Kelly's grammar is hard for the first pass. I started from it and then almost died somewhere in the middle. There are better textbooks for beginners, easier to consume and more fun to learn. After studying those you cam later return to Kelly. I particularly like this textbook and it's complimentary reading guide:
Biblical Hebrew Step by Step, V. 1, by Mansoor, Menahem Biblical Hebrew Step by Step: Readings from the Book of Genesis
Even if you know the grammar, it's hard to start reading the Bible by yourself right away, you need to start with some guidance like "Readings from the Book of Genesis".
I like Seow's grammar, but definitely get the 2nd edition, as the first is full of typos.
As for a book on the "deeper, theological meanings" of Hebrew words, I'd caution anyone to stay away from such a thing, if it exists. I think the only way we can understand the Hebrew Bible is in its context, and applying Latin/Greek-derived theological terms to words in a Semitic language that is thousands of years old would only warp the meaning, and give a false sense of understanding. Case in point: I recently heard someone pontificate that dwd corresponds to the Greek eros, r'h to philio, etc. I can't even remember what he said about agape (maybe 'hb?), it was so crazy! I mean, there is actually very little difference in who uses the different Hebrew words for love, or to whom they can be applied; all three Hebrew words can be used interchangeably!
I think your BDB is all you need, unless you also want to consult the monstrous Kohler-Baumgartner.
"pontificate that dwd corresponds to the Greek eros, r'h to philio, etc. I can't even remember what he said about agape (maybe 'hb?), it was so crazy! I mean, there is actually very little difference in who uses the different Hebrew words for love, or to whom they can be applied; all three Hebrew words can be used interchangeably!"
couldn't resist to disagree >:) First, there were translators when bilical Hebrew was still alive, i. e. the LXX translators. And they frequently chose certain words to correspond with certain Hebrew words. R'H corresponds to horao, btw.
Second, the Hebrew words for love are not interchangeable, I should say. E. g. ahava is love in general, but khessed is faithful love, whereas rachamim would be merciful love (and so on: chibba, achawa...).
as for LXX, parts of their vorlage obviously differed from the surviving masoretic text, okay, but lost? and, yes, while translating they were making theological decisions, right. translating Scripture implies that, doesn't it?
r'h means love? are we speaking of the same verbal root? r'h = ra'ah = to see? and regarding dwd, i'm not aware of verbal derivation from this root. i should rather say, there are two homonyms, i. e. dod I uncle, dod II love. the latter is derived from the root ydd, making friends. in the Bible, only nouns are derived (yadeed, yedeedya), but in modern hebrew the verbal root is used (hityadded).
as for humility, i shouldn't emphasize it too much. i agree on the importance of awareness of prejudices in our culturally conditioned minds, as you nicely put it. but biblical hebrew is not an extraterrestian alien that cannot be appropiately translated. it's just a language. ani ohev otkha means i love you, doesn't it?
my name is Mathias, and I'm slightly older than you. Can't much help you with textbooks in English, I'm afraid, as I'm German. But I'm curious as for your progress with biblical Hebrew.
BTW, you do not need verbs in order to play with complete Hebrew sentences. There is a sort of sentences that lack finite verbs, called nominal sentences. Such sentences mainly consist of nouns (including pronouns) and/or adjectives. Their pattern is a nominal definition, i. e. there is a subject clause about which a predicative clause makes a statement. E. g. choshekh al ha-mayim => darkness = above the waters => darkness is/was above the waters (hope I make myself clear).
Thanks for all the adviceeroica1February 28 2006, 22:56:24 UTC
Everyone,
Thank you many times over for such helpful and detailed advice and warm welcome to the community. I must confess you all have motivated me to crack the Hebrew books again sooner than I'd planned. I'm glad to find such an intelligent and supportive community as I work on tackling the language again without a teacher.
Re: Thanks for all the advicelhynardMarch 16 2006, 09:47:21 UTC
I'm a little late, but I'd suggest Holladay as an easier to use lexicon than the BDB. By no means get rid of your BDB, but Holladay speeds things up for beginners. If you want more info, you can always then look up the words in the BDB.
Comments 16
Kelly's grammar is hard for the first pass. I started from it and then almost died somewhere in the middle. There are better textbooks for beginners, easier to consume and more fun to learn. After studying those you cam later return to Kelly. I particularly like this textbook and it's complimentary reading guide:
Biblical Hebrew Step by Step, V. 1, by Mansoor, Menahem
Biblical Hebrew Step by Step: Readings from the Book of Genesis
Even if you know the grammar, it's hard to start reading the Bible by yourself right away, you need to start with some guidance like "Readings from the Book of Genesis".
Reply
Reply
As for a book on the "deeper, theological meanings" of Hebrew words, I'd caution anyone to stay away from such a thing, if it exists. I think the only way we can understand the Hebrew Bible is in its context, and applying Latin/Greek-derived theological terms to words in a Semitic language that is thousands of years old would only warp the meaning, and give a false sense of understanding. Case in point: I recently heard someone pontificate that dwd corresponds to the Greek eros, r'h to philio, etc. I can't even remember what he said about agape (maybe 'hb?), it was so crazy! I mean, there is actually very little difference in who uses the different Hebrew words for love, or to whom they can be applied; all three Hebrew words can be used interchangeably!
I think your BDB is all you need, unless you also want to consult the monstrous Kohler-Baumgartner.
And, hey, welcome to the community! :)
Reply
couldn't resist to disagree >:) First, there were translators when bilical Hebrew was still alive, i. e. the LXX translators. And they frequently chose certain words to correspond with certain Hebrew words. R'H corresponds to horao, btw.
Second, the Hebrew words for love are not interchangeable, I should say. E. g. ahava is love in general, but khessed is faithful love, whereas rachamim would be merciful love (and so on: chibba, achawa...).
Best,
Mathias
Reply
Reply
r'h means love? are we speaking of the same verbal root? r'h = ra'ah = to see? and regarding dwd, i'm not aware of verbal derivation from this root. i should rather say, there are two homonyms, i. e. dod I uncle, dod II love. the latter is derived from the root ydd, making friends. in the Bible, only nouns are derived (yadeed, yedeedya), but in modern hebrew the verbal root is used (hityadded).
as for humility, i shouldn't emphasize it too much. i agree on the importance of awareness of prejudices in our culturally conditioned minds, as you nicely put it. but biblical hebrew is not an extraterrestian alien that cannot be appropiately translated. it's just a language. ani ohev otkha means i love you, doesn't it?
Reply
my name is Mathias, and I'm slightly older than you. Can't much help you with textbooks in English, I'm afraid, as I'm German. But I'm curious as for your progress with biblical Hebrew.
BTW, you do not need verbs in order to play with complete Hebrew sentences. There is a sort of sentences that lack finite verbs, called nominal sentences. Such sentences mainly consist of nouns (including pronouns) and/or adjectives. Their pattern is a nominal definition, i. e. there is a subject clause about which a predicative clause makes a statement. E. g. choshekh al ha-mayim => darkness = above the waters => darkness is/was above the waters (hope I make myself clear).
All the best,
Mathias
Reply
Thank you many times over for such helpful and detailed advice and warm welcome to the community. I must confess you all have motivated me to crack the Hebrew books again sooner than I'd planned. I'm glad to find such an intelligent and supportive community as I work on tackling the language again without a teacher.
Again, my thanks.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment