An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Bruce K. Waltke (Author), M. O'Connor (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 779 pages
• Publisher: Eisenbrauns (January 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931464315
• ISBN-13: 978-0931464317
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.1 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

More About the Author

Bruce K. Waltke (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary; PhD, Harvard Divinity School), acknowledged to be one of the outstanding contemporary Old Testament scholars, is professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, and professor emeritus of biblical studies at Regent College in Vancouver. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, commentaries, and articles, and contributed to dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Research Grammar of Biblical Hebrew--in English!, June 2, 2000

By 

William D. Barrick "Hebrew Prof" (Santa Clarita, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Hardcover)

In their preface, Waltke and O'Connor describe their work as an intermediate grammar to be employed between basic grammatical studies and more advanced research literature. The reference nature of this volume is exhibited in its logical and topical arrangement. The introductory section deals with matters of history (of the language, the Hebrew Scriptures, the study of Hebrew), linguistics, and grammatical units. The second section of the volume covers Hebrew nouns; the third considers adjectives, numerals, and pronouns; the fourth delves into classical Hebrew's verbal stems; and, the final section describes the usage of verbal conjugations and clauses. The glossary of grammatical terms, classified bibliography, and indexes enhance the volume and enable the teacher and student to maximize its use.

An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (IBHS) provides the students of biblical Hebrew with the most up to date and scholarly grammar written in the English language. The authors make it clear that their volume does not replace other reference grammars. Their reasoning is both honest and accurate-IBHS is not exhaustive either in treating exceptions or even in covering all matters of syntax and grammar. This grammar, however, is so well written that we can only hope that Waltke and O'Connor will see fit to complete this magnificent offering in a second volume that would treat the remaining elements of Hebrew syntax with the same excellence manifested in this work.

All other reference biblical Hebrew grammars for English language readers have been written first in another language and then translated into English. The only exhaustive reference grammar for biblical Hebrew available in the English language is the old classic, Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (Oxford University Press, 1910), edited in the original German by Emil Kautzsch and in the English translation by A. E. Cowley. It is woefully out of date, however, being nearly one hundred years old. More recently, Paul Joüon's A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew was translated from French and revised by T. Muraoka (Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1996). It is more up to date, but lacks the exhaustiveness of the older grammar by Gesenius-Kautzsch-Cowley.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only all reference grammars were written this clearly, March 7, 2003

By 

Gregory Olsen "renaissance man" (San Ramon, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Hardcover)

This is very well written intermediate grammar on Biblical Hebrew. It bridges the gap between a student grammar like Lambdin's Introduction to Biblical Hebrew and a reference grammar like Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (GKC). The introductory material is very useful. The introductory material includes a brief introduction to semitic languages in general, the history of the Hebrew language, the transmission of the canonical text and the masoretic tradition.

Linguistic jargon that will be encountered is well explained. This is very useful for students of O.T. studies who are not usually schooled in linguistics.

The book is also well footnoted. The footnotes may be used to get started on deeper research into particular features of grammar.

Overall, study of this book will help get the student of B.H. and O.T. over that hump from being competent to read and translate the basic narrative materials (Pentateuch, Joshua-2Kings, Ruth, Jonah) to tackling some of the more difficult translation issues in the canon.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Just Thought You Knew Hebrew!, June 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Hardcover)

After five semesters of studying Hebrew, I thought that the only remaining thing for me to learn was vocabulary. Waltke and O'Conner put me back in my place, and they renewed the challenge of learning Hebrew. Be careful to hide this book from beginning students, lest they sell their BHS and throw in the towel. For the person who wants to know EVERYTHING about Hebrew, this book is indispensable