have demonstrated that they are able to do the following, to the level
specified by published standards of the Biblical Division: (1) read aloud
from the Hebrew Bible; (2) write legibly in a standard Hebrew script;
(3) recognize and use high frequency vocabulary of biblical Hebrew;
(4) identify basic word forms, grammatical structures, and syntax;
(5) translate short passages from the Hebrew Bible using a standard
lexicon and other tools.
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, quizzes, and tests. Attendance is very important for
successfully completing this course and towards 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:
- Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English
Lexicon of the Old Testament, with an appendix, containing the Biblical
Aramaic. Hendrickson, 1996 [1906]. ISBN-13: 978-1565632066 ($34.95).
- Elliger, K., and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. 5th ed.
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997. ISBN-13: 978-3438052223 ($39.99).
- Green, Jennifer S., G. Brooke Lester, and Joseph F. Scrivner. Handbook
to A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Nashville: Abingdon, 2005. ISBN-13:
978-0687008346 ($16.00).
- Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Revised Edition.
Nashville: Abingdon, 1995. ISBN-13: 978-0687157860 ($40.00).
- See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Chisholm, Jr., Robert B. From Exegesis to Exposition: A
Practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew. Baker, 1998. ISBN-13:
978-0801021718 ($28.00).
- Joüon, P., and T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. 2nd
ed. Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-8876536298 ($80.00).
- Gesenius, W., and E. F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar.
2nd ed. [orig. pub. 1910; Mineola, NY: Dover, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0198154068
($24.95).
- Tucker, W. Dennis, Jr. Jonah: A Handbook on the Hebrew Text. Baylor
University Press, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-1932792669 ($24.95).
- Williams, Ronald J., and John C. Beckman. Williams' Hebrew Syntax: An
Outline. 3d ed. Toronto: University of Toronto, 2007. ISBN-13:
9780802094292 ($27.95).
- Recommended Vocabulary Resource: Van Pelt, Miles V. Old Testament Hebrew
Vocabulary Cards. Zondervan, 2004. ($17.99). [Van Pelt's cards are keyed to
Seow's text (you may have to re-sort them). Of course, making your own set of
vocabulary cards provides additional writing practice and may help you learn
the words better.]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Attendance and Participation (5%)
- Homework (15%)
- Quizzes (Vocabulary and Grammar) (LG502A - 30%; LG502B - 25%)
- LG502B only: Hebrew Text Presentation (5%)
- Midterm exam (25%)
- Final exam (25%)
PREREQUISITES: None; no audits.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The two-course sequence meets MDiv core
requirement in Hebrew (HEB).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2012)