Invitation to Biblical Hebrew: A Beginning Grammar

I am a doctoral student in biblical studies who wanted to know Hebrew as well as one of my professors does. His name is Eric Mitchell and his blurb adorns the back of this book, so this was the logical place to start. There are two main schools of thought on how to learn a language. The inductive method argues for immersion in the text; hence you learn enough to read, say Genesis 1 and go for it. Then you pick up what you can as you go. The deductive method, alternatively, argues that the fine details of a foreign language are too significant to be learned in an ad hoc manner. The down side is that it seems to take forever before you can use your skills. I used the inductive approach for Koine Greek, Latin, German and French, but it just wasn't cutting it when it came to Hebrew. I am grateful that Dr. Fuller has provided all three parts of this set (grammar, workbook and DVDs) for people like me who needed the help. Language acquisition is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. This may not be the place to start for you. But if you really are inquisitive and like puzzles and remembering SKNMLVI rules like me, this is a good fit. I cannot wait to complete the course and know everything in it.

Does it help a person learn Hebrew? That's the highest measure of a Hebrew grammar. Fuller and Choi's textbook passes that test with flying colors ... for those who are willing to work hard. The textbook focuses on the fundamentals and the workbook provides constant practice. For diligent, motivated students, the repetition in the exercises will give ample opportunity to sharpen skills that when mastered will make reading the Hebrew Bible fun. I took Dr. Fuller's class. That's when I really learned Hebrew. I know his system works, because it worked for me. I'm excited that now I have a textbook to use for reviewing what I've learned and helping others read Hebrew. Caution: Lazy students will not find this grammar helpful.

Though no one is able to make Hebrew easy, Fuller provides the best method I've seen to learn and understand Biblical Hebrew. The instruction is clear and the work load is manageable. Thank you Dr. Fuller!

Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg gives credit where it is due. He once praised some of his early coaches saying, "They instilled in me how to do things the right way, having good fundamentals, having good work habits - and even how to put on my socks." When it comes to learning Biblical Hebrew, getting your socks on correctly is of little value. However, learning the fundamentals of the language and applying good work habits will bring sure success. This is the premise of a new Hebrew grammar written by Southern Seminary professor Russell T. Fuller and Kyoungwon Choi. They desire for students to actually use Hebrew in ministry, rather than being limited to English translations of the Old Testament. This goal will not be achieved without a solid grounding in the basics of phonology (sounds) and morphology (forms). But can you learn Biblical Hebrew on your own? Perhaps you took some Hebrew in seminary, and now you cannot recall anything beyond the alphabet. Or perhaps you have never taken a language course at all. Don't fear. If you have a desire to learn Hebrew, let me encourage you to purchase this grammar, along with the workbook and DVDs. Utilizing the deductive approach, the authors instruct you in a concept and then turn you loose to practice it through pages of drills and exercises. As long as you master each chapter before going onto the next, you can work your way into a solid understanding of the grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew. And why is learning the original languages important? Without a solid grounding in them, our preaching ministry will lack certainty and confidence. As John Piper says, "The confidence of pastors to determine the precise meaning of biblical texts diminishes. And with the confidence to interpret rigorously goes the confidence to preach powerfully. You can't preach week in and week out over the whole range of God's revelation with depth and power if you are plagued with uncertainty when you venture beyond basic gospel generalities." Pastors, we must become "iron sharpening iron" in these matters. Biblical languages may come easy for some, but for the rest of us the difficulty involved should cause us to join hands together in our fight against pastoral sloth. We should be encouraging one another to learn, to use, and to not forget the Biblical languages. Pick up these resources, and give yourself the tools necessary for learning the original language of the Old Testament.

I know what you're thinking-not another Hebrew grammar! I feel you. I groan every time I see a new one. I bet there have been at least 4 or 5 new Hebrew grammars published in the last 6 months. So, what makes this one different from all the others gathering dust on the shelves? Fuller approaches teaching biblical Hebrew like Coach Wooden approached teaching championship basketball. If you want to learn a language-you need to know the fundamentals-and you need to know them well. If you get the fundamentals in place, the rest will follow. Fuller's method is the best there is. He combines watching a lecture in which he explains the chapter on a DVD, reading the chapter, and physically doing excercises out of a workbook (or on a whiteboard in a classroom). Furthermore, he reveals the reasons why language structures are the way they are, instead of throwing reams of paper at you to just memorize thousands of word patterns. If you want to learn Hebrew and you don't have access to a school-buy the book, workbook, DVDs and get studying. If you're teaching a class, integrate this into your semester, your students will thank you because they will come way with a deep knowledge of the language. Then, with a little practice, reading the Bible in Hebrew will be relatively easy. You might ask how I know this works. Well, I was one of Fuller's students and now I'm doing a PhD in Semitic languages so it must have worked for me. (P.S. And no, he hasn't paid me to say these things. I say it because I want to help you learn Hebrew and/or be the best teacher possible.)