A Short Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (Andrews University Monographs) [Paperback]

Alger F. Johns (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 094387274X | ISBN-13: 978-0943872742 | Publication Date: January 8, 1972 | Edition: Revised

This standard grammar book of biblical Aramaic, used by students at many seminaries and universities, is the only one to include graded exercises at the close of each of its twenty lessons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Andrews University Press; Revised edition (January 8, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094387274X
• ISBN-13: 978-0943872742
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Little Grammar, May 27, 2002

By 

Jonathan Bailey (Lawton, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (Andrews University Monographs) (Paperback)

I have just started to take a serious look at the Aramaic language and have used this book as a starting point. I have not actually bought the book, but am working from a xerox copy of it that I made when I found it in the University of Heidelberg's library a few years ago. I have just now gotten to working through the grammar, and I am quite impressed. I will probably end up buying it on my next book binge, as the photocopy left a few parts difficult to read.

This grammar is set up in a traditional graduated learning format, with a particular grammatical concept and/or set of paradigms assigned to each chapter, with vocabulary lists and translation excercises at the end of the chapter. A glossary is found at the end of the book accompanied by a section of several tables of paradigms. The grammatical concepts assigned to each chapter are well defined, and the book is sufficiently indexed, allowing it to be a useful reference. Issues of Aramaic syntax are treated only superficially, but sufficiently to gain a passive understanding of the language of the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra.

My only complaint is that the translation excercises are not accompanied by any explanatory notes. I have had to do some guessing as to why certain passages are translated the way they are. This book does assume knowledge of Biblical Hebrew, but stands more or less on its own. One could theoretically use it without knowledge of Hebrew, though such a person would have to somehow learn the Hebrew/Aramaic alphabet. He would also find discussions of syntax painfully brief and cryptic. This grammar is lightyears ahead of other Aramaic grammars, Namely Stevensons' Grammar of Palestinian Jewish Aramaic, which really seeks only to teach the particular idiosyncracies of the Palestinian Jewish dialects. It was totally incomprehensible to me, even as someone who already knew Hebrew. I can't understand how it got good reviews. Johns' book is a great first look at Aramaic.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable for Study, May 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Short Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (Andrews University Monographs) (Paperback)

This Grammar is apparently quite good as it is still used after so many years in print. It is especially useful in seminary courses or for individual study because of the exercises which follow each chapter. My only criticism is that the grammar does not provide answers for those exercises. Thankfully, an annotated answer key has finally been produced, so the two volumes together are an excellent resource.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short and to the Point, June 27, 2007

By 

Jared C. Clark - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (Andrews University Monographs) (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful introductory grammar for Biblical Aramaic. It gives you everything you need to know, and doesn't overwhelm the reader. Charts, vocab, grammar, all in one very small book at a great price! Any Biblical Hebrew student should get this book to strengthen their understanding of Hebrew and semetic languages.