Course Description

The primary goal of this course, the first in a three-semester sequence, is to gain working knowledge of Classical Biblical Hebrew (CBH). The course will especially focus on matters of language—phonology, pronunciation, orthography, nominal and verbal morphology, grammar, syntax, lexicon, etc. Language acquisition will occur through exercises both in reading and composition, with students learning vocabulary pertaining to many areas of life, including family household, economy, politics, agriculture, religion, law, and many others. Students will read excerpts from Genesis, Exodus and Jonah in the second semester. Students will learn how to exegete and interpret the biblical passages in the original language.

Register

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (with Blended Learning)

  • Dates : 2025


    (Thursday)
    Jan: 9, 16, 23
    Feb: 6, 13, 20, 27
    Mar: 20, 27
    Apr: 3, 10, 17, 24
    May: 8

    Closing date for registration:
    Jan 6, 2025

  • Time

    7:15PM-10:00PM

Instructor

Dr Sun Jiani

Lecturer

Jiani finished her DPhil in Theology/Hebrew Bible at the University of Oxford. Her dissertation is on the Wisdom of Solomon in which she argues that scriptural interpretation enables the reading community to re-experience God’s saving acts in history. Originally from Shanghai, China, she has spent six years in the US before she comes to Oxford. She received her BA in Biblical Studies and Philosophy from Wheaton (IL) in 2018 and then completed an MAR at Yale Divinity School in 2020. She enjoys reading, cooking, and hosting people with her husband.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    General

    • Biblical Hebrew Language and Linguistics

    • Course Synopsis

    • Zoom Meeting Login Details

    • Orientation Course and Library Access
  • 2

    Lesson 1: Irregular Verbs I

    • Message

    • Post lesson slides

    • Psalm 1 (Devotion text)

    • Exercise 1

    • Exercise 1 (doc version)

    • Study guide for Quiz 1 (doc version)

    • Study Guide for Quiz 1

    • Quiz 1 (doc version)

    • Quiz 1

  • 3

    Lesson 2: Irregular Verbs II & Digital Tools

    • Post lesson slides

    • BGST-Accordance deal

    • Exercise 2 (doc version)

    • Exercise 2

    • Study guide for Quiz 2 (doc version)

    • Study guide for Quiz 2

    • Quiz 2 (doc version)

    • Quiz 2
  • 4

    Lesson 3: Wayyiqtol & Weqatal

    • Post lesson slides

    • Note

    • Lesson 3 video

    • Exercise 3 (doc version)

    • Exercise 3

    • Basics of Biblical Hebrew Lexicon

    • Study guide to Quiz 3 (doc version)

    • Study guide to Quiz 3

    • Quiz 3

  • 5

    Lesson 4: Pronominal Suffixes on Verbs

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 4 video

    • Study guide for exam PI (doc version)

    • Study guide for exam PI

    • Study guide for exam P2 (doc version)

    • Study guide for exam P2

    • Updated course synopsis

    • Note

  • 6

    Lesson 5: Consolidation Exam 1

    • Consolidation exam 1 (doc version)

    • Consolidation Exam 1

    • Lesson 5 video

    • Post lesson slides
  • 7

    Lesson 6: Qotels and Qatuls

    • Post lesson slides

    • Note

    • Lesson 6 video

    • Exercise 4 (doc version)

    • Exercise 4

    • Study guide to Quiz 4 (doc version)

    • Study guide to Quiz 4

    • Quiz 4
  • 8

    Lesson 7: Volitional Verbs

    • Important announcement

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 7 video

    • Exercise 5 (doc version)

    • Exercise 5

    • Study guide for Quiz 5 (doc version)

    • Study guide for Quiz 5

    • Quiz 5 (doc version)

    • Quiz 5

  • 9

    Lesson 8: Infinitives

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 8 video

    • Exercise 6 (doc version)

    • Exercise 6

    • Study guide for Quiz 6 (doc version)

    • Study guide for Quiz 6

    • Psalm 23 in Hebrew

    • Quiz 6 (doc version)

    • Quiz 6
  • 10

    Lesson 9: Hebrew Numbers

    • Course synopsis

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 9 video

    • Numbers summary sheet

    • Study guide for Consolidation Exam 2 - PI & P2 (doc versions)

    • Study guide for Consolidation Exam 2 Part I

    • Study guide for Consolidation Exam 2 Part II

    • Note

  • 11

    Lesson 10: Consolidation Exam 2

    • Consolidation Exam 2

    • Lesson 10 video

    • Post lesson slides

    • Qal summary sheet (practice sheet)

    • Qal summary sheet (completed)

    • Note

  • 12

    Lesson 11: Niphal Stem

    • Revised course synopsis

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 11 video

    • Niphal practice sheet (doc version)

    • Niphal practice sheet

    • Niphal Practice Sheet Answers

    • Exercise 7 (doc version)

    • Exercise 7

    • Study guide to Quiz 7

    • Study guide to Quiz 7

  • 13

    Lesson 12: Piel, Pual & Hithpael Stems

    • Post lesson slides

    • note

    • Lesson 12 class video

    • Piel, Pual & Hithpael Practice sheet (doc version)

    • Piel, Pual & Hithpael Practice sheet

    • Piel, Pual & Hithpael Practice sheet (Answers)(doc version)

    • Piel, Pual & Hithpael Practice sheet (Answers)

    • Quiz 8 (doc version)

    • Quiz 8

    • Submit quiz 8 here

  • 14

    Lesson 13: Hiphil & Hophal Stems

    • Post lesson slides

    • Lesson 13 class video

    • Hiphil & Hophal Practice sheet (doc version)

    • Hiphil and Hophal Practice sheet

    • Hiphil and Hophal Practice sheet (Answers)(doc version)

    • Hiphil and Hophal Practice sheet (Answers)

    • Study guide to Exam 3 (Part I)(doc version)

    • Study Guide to Exam 3 (Part I)

    • Study Guide to Exam 3 (Part II)(doc version)

    • Study Guide to Exam 3 (Part II)
  • 15

    Lesson 14: Consolidation Exam 3

    • Consolidation Exam 3-Answer Template

    • Consolidation Exam 3 (doc version)

    • Consolidation Exam 3

    • Submit consolidation exam here

    • Lesson 14 slides

    • Lesson 14 video
  • 16

    Post BH112: Consolidation Exercise & BH211 Course Synopsis

    • Consolidation exercise (doc version)

    • Consolidation exercise

    • Submit consolidation exercise here

    • Condensed course synopsis