An Introduction to Aramaic

by Frederick E. Greenspahn

An Introduction to Aramaic is a straightforward introduction to biblical Aramaic for beginning students who are already familiar with Hebrew. All Aramaic passages in the Old Testament are included, along with an introduction to other Aramaic texts, such as ancient inscriptions, Dead Sea Scrolls, rabbinic literature, and quotations in the New Testament. There are also paradigms, a complete glossary, and a list of resources for further study as well as practice exercises for each chapter. The second edition clarifies certain points in the first edition, updates the contents, and provides an answer key.

Genres: Language, Reference, Judaism

296 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1998

Reviews

[Ushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short introduction to the language for divinity students who have studied a little biblical Hebrew. Aramaic was originally the language of a Semitic people who lived in modern-day Syria. It became the lingua franca and a co-official language of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and later of the Persian Empire. Aramaic was also the spoken language of the Jews during the Second Temple period; about 1% of the Hebrew Bible is written in the language: parts of Ezra and parts of Daniel; also, a single sentence in the middle of Jeremiah - possibly, a gloss on the margins of a manuscript that was copied into the main text by mistake, and a place-name in Genesis. It was also the language of several non-literal translations of the Bible, of the Talmud and of rabbinical elites into the modern era; it was also spoken by Jewish and Christian communities in Iraq, Turkey and Syria; most of these people have moved into Israel or the United States during the second half of the last century. Aramaic is very similar to Hebrew, but has some phonetic, lexical and grammatical differences. Its verb system is more orthogonal than that of Hebrew; it has analogues of binyanim pa'al, pi'el and hiph'il, but whereas Hebrew has passive counterparts only of the last two, Aramaic also has a passive counterpart of the analogue of binyan pa'al. The Hebrew binyan hitpa'el is a sort of binyan pi'el with a reflexive prefix; in Aramaic, this prefix can apply to all three main binyanim; there is no analogue of binyan niph'al.

[Kirk Lowery · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pedagogical, not a reference, grammar. And very expensive!

[Robert Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction. Consult others alongside it. Helpful exercises. Excellent selection of Aramaic texts at the end.