Abstract
Updating it from the 2001 edition, Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. van Pelt have released a third edition of their Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar. It is designed as a one-year basic course in Biblical Hebrew, to be used alongside supplementary Zondervan resources: a workbook, vocabulary cards and DVDs (plus answer key, presentation slides, quizzes and exams available online). Here, I will focus on the Grammar.
What strikes one first is its physical properties: around A4 size and in excess of 500 pages, it makes for a hefty tome. The font is large and easily readable, and red and grey fonts are used to indicate the focus of discussion (e.g. for suffixes and vowels). This is effective, but sometimes the grey in particular is difficult to see—a problem that may be aggravated as the page ages or is photocopied.
To my mind, this grammar would be most useful to those studying independently, who could watch the DVD lectures and read the detailed explanations within their own workspace (without having to carry the weighty volume to class every day). Pratico and van Pelt, however, envisage its integration into formal courses, especially within seminary contexts. The book is explicitly Christian, with its primary audience ‘those training for biblical ministry’ (p. xi). It begins with a fiery sermonic introduction by John Piper on ‘Why Study Biblical Hebrew?’, and there are Christian interjections throughout the book.
The grammar is structured with nouns and nominals first (pp. 26–114), then qal verbs (pp. 115–263), then derived stems (pp. 264–379). It ends with large-print verbal paradigm tables, and a Hebrew to English lexicon with all words occurring 10 or more times in the Hebrew Bible. This lexicon helpfully gives the frequency of the words within the Hebrew Bible, and sometimes other statistical information (e.g., distribution).
The chosen method of teaching verbs is ‘diagnostics’: paradigm memorisation is kept to a minimum, and students are encouraged instead to recognise the distinguishing features of the various verbal forms. Accordingly, ‘derived stem diagnostics’ tables are given in an appendix, and the workbook and online quizzes test recognition of diagnostic markers. As one would expect, all the major verbal forms are covered, with a fairly standard presentation. One exception is the so-called jussive and cohortative (or ‘volitional imperfect’), which are kept out of the main body of the grammar and paradigm tables, and are relegated to an ‘additional information’ section (§23.11).
Each chapter is broken down into clear sections and subsections, giving detailed but accessible prose explanations of the various phenomena. Each chapter ends with four distinctive subsections: (1) A bullet-point summary to consolidate the main points. (2) A vocabulary list, divided into nouns, verbs, adjectives etc., tagged with the words’ frequency. Perhaps frustratingly, the vocabulary does not always correspond with the content of the chapter (e.g., only one piel verb given as vocabulary in the two chapters on the piel [chs 30–31]). (3) Additional information, giving e.g. alternative terminology or finer points of grammar. Again, this does not always relate to the topic for the rest of the chapter. (4) ‘Something you should know, consider or memorize’. Most of these sections are discussions by seminary professors, illuminating the exegetical/theological significance of certain features of the Hebrew in Old Testament passages (from a Christian perspective). Several are exhortations on the importance of biblical languages, given by figures from Protestant Church history (e.g., Tyndale, Wesley, Luther). A few are verses to memorise, with a short commentary attached.
Overall, this grammar is accessible (especially through its clear explanations and use of diagnostics), physically big, and self-consciously Christian. I will be useful for its target audience.