Basic Hebrew for Bible Study

by Mark D. Futato, Ph.D.

An old rabbi once said, "Reading the Bible in a translation is like kissing your bride through the veil."

Basic Hebrew for Bible Study empowers you to lift the veil and study the Old Testament in the original
Hebrew.

Basic Hebrew for Bible Study, a Two-part Course:

You will learn the basics of Biblical Hebrew by studying 20 simplified grammar lessons (Lessons 1g-
20g). You will also learn how to do in-depth Bible study by working through 20 hands-on lessons that
teach you step by step (Lessons 1w-20w).

Goal:

My goal is to facilitate your success in acquiring 1) a basic knowledge of Hebrew grammar and 2)
essential skills in the use of Hebrew, so that you can study and teach the Hebrew Bible with greater
depth and accuracy and enjoy a richer life.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of Basic Hebrew you will have:

 Mastered the basic forms and uses of Hebrew nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
 Mastered a basic vocabulary of 200 Hebrew words.
 Mastered the basic linguistic principles needed to analyze the meaning of Hebrew words.
 Learned to use the Hebrew components of Bible-study software.
 Learned to use Hebrew reference works, both electronic and hard copy.
 Grown in your enjoyment of the Hebrew language.
 Grown in your commitment to use your Hebrew knowledge and skills in a life-long study of the
Hebrew Bible.

 Contents

Vocabulary
Lessons [grammar lesson (Lessons 1g-20g) or workbook lesson (Lessons 1w-20w)]

Lesson 1g : The Alphabet – The Vowels – Sheva and Dagesh – Vocabulary – Practice –
Lesson 1w

Lesson 2g : Gender of Nouns – Number of Nouns – Summary of Noun – Vocabulary –

Practice – Lesson 2w

Lesson 3g : Personal Pronouns – Definite Article – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 3w

Lesson 4g : Overview – Form of Qal Perfect – Use of Qal Perfect – Vocabulary – Practice –
Lesson 4w

Lesson 5g : Subject – Direct Object – Word Order – Negative Sentences – Vocabulary –

Practice – Lesson 5w

Lesson 6g : Overview – Niphal – Piel – Pual – Hiphil – Hophal – Hithpael – Vocabulary

– Practice – Lesson 6w

Lesson 7g : Prepositions – Independent Prepositions – Inseparable Prepositions – Vav –

Conjunction – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 7w

Lesson 8g : Adjectives – Geminate Roots – Use of Adjectives – Vocabulary – Practice –

Lesson 8w

Lesson 9g : Form of Qal Imperfect – Use of Imperfect – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 9w

Lesson 10g : Use of Construct State – Form of Construct State – Vocabulary – Practice –
Lesson 10w

Lesson 11g : Pronoun Suffixes on Nouns – Pronoun Suffixes on Prepositions – Vocabulary –

Practice – Lesson 11w

Lesson 12g : Infinitive Construct – Infinitive Absolute – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 12w

Lesson 13g : Form of the Qal Active Participle – Use of the Qal Active Participle – Vocabulary
– Practice – Lesson 13w

Lesson 14g : Cohortative – Imperative – Jussive and Indirect Volitive – Vocabulary –

Practice – Lesson 14w

Lesson 15g : Form of the Vav-Relative – Use of the Vav-Relative – Vocabulary – Practice –
Lesson 15w

Lesson 16g : Meaning of the Piel – Piel Pft and Impf – Piel Impv, Inf, Ptc – Piel Coh, Jus, Wci
– Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 16w

Lesson 17g : Meaning of the Hiphil – Hiphil Pft and Impf – Hiphil Impv, Inf, Ptc – Hiphil –
Coh, Jus, Wci – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 17w

Lesson 18g : Meaning of the Niphal – Niphal Pft and Impf – Niphal Impv, Inf, Ptc – Niphal –
Coh, Jus, Wci – Vocabulary – Practice – Lesson 18w

Lesson 19g : Perfect: Action Verbs – Stative Verbs and Other Uses – Vocabulary – Practice –

Lesson 19w

Lesson 20g : Imperfect: Time – Imperfect: Modalities – Imperfect: Injunctive – Vocabulary –

Practice – Lesson 20w