“I want to study Biblical Hebrew. My level is…
Beginner
No previous knowledge at all or knowledge of a few words, the alphabet, the vowels.
Intermediate
Knowledge of about 500 of the most frequently used words in the Hebrew bible; familiar with the nominal system (nouns, adjectives), conjugations of the strong verb in all stems (Paal, Nifal, Piel, Pual, Hitpael, Hifil, Hufal), the participle, imperative, infinitives.
Advanced
Knowledge of the weak verbs in all stems and conjugations. Proficiency in the use of the grammar book, the lexicon in order to look up words and grammar explanations.
Advanced plus
Reads the Hebrew bible with the help of a lexicon.
“How and where do I start my BH studies?”
There are 3 different ways to approach your biblical Hebrew studies. One or more may appeal to you. The method you choose depends on a number of factors, e.g. how much time you can invest on your studies during the week, how disciplined are you, what are your goals, how much money are you willing to invest, etc.
For beginners I recommend the guidance of a qualified bH language instructor, because (s)he will help you with the correct pronunciation of the biblical text. Even though there is a variety of self-study material available, e.g. audio files and recordings, you will want to make sure that you pronounce Hebrew properly. Online courses have become very attractive during the last years, mainly because they can save you a lot of time. Study online from the comfort of your own home or on-the-go from a mobile device. An online biblical Hebrew beginner’s course is a great way to start. If you don’t want to study in a class you can start your studies with a Private Tutor and you can learn at your own pace on a one-on-one basis. The self-study page offers a list of textbooks that are aimed at first year students of biblical Hebrew.
For intermediate to advanced students a Hebrew course can be of interest. For a more individual approach and/ or specific goals, e.g. if you want to study a certain text of the Hebrew bible or even if you want to study the prayers of a Hebrew prayer book (siddur), a Private Tutor is probably the preferred option. Textbooks for biblical Hebrew self-study are available on the internet and free for download.
At an advanced stage in your studies you need extra study tools and resources, e.g. grammar books, lexicons, verb paradigms, charts with suffixes, etc. Once you have a good understanding of Hebrew grammar, syntax, semantics, and possess a good working vocabulary, you will be interested to use the wide array of free study tools that are available online, but you may want to purchase certain books and software for your personal use.
If it is your goal to speak modern Israeli Hebrew and decide to take a course, you will profit greatly from the knowledge you have acquired in your previous studies.
Where you want to go from here:
