Charnock Institute of the Bible

Hebrew Grammar Introduction

 Welcome!

 

07/19/17  The Answer Key for Lessons 1-18 has been added. This will allow you to check or compare your work (especially if you are on your own).

 

Special Thanks is given to Mr. Frederic Clarke Putnam (http://fputnam.com/hebrew-grammar/) for making his magnificent text, A NEW GRAMMAR OF BIBLICAL HEBREW, available online at no cost. This text is copyrighted 2006, 2010 by Frederic Clarke Putnam and used by permission.  We use the published edition at CIB.

 

Hebrew Grammar is the first step to reading the Hebrew Bible; and nothing will change the way you read the New Testament like the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. You will see what is meant by this as you go. Stay the course and you will read Biblical Hebrew in ten to fifteen weeks. A large part of this course is actual READING of the Hebrew Text of Genesis with an Instructor. For each lesson you complete you should follow along with the designated Hebrew Reading sections. Reading is a major key in learning the Grammar, vocabulary, and the language in general. Students have told us repeatedly that “It was the reading that did it!”  When you do the Hebrew Reading sections, simply use the Genesis Hebrew Text provided.

Below is the Syllabus, Hebrew Grammar, Hebrew Genesis Text, Hebrew audio and video, and other items along with the notes and teaching that will guide you through the entire course. If you need the Adobe Reader for these files please click the button below.

Hebrew Syllabus  Start Here!

Hebrew Text of Genesis from the Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia a sample from hendrickson.com Use this Hebrew Text when the class reading begins in Genesis. Each week there is Hebrew Reading and this will be your text.

A NEW GRAMMAR OF BIBLICAL HEBREW, by Putnam

Grammar Part 1  Lessons 1-4

Grammar Part 2  Lessons 5-9

Grammar Part 3  Lessons 10-14

Grammar Part 4  Lessons 15-17

Grammar Part 5  Lessons 18-21

Grammar Part 6  Lessons 22-27

Grammar Part 7  Lessons 28-App. B.

Grammar Part 8  Lessons App. C – F.

A New Grammar of Biblical Hebrew: Answer Key Chapters 1-18, by Putnam

Introduction

The course syllabus is written for TEN WEEKS in Summer Session at CIB; or simply make each lesson 2-3 weeks (one lesson per week) and add the vocabulary in Appendix A, if you wish a regular Two Semesters course.  However, you will still need to complete the course in good time (no longer than about 25 – 30 weeks) so you do not begin to loose what you have learned. All vocabulary words are to be learned except NAMES. It is helpful to write them out on cards of some kind (you can make your own) to carry with you to memorize. Put the grammar also on cards to carry with you. Tests will include large amounts of vocabulary and the basic paradigms.  A final note. Plan on about 200-250 hours total to complete the course. You will still be quite rough when you finish. This is primarily because the Hebrew text looks like Chicken-Scratch-On-A-Muddy-Road for a fairly long time to Western thinking men. Only time and reading the Hebrew text will solve this. So work hard and do a good job!

 

 Week #1 Lessons 1-3

(plan on roughly 8 hours)

Lesson 1  Complete Exercises 1, 2 (skip 3 & 4)  You should be able to write out the Hebrew alphabet from right to left across the page. You should be able to say the entire Hebrew alphabet as quickly as you can your own native alphabet.

Learn the Hebrerw Alphabet

 

Lesson 2  Complete Exercises 1, 2  and learn Vocabulary 1 – 17. Use videos for learning vowels.

Lesson 3  Complete Exercises 1, 2  and learn Vocabulary 18 – 26

Class Video #3

JUST FOR FUN:  Watch a Torah Being Made

Week 1 Test

1. Write out from memory the Hebrew Alphabet

2. The Vowels are Extra Credit 1/2 point for each vowel and its name

Below are links to other sites if you need extra help.

Hebrew Alphabet worksheet and additional guidance, go to  A Heart to Know the Word, Lesson 2.

Learn the Alphabet    I     Click here to watch and hear the alphabet (Part   I)

Learn the Alphabet  II      Click here to watch and hear the alphabet (Part  II)

Learn the Alphabet III      Click here to watch and heat the alphabet (Part III)

Week #2 Lessons 4-6

Lesson 4  Complete Exercises 1, 2 and learn Vocabulary 34 – 50

Lesson 5  Complete Exercises 1, 2 and learn Vocabulary 51 – 66

Hebrew Reading of Genesis

JUST FOR FUN:  Watch Parchment Being Made

Week #3 Lessons 7-9

Lesson 7  Complete Exercises 1, 2 and learn Vocabulary 83 – 99

Lesson 8  Complete Exercise(s) and learn Vocabulary 100 – 115

Hebrew Reading of Genesis

JUST FOR FUN:  Sewing A Torah Scroll To The Woods

 

Week #4 Lessons 10-12

Lesson 10  Complete Exercises and learn Vocabulary 133 – 148

Lesson 11  Complete Exercises 1, 2 and learn Vocabulary 149 – 165

Hebrew Reading of Genesis