Pocket Dictionary for the Study of Biblical Hebrew

The IVP Pocket Reference Series

by Todd J. Murphy

Of Greek and Hebrew, Hebrew strikes the most fear in the heart of the Bible student. The alphabet does not look anything like English. The vocabulary offers almost no points of contact with English. The verb system is utterly alien. And the lexicons, grammars and textbooks are wrapped up in a metalanguage--spiked with Latin--that is daunting in itself. For those who feel that studying the English Old Testament is a challenge, the thought of reading it in Hebrew is extreme. Hebrew students need all the help they can get.
If you are beginning your study of Hebrew and the Hebrew Bible, this pocket dictionary by Todd J. Murphy is for you. From ablative to zaqeph qaton, it defines the tangled terms that infest Hebrew textbooks, grammars and lexicons. Here is a book that will deliver you from the perils of the Piel and the thicket of metathesis. It is an indispensable glossary that will cut through that technical language--neither Hebrew nor English--that hovers like ground fog over the study and discussion of biblical Hebrew. Now you can devote more time to enjoying biblical Hebrew in all its richness.

Genres: Reference, Language

183 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dictionary has been written for people who actually need to use a dictionary. That is in contrast to many dictionaries that are written for people who don't need to use dictionaries. What I mean is that the words and phrasing in many dictionaries is so stiff, stilted, and technical that it is nigh impossible to figure out what they mean. This dictionary is not like that. It is written in a way that makes it fairly easy to figure out, explaining technical terms in a way that makes sense. Mr. Murphy has not sacrificed the technical terms, however, as he retains the same vocabulary you will find in Hebrew grammars. What he has done is make those terms easier to understand. This pocket dictionary makes a fine addition to any student's library as it is helpful in figuring out grammatical terms that are also used in English grammar, and gives Hebrew students a fighting chance at understanding the complexities of Hebrew grammar.