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.

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.]

1. Attendance and Participation (5%)

2. Homework (15%)

3. Quizzes (Vocabulary and Grammar) (LG502A - 30%; LG502B - 25%)

4. LG502B only: Hebrew Text Presentation (5%)

5. Midterm exam (25%)

6. Final exam (25%)