Customer Reviews

Biblical Hebrew: Step by Step Volume. 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The back cover of this book states that Mansoor has been teaching Hebrew for many years. It is obvious that this man has truly learned how to teach a difficult subject in that time. I had previously studied Biblical Hebrew using Kittel, Hoffer and Wright's well known text. Their work confused and confounded me at times. Their presentation of grammatical points was not systematic. While some people may learn well from their approach, others will not. Mansoor's book is there for the rest of us who have used Kittel et al, to no avail. The grammar is clear, systematic and EASY TO FOLLOW. In fact, I would say Mansoor's volume is quite enjoyable. I very much applaud what he has done for students of Hebrew with this book. My only real criticism is that the treatment of verb forms (piel, niphal etc) is far too brief. I would also recommend that students who complete Mansoor's book THEN turn to Kittel et al. I found that volume much more understandable after having used Mansoor's text. It is in Kittel's text that an adequate treatment of verb forms will be found and will be understandable after using Mansoor's

I'm currently studying Hebrew in a class, and we're using this book as a study aid. I've found it really good at explaining grammar in particular in an easy to understand manner. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Hebrew in an easy format. The only slight drawback is having to buy the answers (key) to the exercises as a separate book.

This is a good book for an adult English speaker who has studied at least one other language and is motivated to learn Hebrew grammar. It moves very quickly through the alef-bet and moves quickly into nouns, adjectives, and then the QAL form of verbs. The book makes comparison to Western languages, and presupposes a knowledge of parts of speech.

Each lesson has study notes and exercises. The lessons clearly present the topics, but because of the speed at which the book moves from concept to concept, I would not recommend it for students who are not motivated to study.

This is a necessary addition to Mansoor's "Learn Hebrew Step-by-step" book. I have been plugging away at the book and his exercises are clear, very helpful and a great tool to build ont he knowledge of previous work. He also has exams and tests that continue to challenge the student.

This answer key is essential tot he book. I would not seriously attackt he problems without it becuase I do not want to think I have done something correctly and continue on that track without knowing if I am not understanding a concept. So, you have to have the answers to the exercises.

Unfortuantely, for this very reason, Mansoor, instead of making this a separate book, should have included it in the back of his book. Of course, for those students who may be using the book for class may not have such an idea supported by their professor. So I think perhaps it would be better if there was a self-learning book where the book and the answer key were included. This is a major deficiency because this key is so essential.

Anyone who has taken on the sudy of another language (especially if it is self-study) knows the difficulties. I am going to graduate school in the fall and bought this book to get a head start on a subject I thought I would never master. I have been so encouraged by the lay-out of the material and I am especially greatful for the study hints - they keep me focused. At the end of each lesson I feel I have actually accomplished something, and unlike other promises you hear that you can do something in "just two weeks", if you sincerely stick to a plan with this book it is entirely possible.

The only problem I have with this book is that it makes reference to a tape startnig in chapter five and the tape was not made availiable to me along with the book. Although it is possible to continue studying, a tape would facilitate it.

I have been using both major Biblical Hebrew manuals sold on Amazon.com: the EKS Primer and Hebrew Step by Step (HSBS). I started with EKS and bought HSBS when I was half through EKS. I study Hebrew on my own.

The reason why I bought HSBS is because I got terribly bored with EKS and its endless exercices stuffed with silly sentences. Moreover, I wanted a more handy manuel which I could carry around. I was also hoping to find a manual which would be more friendly and comforting in tone than the icy impersonal EKS.

Well, HSBS by Menachem Mansoor was exactly what I was looking for! The exercices are short, the book is handy, the tone is friendly and there are plently of charmingly outdated photographs of the Holy Land and its inhabitants to enliven the the explanations and drills.

This is not to say that HSBS is perfect. It lacks verb charts and it does a very poor job in explaining the verb patterns, which are presented en bloc in one lesson at the end of the book. If I had not read other grammars before, I am sure I would have become panicky at the sight of so much new stuff.

Some reviewers find HSBS lacking in explanations. I think this judgement is not fair. EKS also omits to give many important explanations, specially concerning vowel changes. As a matter of fact EKS often seems reluctant to explain anything at all as if it wanted to make it easier for you to learn Hebrew. It just shows you the charts and that's it. As a result, in the multitudinous exercises you will often find forms which really puzzle you and you will search in vain for an explanation. So, on the whole I found HSBS more thorough, EXCEPT when it comes to clarifying the different verb forms.

Above all, this is a very user-friendly manual, one in which the author really talks with you at every stage, telling you what is important, what you ought to study and how. In this respect, it is ideally suited for self-study.

My advice is: buy EKS and HSBS. But my favorite one is HSBS.

Even if you find you don't have the time or discipline to devote to this book, you can something out of it. I have been working with the book off and on with a study partner for the last year (truth be told: more off than on). Nevertheless, my comprehension has gone up because the vocabulary words are so well chosen.

I have taught adult beginners for a number of years and this book, while very popular, doesn't know what it wants to be. In depth and detail, it is less than many other "academic" books-- i.e. books intended for college-level classes (Weingreen is probably at the other extreme). Yet, for adult beginners in a non-academic setting such as a synagogue or church, it doesn't achieve the clarity and simplicity of EKS's Biblical Hebrew Primer... and in many instances, not even the completeness of the latter work.

It does have the advantage of good vocabularly, good exercises, and a second volume with excellent Biblical readings. I'd recommend it for teaching or self-study only if you intend to work through both volumes. Otherwise, adult learners should go with EKS.

Menahem Mansoor was the Chair of Semitic studies at the University of Wisconsin, and his book serves as their textbook for beginners in Biblical Hebrew. As a teacher of Sunday Bible classes, I have found this book the most valuable for beginners. Lambdin is a classic text and a good reference book, Weingreen is too dense, and Ross is good for intermediate students.

The book reflects that Mansoor was a teacher for over 25 years, for the vocabulary is well-chosen, the exercises are excellent, and the lessons literally help you build your skills step-by-step. Once you learn the alphabet and the vowels, Mansoor has you reading simple sentences in Scripture within a few weeks!

The book also provides the reader with a brief history of the development of the Hebrew language, with its relation to ancient Semitic languages such as Phoenician and Aramaic, as well as a brief commentary on modern Hebrew as well.

There is a reason that Mansoor's Biblical Hebrew Step-by-Step is in its 24th printing!

This book is laid out in a very easy to use and progressive order. I have gone through half of the book and really enjoyed my studies. Each chapter has a new vocabulary list, grammar notes, examples and then plenty of exercises that cement the new concepts. The book will get you reading Hebrew very quickly with the Hebrew alphabet which is easier than reading hebrew with our english alphabet. It contains an English/Hebrew and Hebrew/English dictionary in the back with all of the vocabulary words. I wouldn't go very far without buying the answer key; it is very helpful. The vocabulary words are taken from the most used words in the Old Testament and the chapters contain verses from the Old Testament as reading exercises.