Biblical Hebrew: Learning a Sacred Language

Overview

Learn how to read the Hebrew Bible in its original ancient language. The Hebrew Bible has been translated many times, but by learning to read it in its original language, you can reach your own conclusions about what it really means. This course enhances your appreciation of its literary artistry and deepens your understanding of the roots of the three great Abrahamic traditions.

These 36 lessons on Biblical Hebrew serve as an authoritative primer from the Hebrew alphabet and punctuation marks to essential vocabulary and advanced grammatical rules. Whether you’re a beginner or have some knowledge of Hebrew, these lectures will equip you to read the Bible in its original language.

Utilizing a methodical approach, Professor Carasik covers the fundamentals of the language in a cumulative learning experience, rewarding students who follow the lectures sequentially. You will engage in “Biblical Hebrew calisthenics,” which involve close readings of passages from the Bible in Hebrew.

Course Structure

• Studying Biblical Hebrew (30 min)
  • Explore the components of the Biblical Hebrew writing system.

• Learning the Aleph Bet (30 min)
  • Understand the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and their pronunciation.

3. The Tiberian Vowel System (33 min)
   • Learn the Tiberian system for marking vowels in Hebrew.

• Roots of Semitic Verbs (35 min)
  • Discover how Hebrew verbs and nouns are based on roots.

• Hebrew Verb Forms and the Definite Article (36 min)
  • Introduce the five Hebrew verb forms and the concept of definiteness.

• Hebrew’s Attached Prepositions (31 min)
  • Understand how prepositions attach to words in Hebrew.

• Adjective Forms and Agreement in Hebrew (33 min)
  • Explore the four forms of Hebrew adjectives and their agreements.

8. Irregular Hebrew Nouns and Adjectives (33 min)
   • Study common irregular nouns and adjectives in Biblical Hebrew.

• Hebrew Pronouns and Pronominal Suffixes (32 min)
  • Learn the different pronouns and how to use pronominal suffixes.

• How Hebrew Letters Behave (35 min)
  • Understand the behavior of different Hebrew letters.

• Perfect and Imperfect Hebrew Verbs (38 min)
  • Examine the perfect and imperfect forms of Biblical Hebrew verbs.

• Segholate Nouns and Pausal Forms (35 min)
  • Discover segholate nouns and their grammatical forms.

• The Construct Form: Hebrew’s Trailer Hitch (31 min)
  • Learn about construct forms and their function in Hebrew.

• Forming Hebrew Construct Chains (32 min)
  • Study how to create chains using construct forms.

• Hebrew Verb Classifications: Binyanim (33 min)
  • Explore the different classifications of Hebrew verbs.

• Question Words in Hebrew (36 min)
  • Learn the question words that appear in Biblical Hebrew texts.

• Hebrew Participles (36 min)
  • Understand the participle form in Biblical Hebrew.

18. Counting in Hebrew (31 min)
    • Discover how to count in Hebrew from one to 10,000.

• Hebrew Roots with Guttural Letters (33 min)
  • Focus on Hebrew roots that contain guttural letters.

• Hebrew’s Lamed-Hey Roots (34 min)
  • Learn about roots with a lamed-hey structure.

• Hebrew’s Roots Beginning with Yud (35 min)
  • Examine common verbs that begin with the letter yud.

• Irregular Hebrew Verbs (35 min)
  • Master the few irregular Hebrew verbs.

• Hebrew’s Hollow Verbs (36 min)
  • Explore hollow verbs with only two consonants.

24. The Infinitive in Hebrew (32 min)
    • Understand the different infinitive forms in Hebrew verbs.

• Jussives, Cohortatives, and “Hava Nagila” (38 min)
  • Study how intention is expressed in Biblical Hebrew.

• The Imperative Form in Hebrew (35 min)
  • Learn about the imperative form of verbs.

• Verbs of the Hiphil Binyan (34 min)
  • Explore the Hiphil binyan and its role in causative verbs.

• Piel Verbs and Passive Binyanim (37 min)
  • Understand the Piel binyan and passive forms like Pu’al and Hophal.

• Reflexive Binyanim: Niphal and Hitpa’el (35 min)
  • Examine reflexive forms of verbs in Hebrew.

• Reading the Bible in Hebrew: Joshua 1 (36 min)
  • Read and translate a passage from Joshua in Hebrew.

31. Geminate Verbs and Reading Numbers 22 (38 min)
    • Explore geminate verbs and read a passage from Numbers.

• Hebrew’s Object Suffixes (34 min)
  • Focus on object suffixes in Biblical Hebrew.

• Hebrew Oaths and Other Idioms (35 min)
  • Study idiomatic expressions in Biblical Hebrew.

• Understanding Hebrew Punctuation Marks (40 min)
  • Learn the importance of punctuation in Hebrew texts.

• Choosing a Hebrew Bible (35 min)
  • Recommendations for selecting a Hebrew Bible.

• Helpful Hebrew Reference Books (37 min)
  • Discover essential Hebrew reference materials for further study.