Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament: Numerically Coded to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Gesenius et al produced an essential Hebrew Grammar. Even though some of its information is proven out of date, due to new discoveries and further study of ancient Semitic languages (and I speak specifically of the misunderstanding of the Pi'el verb family and the incorrect rules of verb subordination, which ALL beginning Hebrew grammars are VERY wrong about!), this is still a necessary text. THe amount of information is positively vast and accurate oveall. The same can be said of the lexicon, for which one reviewer gave 1 star because it did not have more recent Ugaritic information. Such lack regarding Ugaritic in no way diminishes the need for this reference. Simply put, the lexicon is still amazing, and amazingly accurate and vast in its information, and no Hebrew scholar, of lay or degreed status, would use only one reference. For instance, I use Genesius, Wilson, and Waltke & O'Connor, Vine, L. (the yellow dictionary), Richter, Allen Smith, Geoffrey Morrison, Strong's, to name a few, and four Hebrew traditions not to mention those underlying the LXX and the DSS. And as up-to-date as W & O's Syntax text is, it comes up just a little short in it's final understanding of verb subordination. We need these works, even with their occasional shortcomings. Just understand their place in the history of Hebrew study and work around it. Buy this if you can find one.

This is a must have in order to study the original Hebrew. If you know how to use it correctly, you can really get the picture of what the original is saying, rather than the grainy, black and white faxed copy of the masterpiece that is the English translation.

Many Spinozistic insights are embedded in Biblical Hebrew words.Strong's coding numbers allows the Bible student wihout a knowledge of Hebrew to use this classic work to find the precise meaning and connotations of the Hebrew or Aramaic word behind the English word being studied. Being a lexicon, its entries are more exhaustive than those in Strong's Concordance.

Why a lexicon? "In the beginning was the WORD." Word usage is enormously helpful to Biblical understanding. H.W.F. Gesenius (mid 1800's) is acclaimed as the Noah Webster of Old Testament Hebrew lexicons (dictionary). He brings to the Old Testament a wonderful blend of Christian/Jewish background and insight. Be sure to note not only the word you are looking up, but also the words that surround it, for they too often lend very interesting and even uncanny insight (divine providence). See also Spiros Zodhiates' "The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament." e.g. Word 2000 in Zod.: "dangerous, near to falling." Word 2000 in Ges.: "utter destruction." Commentary on Y2K?

Cut your eye teeth on this primary book for anyone wishing to study the Scriptures in Hebrew. Easily becomes your main Lexicon for research. Excellent for beginners and advanced students.