Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook: A Graded Reader with Exercises

by Karl V. Kutz; Rebekah Josberger

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2019

Learning Biblical Hebrew

The Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook provides essential practice with Hebrew for students using Learning Biblical Hebrew: Reading for Comprehension. The workbook’s strength lies in the translation exercises designed to provide early access to biblical text, a continuous flow of biblical narrative, exposure to Hebrew syntax and idioms, and instant application of vocabulary and grammar.

Beginning in chapter four, each chapter of the Learning Biblical Hebrew grammar is accompanied by a selection of Hebrew text in the workbook that has been prepared to match the skill level of the student. The Joseph narrative in Genesis 37–50 forms the basis for these translations which feature modified Hebrew text, glosses identifying unfamiliar terms, and notes that align the text with the concepts covered in the corresponding chapter of Learning Biblical Hebrew. As familiarity with vocabulary and grammar increases, the readings are modified less and less until students finish reading the Joseph narrative directly from the Hebrew Bible. Once the students begin learning more advanced concepts later in the grammar, the biblical texts of Ruth, Jonah and Esther are provided with Hebrew terms glossed according to the pace they are covered in the grammar.

The Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook provides the essential reading practice that makes the study of Biblical Hebrew come alive.

Praise for Learning Biblical Hebrew

Before trying this Hebrew grammar, I'd taught Biblical Hebrew from eight different grammars—none of which had won out as the obvious choice for future classes. Kutz and Josberger’s grammar makes up for the main weaknesses of the other grammars like insufficient explanation of new concepts, limited translation exercises, and not getting into the biblical text itself quickly enough. This grammar was clearly written by instructors who had struggled with and sought to remedy these same deficiencies. My students found the approach and tools “user-friendly” and the rigorous methodology helpful for day-to-day accountability. The grammar’s clear explanations free the instructor up to concentrate on helping students apply the information.

—Kenneth Turner, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Toccoa Falls College

Learning Biblical Hebrew helps students sidestep pitfalls by providing clear explanations of perennially perplexing issues. Students are led to predict patterns (e.g. vowel changes or irregular verbs) with minimal memorization. Translation exercises in the workbook complement the grammar, quickly familiarizing students with Hebrew syntax and demonstrating the clear upshot of tackling larger sections of Hebrew narrative early on in the learning process. Having adopted this text in both graduate and undergraduate introductory Biblical Hebrew courses I can gladly attest – Learning Biblical Hebrew is appropriately entitled! I’m very excited to see it reach a wider audience.

—Richard Rohlfing Jr., Fuller Theological Seminary

Top Highlights

“אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵשֵׁב ^*בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ תֵּלְכוּ ^*בְּלֶ֫חֶם לְבָתֵּיכֶם” (Page 128)

“Allow yourself space to fail, and seek to understand what you missed.” (Page ix)

“In this verse, the similarity of sound provides stark contrast to the dissonance of meaning. In other words, the incongruity of ideas (waiting for justice but getting bloodshed) is heightened by the irony of similar sounds. Conversely, the distortion in sound (the subtle difference between the similar sounding words) underscores the distortion of justice and righteousness.” (Page 19)

“וַיְהִי ^*bבָּעֵת הַהִיא וַיֵּ֫רֶד ^*יְהוּדָה ^*מֵאֵת ^cהָאַחִים וַיֵּ֫רֶד ^*עַד־אִישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִי ^*וְשֵׁם הָאִישׁ חִירָה׃” (Page 90)

^“3וַיִּתֵּ֨ן ^*אֹתָ֜ם בְּמִשְׁמַ֗ר ^*aבֵּ֥ית שַׂ֥ר הַטַבָּחִ֖ים אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַר ^*מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף שָֽׁם׃” (Page 112)

Contents

• Introduction: How to Use This Workbook
• Part 1: Grammar Exercises
• Part 2: Beginning Biblical Hebrew Reader
• Part 3: Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Reader
• Part 4: Learning Aids

Product Details

• Title: Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook: A Graded Reader with Exercises
• Author: Karl Kutz and Rebekah Josberger
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 256
• Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
• Trim Size: 8.5x11
• ISBN: 9781683592440

About the Authors

Karl V. Kutz (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison) is professor of biblical languages at Multnomah University in Portland, OR. For over two decades his teaching and mentoring of students in the language and literature of the Hebrew Bible has cultivated students' passion for the biblical text, shaped and transformed their lives, and led to the establishment of an outstanding program for the study of the Hebrew Bible.

Rebekah L. Josberger (Ph.D., Southern Seminary) is associate professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, OR. Since coming to Multnomah in 2009, she has focused on developing a solid Hebrew program that enables and encourages students to learn Hebrew well enough to use it for personal growth and ministry long after they leave seminary. She teaches Old Testament with a focus towards biblical theology and continues research related to Torah.