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Course Goals

What We'll Cover

  • Biblical Hebrew Alphabet – Consonants and Vowels
  • Biblical Hebrew Morphology
  • Biblical Hebrew Nouns
  • Biblical Hebrew Verbs
  • Basic Hebrew Syntax
  • Using the Hebrew Bible
  • Practicing Reading the Old Testament in Hebrew
  • Building Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary
  • Exegetical Fallacies?
  • Introduction to Biblical Figures of Speech?

What We'll Not Cover

  • Mishnaic, Later Religious, and Modern Hebrew
  • Biblical Greek
  • Biblical Aramaic
  • In-Depth Phonology and Orthography
  • Hebrew Syntax
  • Hebrew Accents
  • Hebrew Genre Studies (e.g., Poetry)
  • Discourse Analysis

Student Goals

  • Develop the ability to read and understand the Old Testament more closely in its original Hebrew, gaining direct access to the language in which it was written.
  • Grow in appreciation for the richness, depth, nuance, and literary beauty of Scripture, including features such as wordplay, rhythm, and layered meanings that are often difficult to capture in translation.
  • Strengthen sound exegetical and hermeneutical practices, enabling more careful interpretation of the biblical text and helping to avoid common interpretive errors.
  • Deepen personal study and devotion by engaging Scripture more attentively, allowing the text to speak on its own terms and drawing nearer to its original context and message.
  • Improve the ability to communicate biblical truth clearly and accurately through teaching, preaching, discipleship, small-group study, and everyday conversations.
  • Better serve the church by helping others understand, apply, and delight in God's Word through insights gained from the original language.
  • Cultivate a lifelong foundation for continued growth in biblical scholarship, faithful interpretation, and ministry effectiveness.

Instructor Goals

  • To be of some small help to you in your journey to please Christ as you, with His help, "study" (gk. σπουδάζω – strive) to "...rightly divide the word of truth." – 2 Timothy 2:15.
  • To promote sound exegesis and hermeneutics of the Biblical text.
    • Exegesis: Determining the meaning of the text.
    • Hermeneutics: The study of principles and methods of interpretation.
    • What does it mean for exegesis and hermeneutics to be sound?
  • Requests:
    • Pray for one another. Pray for the instructors. Pray for the class sessions.
    • Please remember that our understanding of the text is ultimately reliant on the Lord "...opening the eyes of our understanding, that we might understand the scriptures." — Luke 24:45.
    • Please come prepared. Read the lesson material and syllabus before class.
    • Please practice the material outside class.
    • Please participate. Ask questions. Take part in class discussions and exercises.
    • Don't take it for granted that we have not made a mistake. If we say something you believe to be incorrect, please bring it to our attention, ASAP (1 Thess 5:21, 1 John 4:1).
    • If something isn't working well for you in class, please bring it to our attention.
    • If you have suggestions on what would make the class more valuable to you, please say so.