A Letter Respecting Some Particularities of the Hebrew Syntax

by Granville Sharp, Brian Tice (Introduction)

Granville Sharp was the very definition of a Renaissance Man: self-taught in Law, Hebrew, Greek, and Music – and highly accomplished in all of them. Greek students know him as the author of the "Granville Sharp Rule," history buffs know him as a British abolitionist; but his contributions to the study of Hebrew have been relegated to the footnotes... until now. In this formerly out-of-print work, Sharp dissects all of the available Hebrew grammars for any inkling of data on the function of the waw-hahipuch (vav of reversal) and proceeds to formulate the most comprehensive set of rules with regard thereto, complete with numerous examples from Scripture. This edition includes a new biographical introduction and an annotated bibliographical survey of the grammars with which Sharp interacted. As an added bonus, Granville Sharp’s rather impressive family is presented in a family tree in the inside back cover.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2019

Reviews

[Brian Tice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this work in an out-of-print 1803 edition from a rare books collection. Having found it to be such a great treasure in terms of laying out the details of the waw-hahipuch (waw of reversal) including Scriptural examples of each of the rules delineated, I brought up to MJR Press the proposition that it be republished with a new biographical introduction and an annotated bibliography of the grammars referenced by Granville Sharp. I was charged with this task and comment here on the part of this work drafted by Mr. Sharp 214 years ago rather than on my own contributions to the present publication thereof. A more thorough treatment of the waw-hahipuch, I would venture, does not exist. Sharp draws from ten of the most significant Hebrew grammars of the 16th - 18th centuries and adds his own expert analysis.