Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
After spending countless hours studying Hebrew vocabulary, paradigms, and grammar, students may wonder how they can begin to reap the rewards of their hard work. H. H. Hardy II presents thirty grammatical concepts and their exegetical payoff to demonstrate the importance of learning Hebrew for interpreting the Old Testament. In the process, students will realize the practical value of what they have learned.
This book is an ideal supplemental text for a variety of Hebrew courses. It is perfect for students looking to apply their Hebrew and for past students who wish to review the essentials of Hebrew grammar. It also includes examples and illustrations to help professors strengthen their lectures.
- Engages the abstract concepts of grammar with concrete examples
- Guides the reader through key interpretive questions in specific passages to arrive at exegetically informed answers
- Provides grammatical signposts along the textual landscape in search of interpretive treasure
- Hebrew Language and Literature - Ezekiel 9:4
- Textual Criticism - Genesis 22:13
- Word Studies - Genesis 29:17a
- Construct Phrases - Genesis 29:17b
- Definiteness - Proverbs 31:1
- Adjectives - Haggai 1:4
- Pronouns 1 - 2 Kings 8:1b
- Pronouns 2 - 2 Kings 8:1a
- Verb Conjugations 1: qatal = wayyiqtol - Exodus 16:34-35
- Verb Conjugations 2: wəqatal = yiqtol - Leviticus 16:1-9
- Verb Conjugations 3: Jussives - Ruth 1:8b
- Verb Conjugations 4: Imperatives - Leviticus 16:2
- Verb Conjugations 5: Cohortatives - 2 Samuel 24:14
- Verb Conjugations 6: Active and Passive Participles - Jeremiah 20:9
- Verb Conjugations 7: Infinitive Construct - Jeremiah 27:10
- Verb Conjugations 8: Infinitive Absolute - Jeremiah 7:9-10
- Stative and Fientive Verbs - Psalm 93:1
- Indefinite Subjects and Impersonal Verbs - 1 Kings 1:1
- Verb Stems 1: Voice and Valency - Genesis 12:1-3
- Verb Stems 2: Semantics - 2 Samuel 7:1
- Negations - Genesis 3:4; 2:17
- Prepositions 1: ְכ - Sam. 13:14
- Prepositions 2: וםֹיְ ביו- ם - Genesis 2:17
- Directive Heh - Exodus 13:21
- Verbless Clauses - Deuteronomy 6:4
- Interrogatives - Joshua 5:13b
- Particles: יִ כ - Deuteronomy 14:24
- Temporal Clauses - Ruth 1:1
- Relative Clauses - Psalm 119:85
- Pragmatics: הִנֵּה - Genesis 1:31
Top Highlights
“The infinitive absolute is a type of nonfinite verb. The forms in each stem (qal, niphal, etc.) are invariable and do not inflect for person, gender, number, or aspect. Unlike infinitives construct, infinitives absolute do not function primarily as verbal nouns.1 They are seldom used in noun or prepositional phrases and do not take attributives or suffixes. Infinitives absolute principally function as verbs or adverbs.” (Page 100)
“The difference between the textual witnesses is whether the final letter is understood as a resh or a dalet” (Page 10)
“Prepositions do not refer to entities, characteristics, or actions; rather, they express grammatical relationships” (Page 140)
“Biblical Hebrew prepositions may be divided according to their morphology into two subsets: simple and multiword” (Page 148)
“ancient Hebrew speakers communicated primarily through spoken words in person or, at times, through messengers” (Page 2)
This handy volume polishes and exposes the brilliance of the nuggets to be mined in the soil of Biblical Hebrew morphology and grammar. With thirty selected topics and carefully chosen examples, Hardy demonstrates the value of paying close attention to the details of language to discover the precious truths of Scripture. The collection itself is a major gemstone. I regret that I did not possess this treasure five decades ago, when I was learning Hebrew, and that it was not previously available to all my Hebrew students.
—Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Wheaton College
Well trained in biblical languages and Semitics and abreast of current research in linguistics, Chip Hardy succeeds in providing a refreshing guide to grammar and interpretation for the beginner in exegesis or the intermediate student of Hebrew. This is a valuable contribution to biblical language resources. The highest recommendation I can give is that I intend to use it as a text with my students.
—Peter J. Gentry, Donald L. Williams Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
This is an ingenious approach to helping students bridge the divide between abstract grammatical rules and the exegetical aim of biblical language learning. Hardy covers the full range of traditional grammar topics, each pertaining to a specific biblical text and the interpretive challenge it poses, to illustrate the grammar’s relevance for biblical exegesis. This text is appropriate both as a tool to encourage those in the throes of language learning and as a self-help guide for those wanting to revive their knowledge of Hebrew grammar and reignite their passion for using Hebrew in biblical interpretation.
—John A. Cook, professor of Old Testament and director of Hebrew language instruction, Asbury Theological Seminary
- Title: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
- Author: H. H. Hardy II
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 224
- Language: Hebrew
- Resource Type: Grammar
- Topic: Languages
H. H. Hardy II (PhD, University of Chicago) is associate professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is the author of two language resources and numerous articles.