Biblical Hebrew Syllabus

1: Introduction to the Hebrew Language

• History and Development of Biblical Hebrew
  • Overview of ancient Semitic languages
  • Historical context of Biblical Hebrew in the Old Testament
  • Hebrew scripts: Paleo-Hebrew vs. Square Script
• The Hebrew Alphabet
  • Introduction to the 22 consonants
  • Writing and pronunciation of each letter
  • Final forms of letters (sofit letters)
  • Practice with basic vocabulary

2: Hebrew Vowels and Pronunciation

• The Tiberian Vowel System
  • Overview of short, long, and reduced vowels
  • Reading with vowels (nikkud)
  • Syllable structure and rules for pronunciation
  • Accent marks and their role in pronunciation

3: Nouns and Gender

• Gender of Nouns
  • Masculine and feminine forms
  • Common endings and patterns
  • Irregular nouns and exceptions
• Number
  • Singular, dual, and plural forms
  • Construct forms of plural nouns

4: Noun Declensions and the Construct State

• Declension of Nouns
  • Construct state vs. absolute state
  • Declension patterns for singular, dual, and plural nouns
• The Construct Chain (סְמִיכוּת)
  • The relationship between nouns in a chain
  • Translation and interpretation of construct chains

5: Pronouns and Pronominal Suffixes

• Personal Pronouns
  • Independent pronouns (singular and plural forms)
  • Use in sentences and narratives
• Pronominal Suffixes
  • Attaching suffixes to nouns, prepositions, and verbs
  • Possessive forms and object markers

6: The Hebrew Verb System

• Verb Roots (שֹׁרָשִׁים)
  • Introduction to the root system (three-letter roots)
  • Patterns of roots and their meanings
• The Seven Binyanim (בִּנְיָנִים)
  • Overview of each binyan and its basic meaning:
  • Qal (simple active)
  • Niphal (simple passive or reflexive)
  • Piel (intensive active)
  • Pual (intensive passive)
  • Hiphil (causative active)
  • Hophal (causative passive)
  • Hithpael (intensive reflexive)
  • Conjugation and translation practice in each stem

7: Verb Conjugations – Perfect and Imperfect

• The Perfect (Past Tense)
  • Form and function of perfect verbs
  • Conjugation patterns across different binyanim
  • Examples and translation practice
• The Imperfect (Future Tense)
  • Form and function of imperfect verbs
  • Conjugation patterns across different binyanim
  • Examples and translation practice

8: The Imperative, Infinitive, and Participle Forms

• Imperative Forms
  • Command forms in various binyanim
  • Positive and negative commands
• Infinitives
  • Infinitive construct vs. infinitive absolute
  • Function and translation of infinitives in sentences
• Participles
  • Formation and function as verbal adjectives
  • Use of participles in active and passive voices

9: Prepositions and Particles

• Basic Prepositions
  • Prepositions as independent words and attached with suffixes
  • Translation and usage of common prepositions
• Particles and Conjunctions
  • Importance of particles like ו (and), כ (like), and others
  • Function and meaning of conjunctions and other particles

10: Syntax and Sentence Structure

• Basic Hebrew Sentence Structure
  • Word order in nominal and verbal sentences
  • Clauses and connecting words
• Syntax of Biblical Narrative and Poetry
  • Key features of biblical narrative style
  • Unique aspects of Hebrew poetry: parallelism, chiasm, etc.

11: Lexical Semantics and Word Studies

• Roots and Derived Words
  • How meaning is derived from root words
  • Word families and related words
• Semantic Range and Lexical Study
  • Understanding the range of meaning for key words
  • Tools for conducting lexical studies

12: Reading Comprehension and Translation Practice

• Reading from Selected Texts
  • Practice with prose texts (Genesis, Exodus, 1 Samuel)
  • Practice with poetic texts (Psalms, Proverbs)
• Translation Techniques
  • Analyzing context, grammar, and syntax for accurate translation
  • Literal vs. interpretative translation approaches

13: Textual Criticism and Manuscript Analysis

• Introduction to Biblical Manuscripts
  • Key manuscripts: Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Masoretic Text
  • Understanding textual variants
• Critical Apparatus and Textual Analysis
  • Use of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) apparatus
  • Evaluating variant readings and their implications

14: Biblical Interpretation and Theology

• Applying Language Knowledge to Exegesis
  • Analyzing word meaning in context
  • Applying grammar and syntax for theological insights
• Hermeneutical Principles
  • How understanding Hebrew shapes interpretation
  • Cultural and theological nuances in Hebrew terms and phrases

 

This syllabus provides a structured approach to learning Biblical Hebrew, beginning with foundational elements and moving into intermediate and advanced topics. It aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the language for effective translation, interpretation, and theological study of the Hebrew Bible.