Hebrew for Biblical Interpretation (Resources for Biblical Study)

295 Pages·2003·0.86 MB·English

HEBREW FOR
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Resources for Biblical Study
Steven L. McKenzie
Editor
Number 48
HEBREW FOR
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
HEBREW FOR
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
by
Arthur Walker-Jones
Society of Biblical Literature
Atlanta
HEBREW FOR
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Arthur Walker-Jones
Copyright © 2003 by the Society of Biblical Literature
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly
permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for
permission should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office, Society
of Biblical Literature, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
The Hebraica and Hebraica II fonts used to print this work are available from
Linguist’s Software, Inc., PO Box 580, Edmonds, WA 98020-0580 USA
tel [phone] www.linguistsoftware.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Walker-Jones, Arthur.
Hebrew for biblical interpretation / by Arthur Walker-Jones.
p. cm. — (Resources for biblical study ; no. 48)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-58983-086-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Hebrew language—Grammar. 2. Bible. O.T.—Criticism,
interpretation, etc. I. Title. II. Series.
PJ4567.3 .W35 2003
492.4'82421--dc22
2003015640
08 07 06 05 04 03 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To Carrie, David, and Katherine

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
INTRODUCTION 1
Language and Learning 1
Integrating Exegesis 5
How to Use This Textbook 6
CHAPTER 1—CONSONANTS 9
Final Forms 10
BeGaD KePhaT Letters 10
Printing Hebrew Letters 11
Using a Dictionary 12
Exercises 14
CHAPTER 2—VOWELS 16
Silent and Vocal Sheva 18
Gutturals i 19
“Sneaky” Patah 20
Dagesh and Mappiq 20
Vocabulary 21
Exercises 22
CHAPTER 3—NOUNS AND PREPOSITIONS 24
The Definite Article 27
Prepositions 28
Rule of Sheva 29
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The Conjunction – 29
Vocabulary 30
Exercises 31
viii Hebrew for Biblical Interpretation
CHAPTER 4—WORD STUDIES 34
Lexicons 35
Concordances 38
Versions 39
Theological Dictionaries 39
Exercises 40
CHAPTER 5—PRONOUNS AND DEMONSTRATIVES 41
Independent Personal Pronouns 41
Suffixed Pronouns 42
Demonstratives 44
Vocabulary 45
Exercises 46
CHAPTER 6—QAL IMPERFECT, PART I 48
Qal Stem 48
Imperfect Conjugation 48
Use for Past Narration 50
Word Order 51
tae Ata,
Sign of the Definite Direct Object ( or ) 51
Missing and Weak Letters 51
Charting Verbs 54
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Interrogative Particle (– ) 54
Vocabulary 55
Exercises 56
CHAPTER 7—QAL IMPERFECT, PART II 58
Meaning of the Qal 58
Meaning of the Imperfect 59
Negation 61
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The Preposition 62
Suffixed Pronouns 63
Vocabulary 65
Exercises 65
Contents i x
CHAPTER 8—OPENING THE HEBREW BIBLE 68
Divisions 68
Accents 69
Pause 72
Maqqeph 72
Marginal Notes 72
“It is Written” and “It is Read” 73
Exercises 74
CHAPTER 9—NOUNS IN CONSTRUCT 75
The Construct State 75
Definiteness and Indefiniteness 75
Indicators of the Construct 76
The Meaning of the Construct 77
Suffixed Pronouns 78
Finding Nouns in BDB 78
Vocabulary 82
Exercises 82
CHAPTER 10—QAL PERFECT, PART I 84
Perfect Conjugation 84
III-he’ verbs 85
Vav Consecutive 86
Vocabulary 87
Exercises 87
CHAPTER 11—QAL PERFECT, PART II 89
Meaning of the Perfect 89
Hollow Verbs 90
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The Root 90
Suffixed Pronouns 91
Vocabulary 91
Exercises 92
CHAPTER 12—TEXTUAL CRITICISM 95
Reading BHS’s Footnotes 96
Causes of Textual Corruption 97
Choosing between Readings 100
Exercises 102