Customer Reviews

An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

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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 It is woefully out of date, however, being nearly one hundred years old.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.

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.

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

I have been a fan of Gesenius for a long time. While I knew there was updated information to consider, I thought his text was enough. But although his text is certainly still necessary, and necessarily covers issues that the book reviewed here does not, it is clear that one must turn to Waltke & O'Connor to reach a greater level of accuracy. Writing so long after Gesenius, they have presented new and accurate information based on the latest research, not only of Ancient Hebrew, but also based on cognate Semitic languages.

I have found the sections on Hebrew verbs the most enlightening and correcting, e.g., that the Pi'el stem is NOT intensive. Such intenseness must be detected from a combination of the lexical verb meaning, the stem, and the text/co-text. This book also presents other up-to-date information on the forming of nouns from verbs, etc.

As others have noted, the layout and presentation is great. It really can't be presented any easier, I don't think.

One must read Gesenius, for he presents very important information across the board, including much on phonology and linguistics not covered by Waltke & O'Connor. But to stick with Gesenius will leave one in error on some points. Waltke & O'Connor, simply put, make the corrections and make studying Biblical Hebrew exciting, and even much easier to learn.

I agree with the all the previous postive comments, no need to restate them. I am largely self-taught in Biblical
Hebrew. Once you are past the basics, Waltke-O'Connor is the next best thing to having a real teacher. This book fills the gap between what most introductory books teach you and what most advanced books and articles think you already know. I do not agree with the previous commenter who said that it is a difficult read. This is all relative - All advanced hebrew grammars (and many beginner ones!) are difficult reads. Waltke-O'Connor is easier than most. But is not a traditional reference grammar like GKC or Jouon-Muraoka. It is not designed to allow looking up a particular verse or construction and find The Answer. Rather, each chapter is an extended discussion of particular area. Their aim is more to help point you in the right direction. Regarding GKC - the English translation lacks Bergstrasser's additions.

Waltke's grammar is about as good as it gets with Hebrew Grammars. Considering the subject matter and its scope one has to expect a monolith like this 700pg jumbo sized monster. But this isn't just some pedantic and wordy school book, it is accessible (assuming that the reader has a basic understanding of Hebrew already), rich with Biblical examples, and comprehensive (at least as far as a grammar can be). This book has set a standard for Hebrew Grammars and is a must for the serious Hebrew student.

I'm hoping that Jouon Muraoka will provide material of a depth similar to Waltke O'Connor's but with more readability. I love Hebrew, but love not Waltke O'Connor. I don't know of a seminary or grad student who does, even though we all recognize that Waltke O'Connor is a necessary evil.The book is incredibly informative, and the other reviewer is right. You don't know Hebrew until you've read Waltke O'Connor. If only the Waltke O'Connor text were less turgid.

12/26/03. I've revised my opinion of WO. Ach! The prose is still turgid, but it's the best Hebrew grammar out there. WO is to Hebrew Grammar what Louw Nida is to Greek vocabulary. I've got Kautzsch-Cowley, Joüon-Muraoka, Williams, van der Merwe, and have had to go through them all. They don't hold a candle to Waltke O'Connor in terms of depth and helping one to understand the Hebrew.

This is a great book to use to continue building on introductory Hebrew knowledge. They present their material in clear and concise language. They do not attempt to show off how brilliant they are by using words that most of us have never heard.

I would study a passage and use their scripture index to see what they said about a particular verse. This may not have been their intention, but they cover a lot of scripture as they explain Hebrew. I found that the index was accurate as to a passages location and it was easy to find (unlike Gesenius' book).

I also appreciated the large type that they use. Many books of this sort try to cram as much information onto every page that they can. This book is easy to scan when looking for something. Even the footnotes are easy to read.

I don't believe that any student of Hebrew would regret buying this book.

This is the best reference work for Biblical Hebrew (BH) syntax. There are other syntax references for BH, but none this thorough by a long shot. They all have their place and fulfill their own function, but in terms of a definite reference guide, this is the one. It's a pretty hefty volume and will certainly keep the reader busy for some time.... Beginners might want to check out Arnold/Choi's or Williams's work, which are essentially abbreviated or simplified versions of this one.

This book really gives you what you know to dig into advanced Hebrew studies. It is certainly not the end of the road, though, as we still don't understand what the Hebrew verbal system is or exactly how it works. This book concentrates on doing its best to provide an overview of Hebrew sytnax rather than concentrating on particular problems in the research field. If one is looking for answers to these questions, one might be dissappointed by the brevity of the references in this volume. Hebrew is unfortunately still one of those languages where you are going to have a few grammars and subscriptions to a few periodicals before you can feel you have a good idea what's going on. Contrary to poular opinion, Kautsch/Genesius is not so much out of date as it is out of vogue. Such is the nature of Hebrew research. Also, the current Kautsch/Gesenius has an addition by Gotthelf Bergsträsser covering Hebrew morphology, though I am not sure if A. E. Cowley's English translation has this useful section. I would certainly recommend purchasing Kautsch/Gesenius-Bergsträsser in addition to this book. I do not read French and have not picked up Joüon's version or its English translation.