Using Old Testament Hebrew in Preaching: A Guide for Students and Pastors

by Paul D. Wegner

Preaching the Old Testament responsibly poses a challenge for busy pastors. With skill and realism, Using Old Testament Hebrew in Preaching provides a workable guide to unearthing its treasures. Wegner emphasizes the importance of using Hebrew in preparation for preaching and offers a detailed process for moving from text to exegesis to proclamation. Homiletics and Hebrew students will profit from the bibliographies and illustrations that reinforce the benefits-to both the preacher and the congregation-that come when using the Old Testament's original language for preaching. Using Old Testament Hebrew in Preaching will motivate professionals, pastors, and students to delve into the richness of the Hebrew Old Testament, and will equip them to probe new depths in preaching the Old Testament to contemporary believers.

Genres: Christian, Old Testament

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2008

Reviews

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most bewildering aspects of biblical studies is the study of ancient languages like biblical Hebrew and Greek. In some circles using Hebrew or Greek is frowned on. In many it is a necessary evil. The aspiring pastor must prove he can pass a few semesters of the languages. After this, he will likely use Greek sparingly and Hebrew not at all. In our day and age, however, there is a proliferation of bible study tools available to bring the wealth of language learning to the fingertips of even interested lay students. There is no excuse for a pastor to not grapple with the original text to some degree.

Paul Wegner has provided a tool to help out busy pastors and once-upon-a-time Hebrew students. His new book Using Old Testament Hebrew in Preaching: A Guide for Students and Pastors explains just how to put even a beginning level of Hebrew to use in preaching and studying the Bible.

The book is laid out very simply, and is designed to be a tool in itself. It starts with an explanation of why Hebrew study matters, and why pastors should take pains to try and use it. Wegner goes on to discuss the tools that are available to help use Hebrew. He compares software programs, Hebrew grammars and other study aids. The book proceeds to discuss how to study a passage using exegesis, literary analysis, theological analysis, and application. Wegner then goes on to explain how to put it all together and prepare an OT sermon. He illustrates just how to do this. The book closes with a discussion on various ways of keeping Hebrew language study fresh, and includes several appendices as aids in their own right.

The book is written in a simple and straightforward style, which makes it accessible to students of all levels of proficiency in Hebrew. Even those with no knowledge of Hebrew would benefit from this book as they plan on pursuing some kind of training in the language.

I learned several helpful things to benefit my own study of Hebrew. Structural analysis of Bible passages is apparently easier with Hebrew than Greek. (This gives some hope!) I also learned to be wary of older Hebrew study tools which prize etymology too much, specifically Brown, Driver and Brigg's lexicon. Modern study has shown the history of words does not always impact their meaning at a given time. On that note, the study of Hebrew nouns is going to be most beneficial and rewarding. This is different than Greek, where verbs are key. The book also includes an excellent list of recommended scholarly and lay commentaries for each OT book.

I can't recommend this little book enough. If you have studied Biblical Hebrew or if you think you will (or you should), you would be blessed in having this book.

My thanks go out to Leslie Paladino of Kregel Publishers for furnishing me with a review copy of this book, at my request.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this on my recent trip to teach Hermeneutics to some Eastern/Central Europeans. Found it only slightly helpful. A good reminder of some basic principles.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic little book. It makes me want to get back into Biblical Hebrew. The worksheets in the back are especially helpful. Worth your time to read and study the Bible in the original.

[Grant Carter]

Still undecided on how I feel about this book. I love Hebrew but I think translating every passage you preach on is just unrealistic.

[Brian Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wenger offers some beneficial tips in this book. The book does not provide any great depth, but offers the expository preacher some wonderful information as one seeks to navigate the truths of the Old Testament. One of the great pieces of information given was Wegner's acronym of sermon preparation--R.E.A.D. T.H.E. B.O.O.K. The reader will want to take note of this acronym as it offers valuable advice for expositional sermon preparation.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic introduction and tool to using Hebrew in preaching. Of course, the only way to truly mine its truths is to actually practice the principles listed here and not simply mark the book as "read."

[Scott Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book....good basic formula for studying and preaching the OT....the tools it helps you find is worth the price

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer/introduction.

[Eli Suddarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really have to say I was surprised how good this book was for its genre. Doesn't read dry like a text book on exegetical preaching, but gives fantastic theological insights throughout.

[Kristian Römer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albeit boring at times, it is helpful in showing the benefits of using Hebrew in one's ministry. It at least encouraged me in keeping up with my Hebrew (and Greek!) studies!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful reference book for Hebrew students of all levels

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a shot in the arm for me in encouraging me to retain my Hebrew. I think it would be good for Hebrew students to read this (or parts of it) after their 2nd or 3rd (or 4th or 5th) semester. Wegner has a lot of practical advice. I don’t think he’s very realistic on translation, textual criticism, and morphology of Hebrew on a a weekly basis (I think translation is good, but the more in depth parts of Hebrew exegesis which require deep comparative analyses of language, culture, etc take too much time to do WEEKLY. They should be done, but some of this stuff requires hours of research for little payoff in preaching and teaching). That being said, I would encourage those who want to maintain or regain their Hebrew to start here.