Hebrew for Reading Comprehension

by William Paul Griffin

Publisher:

William Paul Griffin

, 2014

Overview

Hebrew for Reading Comprehension is a first year biblical Hebrew grammar designed to promote reading comprehension and precision in translation. William Paul Griffin’s new approach reduces the confusion often caused by traditional Hebrew grammars. His goal is for learners to read with comprehension and translate with accuracy. This volume lowers the emphasis on charts, rules, and lists, focusing instead on biblical Hebrew as a language to be understood and enjoyed.

Delve into biblical Hebrew with 36 lessons ranging from the alphabet to verb tenses to Hebrew poetry. Griffin also includes many useful supplemental tools, including a list of verbs in alphabetical order, a list of commonly confused words, a study on the conversational language in the Hebrew Bible, a history of the Hebrew language, and much more.

Key Features

• A new approach to learning biblical Hebrew
• 36 relevant lessons to improve reading comprehension and accuracy in translation
• Helpful supplemental texts including a list of commonly confused words

Contents

Top Highlights

“את is extremely common in Hebrew narrative, but often absent in poetic texts.” (Page 39)

“When אשׁר is used with people, use ‘who’, not ‘which’ or ‘that’ (i.e., ‘the man who is …’, not ‘the man which is’). Use ‘which’ or ‘that’ for non-humans or abstract ideas.” (Page 27)

“For many feminine plural nouns, a י is often slipped in between the וֹת and the possessive suffix:” (Page 59)

“Rather than following typical grammars which state a myriad of confusing rules (most which have exceptions), our approach will be to emphasize one vowel rule: vowels frequently change, so accept that it is not worth the frustration or time to learn how and why all these vowels change. This is especially true whenever prefixes or suffixes are added to words, as well as for different verb forms. Focus on the consonantal text and you will do well.” (Pages 39–40)

“Consonantally speaking, nouns which end in ה, such as אִשָּׁה (woman, wife) tend to be feminine. Further, many masculine nouns become the feminine equivalent when a ה is added to the end. For instance, מלך, king, becomes מלכה queen.” (Page 29)

Product Details

• Title: Hebrew for Reading Comprehension
• Author: William Paul Griffin
• Publisher: William Paul Griffin
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 302

About William Paul Griffin

William Paul Griffin is professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He received his BA in biblical studies from Evangel University in 1985, his MDiv from Harvard University in 1988, and his PhD from Emory University in 1995. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the author of God of the Prophets: An Analysis of Divine Action.

Sample Pages from Hebrew for Reading Comprehension