Interpreting the Hebrew Bible demands reverent precision—where grammar, syntax, and context form the foundation of theological insight. Hermeneutical principles like the grammatical-historical method, canonical awareness, genre sensitivity, and lexical semantics ensure that meaning arises from the inspired structure of the text, not imposed assumptions. Discourse analysis and syntactic emphasis reveal literary unity and divine intent, while avoiding eisegesis safeguards doctrinal integrity. True exegesis honors the sacred architecture of Scripture, treating every clause as a vessel of revelation and responsibility.
1. The Primacy of the Text
Biblical interpretation must begin with a commitment to the integrity of the original text. This means paying close attention to the Masoretic Text as the base, preserving its consonants, vowel points, accents, and divisions. The text should never be manipulated to fit theological assumptions. Instead, theology must arise from the grammar, syntax, and structure of Scripture.
2. Grammatical-Historical Method
Sound hermeneutics involves a rigorous examination of the grammar and historical context of the biblical passage. This includes:
- Parsing verbs and analyzing morphology
- Studying clause structure and syntactic relationships
- Understanding historical, cultural, and geographical settings
This method guards against anachronism and speculative readings by rooting interpretation in the world and language of the original audience.
3. Sola Scriptura with Canonical Context
While each verse must be examined on its own terms, interpretation must also honor the unity of Scripture. The context of Torah, Prophets, and Writings helps frame individual verses theologically and thematically. Cross-referencing within the canon preserves theological consistency without importing foreign ideas.
4. Lexical Semantics in Context
Words in Biblical Hebrew can have a wide semantic range. Lexical meaning must be determined from usage, not from etymology alone. A term may shift meaning based on genre, context, and collocates. For example, רוּחַ can mean “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit” depending on the surrounding content.
5. Discourse Analysis
A passage’s rhetorical force often lies beyond the sentence level. Discourse analysis explores:
- Paragraph structure
- Use of repetition, chiasm, inclusio, and parallelism
- The flow of thought, argument, and emphasis
This method reveals the literary unity and theological cohesion of larger sections of text.
6. Genre Sensitivity
Hebrew narrative, poetry, law, and prophecy each have distinct conventions. Interpreting poetic metaphors like “YHWH is my shepherd” (Psalm 23) as if they were legal propositions distorts meaning. Hermeneutics must respect the genre-specific ways in which truth is conveyed.
7. Theological Reflection Rooted in Syntax
Every theological conclusion must be traced back to the grammatical features that support it. For example, the fronting of יְהוָה in a nominal clause (e.g., יְהוָה מֶלֶךְ) reflects divine primacy. Theology is not an overlay, but a consequence of careful analysis.
8. Avoiding Eisegesis
True exegesis (drawing out) must be distinguished from eisegesis (reading in). Imposing modern categories, doctrinal biases, or allegorical readings without grammatical support must be avoided.
Reverence and Responsibility
The task of interpreting the Hebrew Bible is both an intellectual discipline and a spiritual stewardship. Every vowel point, every word order, every poetic line is inspired. Hermeneutical principles help us preserve the sacred and proclaim the true. To misread the text is not merely a linguistic failure—it is a theological error.
