Customer Reviews

Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors

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This thorough and scholarly resource book is an invaluable guide to the process of determining the meaning of Old Testament passages. It contains examples and though it is written for scholars and pastors, it is accessible (and provides helpful guidance) to the layperson, such as myself, that desires to develop a less superficial understanding of scripture. The bibliography in the back is terrific and is probably worth the cost of the book by itself. The updated bibliography in the revised edition is worth buying it even if you already own prior editions.

This book has been the world standard for OT exegesis for around 30 years and this new edition has tons of new content including dozens of websites and software programs useful for exegesis. Written very simply, this Biblical scholar has the heart of a pastor. After the 12 step exegesis process chapter, the author does an entire chapter on showing how to do an abbreviated exegesis to prepare for a sermon. Very helpful. The section on hermeneutical errors was also very insightful.

Like having a lively study buddy when you analyze Scripture. Helps you appreciate what your pastor must go through if you're blessed enough to have one who actually EXEGETES the Bible in Bible class, rather than give you canned garbage telling you what you already know.

I just love this book: it is clearly-written, succinct, well-organized, hits all the right questions so when you're thinking over something in Scripture, the succinctness helps jog your thinking. So do get this book, even if you're not a pastor. You'll never regret it: Scripture is meant to be PONDERED over and in the original-languages text. This book helps you do that, whether you're just a student, scholar, or teacher.

It's as good as Thorleif Boman's Hebrew Thought Compared with Greek, which is my all-time favorite analytical book on Bible. That's a recognized classic also, and I believe it's still here at Amazon, where I bought it years ago.

BOTH of these books will help you think clearly when studying. Worth a billion dollars.

This is going to be brief. First off, I am merely a Christian layman who is always looking to improve my Biblical study methods and with that in mind, this book does a very good job helping me. Quite understandable and educational.

Not sure what the changes are from the 3rd edition, but this book is fantastic. It is readable, thorough and has a wealth of information which is helpful for finding the best resources on OT exegesis.

This book is essential for students of Hebrew. This belongs with HALOT and Waltke/O'Connor as a book that the exegete cannot live without.

This book was written as a textbook mainly for students and pastors, as a preliminary guide to Old Testament Exegesis. As such, steps for exegesis are presented and explained in a systematic manner. The language used is technical, but not too difficult for one with at least some experience in biblical languages.

The book can be divided into three main sections:
The first section (pg 5-66) comprises of 2 chapters dealing with the theory and practice of exegesis itself. Chapter 1 deals with the twelve steps that one would engage himself in when examining any Old Testament text. Here he presents the theoretical steps that one would engage in. For each step, the author lists various questions that the exegete would have to ask with regards to text, the contexts, grammar etc. of the passage. These steps are comprehensive, with many sub-points to guide the reader and ensure that he does not leave any stones unturned in the exegetical process. Chapter 2 then gives practical examples from the Old Testament text for each step, briefly demonstrating the process of each.

The second section (pg. 67-88) focuses on exegesis with regards to sermon preparation. This was especially helpful, as he skillfully directed the reader to understand what how the technical and often tedious process of exegesis can be applied to weekly sermon preparations on any text. He stressed the need for realizing how the biblical text can apply to the contemporary crowd. He rightly affirmed that without application, the exegetical research and resulting presentation would be but a talk, lecture of lesson.

The final section (pg 89-165) is more of a guide to the available materials and resources that would aid an exegete in his work. He gives many helpful comments with regards to the diverse range of books and sets that can be helpful. However, the perspective of the author of this book with regards to the Word of God is that `there is no single authoritative version of the Old Testament text in existence' (pg. 90). As such, he strongly advocates the need for textual criticism, and discusses its process in detail. The various books and resources that he recommends in the 4th chapter are also all with the rationalistic viewpoint of the great necessity of textual and other forms of criticism.

Nonetheless, despite the author's liberal view with regards to the preservation of God's Word and the inerrancy of the OT text, there are still useful suggestions and pointers that he has to give to students of exegesis. The steps are presented in a very logical and systematic step-by-step format, which would aid especially beginners who are new to the process.

Therefore in reading this book, one must be discerning, and be able to pick up the pointers and steps that would be helpful. At the same time, the reader must be able to realize that certain steps are unnecessary if one were to subscribe to the view that God's Word is perfect and certain, and that there is no need to question the very words of God.

It's very useful for the process of the exegesis and study of the OT.