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A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew
A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew is a complete revision of Duane Garrett’s respected 2002 release originally entitled A Modern Grammar for Classical Hebrew . In addition to the revisions and contributions from new coauthor Jason DeRouchie, the book now includes the answer key for an all-new companion workbook and an updated vocabulary list for second year Hebrew courses.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2002
23 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Duane A. Garrett
19 books49 followersDuane A. Garrett is John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served on the faculty at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Bethel Seminary, Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, Mid-America Baptist Seminary, and Korea Baptist Seminary. He has authored numerous books, including Song of Songs in the Word Biblical Commentary, A Modern Grammar for Classical Hebrew, Angels and the New Spirituality, Authority and Interpretation, and Hosea and Joel in the New American Commentary. He is the general editor of The Archaeology Study Bible (Zondervan).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 28, 2021
Tough sledding, as expected. But it's done.
May 25, 2017
You can read my full review on my blog, Spoiled Milks (5/8/17)
Learning a language is not easy. You have to learn a new set of vocabulary, a new way to structure sentences, and new syntactical and grammatical rules just to be able to speak to somebody! It’s a bit different with Hebrew and Greek, as many student only learn to recognize and read the languages (unfortunately-languages stick better when you learn them through speaking and listening too). Duane Garrett and Jason DeRouchie have come together and revised Garrett’s previous Hebrew textbook.
The chapter on verbs is very helpful when it explains tense, mood, aspect, and voice. Each chapter has a section on vocabulary, and beginning with chapter nine the reader is presented with a guided reading from Psalm 1, Numbers 1.24–35, Psalm 14, and various texts from Genesis. The authors cover the expected grammar of Hebrew: nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prefixes, etc. But Section E has six chapters, one on Masoretic marks, and five covering syntax and literary structure, discourse analysis, and poetry. These chapters give important advice on sentence clauses, speech, embedded discourse, paragraph markers, and more. There is a case study in historical discourse in Genesis 37.2–11 which will benefit any who put the time into understanding it. It’s not enough to know vocabulary and to be able to parse; you must know how to read sentences and paragraphs and to know how the sense units function in relation to each other. This is a large task, and Garrett and DeRouchie faithfully guide their beginners through these tricky ravines.
The chapter on verbs was also frustrating because the authors introduce their readers to verbs by using weak verbs (qam) while explaining them through perfect/imperfect verb names (qatal/yiqtol). Hebrew is difficult enough, and weak verbs are surely an eye-sore, thus introducing students to verbs by using Hebrew weak verbs is something I may never understand.
I still prefer both Allen Ross’ grammar and Van Pelt/Pratico’s grammar. Part of that is because I’ve worked through both of them. I also think both grammars are laid out better than this one. This one has a lot of good information in it, but it does require a lot of reading. Some chapters also try to get too far ahead of themselves by providing a brief look at a grammatical rule that will be examined in a later chapter.
Regardless, Garrett and DeRouchie have put together an excellent grammar that tries to give the reader all the information they need to understand the language. This wouldn’t be the first grammar I reach for, nor the first I recommend as I don’t find it the simplest grammar to go through, but with self-discipline and patience one can surely make it through this grammar with a firm understanding of both beginning Hebrew and syntax
Disclosure: I received this book free from B&H Academic. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Learning a language is not easy. You have to learn a new set of vocabulary, a new way to structure sentences, and new syntactical and grammatical rules just to be able to speak to somebody! It’s a bit different with Hebrew and Greek, as many student only learn to recognize and read the languages (unfortunately-languages stick better when you learn them through speaking and listening too). Duane Garrett and Jason DeRouchie have come together and revised Garrett’s previous Hebrew textbook.
The chapter on verbs is very helpful when it explains tense, mood, aspect, and voice. Each chapter has a section on vocabulary, and beginning with chapter nine the reader is presented with a guided reading from Psalm 1, Numbers 1.24–35, Psalm 14, and various texts from Genesis. The authors cover the expected grammar of Hebrew: nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prefixes, etc. But Section E has six chapters, one on Masoretic marks, and five covering syntax and literary structure, discourse analysis, and poetry. These chapters give important advice on sentence clauses, speech, embedded discourse, paragraph markers, and more. There is a case study in historical discourse in Genesis 37.2–11 which will benefit any who put the time into understanding it. It’s not enough to know vocabulary and to be able to parse; you must know how to read sentences and paragraphs and to know how the sense units function in relation to each other. This is a large task, and Garrett and DeRouchie faithfully guide their beginners through these tricky ravines.
The chapter on verbs was also frustrating because the authors introduce their readers to verbs by using weak verbs (qam) while explaining them through perfect/imperfect verb names (qatal/yiqtol). Hebrew is difficult enough, and weak verbs are surely an eye-sore, thus introducing students to verbs by using Hebrew weak verbs is something I may never understand.
I still prefer both Allen Ross’ grammar and Van Pelt/Pratico’s grammar. Part of that is because I’ve worked through both of them. I also think both grammars are laid out better than this one. This one has a lot of good information in it, but it does require a lot of reading. Some chapters also try to get too far ahead of themselves by providing a brief look at a grammatical rule that will be examined in a later chapter.
Regardless, Garrett and DeRouchie have put together an excellent grammar that tries to give the reader all the information they need to understand the language. This wouldn’t be the first grammar I reach for, nor the first I recommend as I don’t find it the simplest grammar to go through, but with self-discipline and patience one can surely make it through this grammar with a firm understanding of both beginning Hebrew and syntax
Disclosure: I received this book free from B&H Academic. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
November 2, 2019
Only relative beginners in learning Hebrew will select an introductory grammar textbook such as this. Those are people who want to learn to read Biblical Hebrew. I find that this text is better than most, but not sufficient for the reader’s purpose. That is no defect in this textbook, but rather an inevitable consequence of the goal of language acquisition. To learn the language, the beginner, and even the intermediate learner, must review over and over again. The best way to do that is to read several grammar textbooks sequentially, and also to persistently read Tanakh. Like the fellow who wanted instructions on how to get to Carnegie Hall, you must practice practice practice.
A tip to avoid intimidation: save Gesenius for the last textbook on your syllabus.
A tip to avoid intimidation: save Gesenius for the last textbook on your syllabus.
December 4, 2025
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April 25, 2021
As a new Hebrew student, this book helped me immensely in learning the language at a basic level. You'll want to get the accompanying workbook, as actually practicing writing Hebrew and translating with a pen or pencil in hand is absolutely integral to grasping the language. NOTE: The Kindle version has a lot of typos and jumbled up words, so get the print edition.
March 19, 2022
2022 reads: 07
Rating: 4 stars.
Rating: 4 stars.
March 21, 2022
Not as good as the one by Van Pelt but still very helpful.
October 8, 2022
This book was dryer than the Sahara, but at least it was accurate.
June 2, 2024
וְלֹֽא־נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם לֵב֙ לָדַ֔עַת וְעֵינַ֥יִם לִרְאֹ֖ות וְאָזְנַ֣יִם לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃
I think Moses wrote this about Hebrew.
I think Moses wrote this about Hebrew.
November 18, 2024
I have conflicting thoughts towards this one… the language of Hebrew is awesome, but this book is not.
This one is not for the faint of heart.
This one is not for the faint of heart.
Read
July 21, 2025HSHRJIOYJMRTYIOJRTGMN GJKRJNT OJKO6
February 28, 2014
If I were to teach Hebrew grammar, I would use this book or at least rely heavily upon it. It is comprehensive, although a bit tedious and unnecessarily convoluted at times. The best sections are the beginning portions and the last part on discourse analysis.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews