Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

James:

You have heard from those who have studied the whole, from Biblical through 
Mishnaic to modern Hebrew. I know only Biblical Hebrew. At first it was not 
by choice, but by lack of opportunity. But it also has its advantages.

The few times I have looked at modern Hebrew, I am struck at how different it 
is. I don’t understand it at all. It is actually easier for me to read the 
Aramaic portions of Tanakh than modern Hebrew. To say that the best way to 
know Biblical Hebrew is by studying these later forms is like saying that the 
best way to know imperial Latin from the time of Julius Caesar is to study 
church Latin as it was spoken by Thomas Aquinus. Even with this example, we 
may be comparing only Biblical Hebrew with Mishnaic Hebrew.

But I guess the best way to answer your question is to ask what you plan to 
do with your Hebrew studies? After getting your M.Div. do you plan to get 
your PhD in Hebrew studies, or do you plan to go out as a parish pastor?

If the latter, a study of modern Hebrew may actually hurt your understanding 
of Tanakh.  Its different grammar, vocabulary (even the same word often has 
different meanings) and  figures of speech may interfere with a correct 
understanding of Biblical Hebrew. As a parish pastor, you will find it 
difficult to allocate the time to continue your studies beyond the most 
rudimentary level. If your main reason for learning Hebrew is to read Tanakh, 
learning modern Hebrew now will hurt you.

It is not true that studying only Biblical Hebrew that you will never learn 
to think in Hebrew. I not only read the text without translating it, but as a 
foil to my dyslexia, I anticipate grammatical forms and phrases as I read. 
So, for example, when I read the Joash stone forgery, I had a whole list of 
things that just didn’t feel right before I reached the spot that everyone 
else points to.

If, on the other hand, your goal is to continue on in your studies towards a 
PhD in Hebrew, it will be expected of you to know other Semitic languages in 
order to make linguistic comparisons. In which case, take advantage of the 
immersion resources and friends who are native speakers. They can certainly 
help you towards that PhD.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Bowick" <bowick AT idirect.com>

> I am beginning a self-study refresher of my introductory Hebrew in prep for
> an Intermediate Hebrew course in Seminary.  I am considering studying modern
> Hebrew at the same time to take advantage of the immersion resources
> available (subtitled movies, modern literature in parallel, friends that are
> native speakers, etc.)  The biggest drawback I see is learning a lot of
> extra non-Biblical vocab.  Are there other hazzards and pitfalls of this
> course of study?
> 
> James Bowick
> M.Div. Cand., McMaster Divinity College
> Hamilton, Ontario
-- 
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