5 comments about Basics of Biblical Hebrew: Workbook, 2nd Edition.

1. This book is a great addition to the textbook. It reinforces the Hebrew learned in the textbook, through translating and practicing the specifics of each lesson.



2. Great tool. Clear, concise, to the point. Arrange in a helpful way, less confusing than other grammars.



3. It is a pretty practical Hebrew Language review book.
   But definitely it needs a good teacher to go, and to help you as long as
   there is problem. So it is not a self-learning book like the Bible.
   It is a teaching tool for the teacher, and an exercise book for the learners.



4. This grammer is very good and was recommended by a good friend who studied under Pratico.



5. Pratico & Van Pelt provide a concise starting point for Biblica Hebrew. To utilize this book to its fullest you must read the footnotes. It does lack some of the standard terms for the sake of convenience. Its layout is easier than Kelly's Intro to Biblica Hebrew but maintains some of the key terms that are utilized in Joüon's Biblica Hebrew Grammar.
   
   A good starting point and used in several undergrad and graduate programs.

5 comments about Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar: Second Edition.

1. I needed this for a text and I am very happy with the price and the book



2. The Ross Hebrew Grammar is very much better, in our view, than the Pratico Grammar. Pratico has produced a book that serves better as a reference book than a beginning Hebrew Grammar. Very often, my students were confronted with material they did not need. Ross' Grammar we have found to be simpler and, for beginning students, that means better. It covers all that beginners need, and just a little bit more (for the students who want it). I am sure that other Grammars do the same. Pratico just gives too much information too soon. Much of it can safely be skipped.
   We recently switched from Pratico to Ross' textbook in mid-stream because we grew tired of having to deal with so much unnecessary detail. We have kept Pratico on the shelf, and have referred to it once already. So, it still is serving a purpose. But I cannot recommend it as the text of choice for beginners.



3. I began learning biblical Hebrew at 54,basically self-taught,although I had access to some oversight and guidance.I owned two beginning grammars prior to buying Pratico which were helpful as stepping stones.
   I believe this grammar to be the most comprehensive of any that I was able to preview,and is an excellent stand-alone reference. The available workbook,vocabulary cards,and general SYSTEM Pratico publishes will enable the disciplined and persevering student to read and understand the language . That said,if you are NOT those things,this book is going to overwhelm you as an initial introduction to Hebrew grammar,for the very reason it is an excellent reference tool.It is so comprehensive you may be initially intimidated by the thorough presentation of all the nuances,exceptions to the rule,and caveats Biblical Hebrew contains.
   So basically the use of this book will reward the serious student,and I wish I had started here. Get the workbook,vocabulary cards and everything they offer if you are committed. If you are not,you probably are wasting time and should be satisfied using a KeyWord Bible,also excellent.



4. Very good book. It has much technical detail about biblical Hebrew, but it does thoroughly explain the detail. Great for beginner who is grasping new concepts. Great for a scholar who is continuing to learn.



5. I purchased this grammar and the accompanying workbook, flashcards, "charts," and the "Get an A" summary sheet for my Hebrew I & II courses under Miles Van Pelt. It was a treat to be taught from this grammar by the co-author himself. But for those of you who are considering buying this grammar for a course under another professor, or for independent study, I definitely recommend these items, except for the "charts" which you don't need at all. Of course, if you're a student who is going to study under another professor than either of the co-authors, be sure they approve of your relying on this text, even if in part.
   
   Now for the self-studier (or, autodidact), I strongly encourage you to get the four items I list above. This grammar (w/ other goodies) is the simplest way to learn Biblical Hebrew, in my opinion, and that is because it is the most scientific. By this I mean that the authors have painstakingly eliminated all the gruelling paradigm memorization as was possible and caught instead upon all the ways the morphology (how verbs change and why) can give you the same information and make it possible for you to parse the verb(al).
   
   We covered two chapters per week for Hebrew I (and in the compressed winter term, Hebrew II one chapter per day), so it is possible to cruise through this system in six months. I can actually read the Hebrew text after having studied all the chapters, but that was with the benefit of constant instruction by a professional. For autodidacts, plan on one year of disciplined study, without rushing too fast past things you're not sure about. The workbook (and CD ROM from the back of the grammar to grade it) are great! Be sure to do all the exercises, except perhaps the English to Hebrew, which isn't really necessary, but could be a useful added drill if you are struggling. Also, for self-study's, be sure to review review review. Don't be ashamed to start over from the beginning once you have finished. Then you might want to obtain a Hebrew Reader. Zondervan has a nice one. Now learn you some Hebrew ya bums!
   
   Please consult my review of William Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek, because the same strategy and paedagogical method was adopted for Hebrew with this grammar as was adopted by Mounce for Greek.

5 comments about Merriam-Webster's French-English Dictionary.

1. Although this is not a large scholarly Larousse, it serves as a great "pocket" dictionary--good for carrying to/from school. It also has the most extensive coverage of Québécois vocabulary that I have seen in a standard dictionary. This is a very useful tool for a student or traveller who is concerned about knowing Canadian terms and needs a portable dictionary.



2. It's a dictionary -- and it works. 5-stars.



3. Translates French words to English, and English words to French. Awesome. It also has Canadian terms for the Québécois! Merci!
   
   For those complaining about the binding and calling it flimsy -- let's remind ourselves that it's a six dollar *pocket* dictionary. It's going to get torn to pieces eventually with heavy use. If you're using this for other than a trip overseas, or your kid's 8th grade foreign language requirement, then purchase the hardcover -- you linguophile you!



4. There's nothing special about this dictionary and I don't find the pronunciation symbols very helpful. Keep looking for a better dictionary.



5. My need for a French Dictionary determined the quality of this review. It's an adequate solution to my need for translating copy and for finding the correct word in French. So, three stars shows that it's O. K., but not superb.

5 comments about 501 Hebrew Verbs (Barron's Foreign Langage Guides).

1. The Hebrew verbs book , 2nd edition is a big improvement over the 1st edition. I especially like the use of examples of the verbs used in sentences and the book starts on the right side as is the Hebrew language



2. As a low level Hebrew student, I find this reference very helpful. I'm also considering trying to learn one root per day to make it through in a couple of years. It's very organized and useful!



3. I really like this book.The first one was great but this one is better because I think it is more complete.
   Easy to use.



4. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I am doing graduate work right now in Israel, and so I need to learn Modern Hebrew as part of my curriculum. This is the fifth language I have learned, so I am not keen to buy lots of books and grammer guides unless they are actually necessary. I hemmed and hawed over purchasing this book at the beginning (I've never used any Barron's language books before), but it has become utterly indispensible! It's like a gigantic French becherelle. There are no shortcuts or abbreviations; every body is listed under every verb, including the infinitive, various tenses, the verb group, the shem poula, and more.
   
   Despite what other reviewers have said, there are MULTIPLE indices to search a verb...either English to Hebrew, the Hebrew infinitive, the Hebrew root, and by similar groups. It is very rare that I cannot find what I am looking for almost immediately, and often times I get sidetracked by interesting, related verbs. I use this book constantly to practice conjugating verbs in speech, for composition, and just for reminding myself of the various rules for certain groups in certain tenses. This book is worth its weight in gold; if you are serious about learning Hebrew, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!



5. I have enjoyed studying languages all my life and have used the "501 Verbs" series in Spanish and Italian as well as the Hebrew edition. I have found this to be a very informative book. It has been indispensable to me. The only thing is that I wonder why the Hebrew version doesn't come with a CD like the Italian and Spanish versions. I wish that the publisher would look into this. Other than that, I am very happy with this book.

5 comments about The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner's Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition.

1. This is a good curriculum for teaching yourself how to read biblical Hebrew. I can go at my own pace. It is helpful to have someone who can help you with pronunciation though or answer questions...which fortunately, I do. I homeschool and plan to use this book to teach Hebrew to my children as their foreign language in the next year or so as well.



2. I used this book as a supplement for my seminary course in Hebrew. It filled in the gaps and made learning a lot easier.



3. I once had a dream and all I could recognize was a page of UN-identifiable characters. These turned out to be the aleph-bet or Hebrew language, Gods language. I tried to enter a Christian college as a night student to learn what this language meant or what was God trying to communicate to me, and was refused entrance.
   
   This Hebrew Primer is taking me to my understanding of Hebrew and there is no doubt I will read Hebrew, in fact after the first 3 chapters I can stumble in Hebrew. It seems to be a language that is even easier than English.
   
   I would recommend the c/d's that go along with the book. Maybe the flash cards also. God bless.



4. The book is easy to read and understand. The chapters are layed out very well. I'm moving along nicely with no real problems. This is definitely a book that a beginner should consider. I recommend it to anyone who is trying to learn hebrew.



5. I recently bought this book and it is really good for learning the Hebrew language, "lashon hakodesh". I highly recommend it to everybody interested in knowing the language of the Bible.I am enjoying it very much. Thank you for letting me to share my experience. By.

5 comments about Learn Hebrew Today: Alef-Bet for Adults.

1. I think this is an excellent book for the beginning student. I already have a background in Hebrew and bought this for a friend to help him learn. The step by step guide that the book takes you thru is easy and before you know it you are reading simple words. Although online learning is the best way, for someone who wants to take a book with them for a quick lesson during lunch hour or on a plane will benefit greatly. Highly recommended.



2. I received this book yesterday and went through the first few pages today. I was actually reading and speaking Hebrew - it was awesome!
   
   The book is a soft-cover, workbook style that is not at all intimidating. The type is large and easy to read.
   
   The only reason I'm not giving five stars is, as another reviewer has stated, the lack of a pronunciation guide. In order to tell if I'm using the correct pronunciation, I had to keep flipping back to the original lesson.
   
   I'm glad I bought it and am looking forward to learning more Hebrew!



3. Don't buy this book. Better sources exist for FREE; search for:
   
   1) ancient-hebrew dot org and you'll find a good site. on the left-hand side will be the menu; scroll down till you see "learn hebrew". "alphabet" and more is available--with audio files--for free.
   
   2) "foundationstone" this is a free downloadable program that teaches hebrew.
   
   3) "hebrew4christians" dot com and you'll have another good source.
   
   4) "learn-hebrew dot co dot il" is a free Hebrew vocabulary website offering 46 topics in over 1700 Hebrew words and phrases. For each word and phrase you can find a transcription & Translation and to hear the right way of saying it.
   
   These sites will not only teach you everything for free that this book instead sells to you but a whole lot more. This book is also over-simplified. It's mostly a waste of time since any adult or child, with the correct motivation, can learn much more than this book offers at a much faster pace. Also, the "script" form of the letters was calligraphed and not practically written for the beginner who wishes to actually write it. "The First Hebrew Primer" gives a much better source with three choices of style available: book print, block print, and script. A student can easily write Hebrew immediately with this book's help. However, make sure whether you're wanting to learn Biblical or Modern Hebrew because pronunciation and other aspects of the language can differ between the two. If you would like two good "modern" Hebrew sources, check out the "Foreign Service Institute Hebrew Basic Course," which you might find for free online. Search for "free fsi-language-courses". The other is, "Colloquial Hebrew: the Complete Course for Beginners" by Lyttleton and Wang you might find extremely useful!
   
   be'hatslacha! (Good Luck!)



4. This book was awesome. I learned more in one weekend than I had in the previous two years of self-study with other methods. I was so impressed that I bought the child's version for my daughter.



5. This book is very very good. I was reading Hebrew in a matter of days. Great guide to learning how to recognize and pronounce hebrew words - also would make a great supplement with any hebrew grammar book.

5 comments about Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon.

1. This is the Newest edition of the classic Hebrew dictionary that is arranged by word root. It seems that the publishers of this new edition wanted to give it the classic antique look, as it is so famous. Although the cover looks nicer than the older edition, inside it is a different story. The typeface in the inside looks like it was typed with a typewriter a century ago, and is therefore very hard to read, even to those who are familiar with Hebrew. Also, the fact that it is arranged by word root makes it harder to find the words in it. For those looking to own their first Hebrew dictionary, I recommend "The Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew" by Van Pelt and Practico. Also, for those wanting a readable version of BDB, I have found that the one included in BibleWorks is pretty readable.



2. This review is for 4 Hebrew lexicons in common use: Brown-Driver-Briggs, Koehler-Baumgartner, Holladay, and Langenscheidt.
   
   The sizeable Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon is a development of Gesenius' historic work, and a long-time standard in English speaking countries. However, it has become dated, and now is used mostly because Hendrickson put out a cheaply constructed version keyed to Strong's concordance. Oxford's Clarendon Press edition is superior if you are required to get BDB. In addition, organizing entries by verbal root rather than alphabetically makes it difficult to use "BDB" for those without intimate knowledge of Hebrew. Fortunately, there is an alternative.
   
   The Koehler-Baumgartner lexicon is superb and thorough, and based on the latest Hebrew and Aramaic scholarship. The authors also took into account cognates from Ugaritic and Akkadian, so users of this massive work have a goldmine of information to draw from. By massive, I mean it is over 2000 pages in 2 large volumes. This plus its $190 asking price means it might be better to let the university or seminary library bear the brunt of purchasing and housing it unless you are an Old Testament specialist.
   
   Most readers will be best served by the work of William Holladay, a reasonably sized 426 pp lexicon based on the latest scholarship. Holladay abridged K-B by removing bibliographic references and other information most needed by specialists. It is well organized (alphabetically), and the font is clear. Entries also have references (not exhaustive) to use within the Old Testament, meaning it can be used as a poor man's OT concordance. While Holladay is manageably sized enough (9.75" x 6.875" x 1.25") to be pleasant to read and easily portable in a bookbag, it is not the smallest resource available.
   
   Some may be tempted to go a step further for the ultimate in compactness with the Langenscheidt pocket dictionary. This item is 6" x 4" x 1" and quite lightweight - in its 1959 iteration anyway. Its definitions are limited in scope and scholarly foundation, but still, what else fits in your coat pocket?
   
   My overall recommendation: Holladay for everyone, supplemented by Koehler-Baumgartner for those who need and can afford it.
   
   BDB: 3 stars
   K-B: 5 stars
   Holladay: 5 stars
   Langenscheidt: 4 stars



3. Word studies are at the heart of my Bible research for my weekly Messianic radio program, On the Road to Tsiyon, as well as for books, articles and newsletters that I author. My listeners and readers expect unique insights into the Hebrew text from a Messianic teacher, and they are the sort who will check my research for themselves. That makes the reference works I rely upon extremely important to my ministry. BDB is one of the hand full of reference works that I rely upon constantly. That this lexicon is indexed to the Strong's concordance makes it easy to use, not only with Strong's, but with other reference works that also use the standard Strong's numbering system. Since it treats every word of the Old Testament with scholarly details I know I will always find information on the word I'm studying. This is important to me because I don't have time to be looking up words that are not there. It pleases me that BDB is one of the books offered along with mine, here at Amazon, since I rely upon it constantly. Apparently, so do my readers!



4. Every Hebrew study needs this book in the midst. I'm glad I added it to my library.



5. Very well conceived, a pleasure to consult, detailed information about important realia, it is of great help for biblical translations and commentaries.

5 comments about Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index.

1. It does a good job on the Greek words (New Testament) then on the Hebrew words (Old Testament, so I took 1 star away for that. But over all it's a good book & good to have in your library.



2. The most significant biblical words are illustrated by Scripture passages, comments, cross-references, ancient and modern meanings, precise etymologies, historical notes, and clearly defined technical information.
   
   Each original language is indexed, and the addition of a topical index allows you to access all the dictionary entries pertinent to specific New Testament ideas and teachings.
   
   This is an essential reference source for all Bereans.



3. As a graduate from Bible college I can assure you that this lexicon is excellent for those with no knowledge of the greek. It is easily laid out and is well worth the price



4. This one isnt what i tought it would be. It is OK . for what it is. Leaves out some what i would have thought would be in it . Difficult at times but it is what it is .



5. Very helpful,informative, and needful for looking up stuff.
   I have used it many times.

5 comments about Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew.

1. A Ukrainian-Jewish scholar is tutoring a small group of English-speaking preteens and adults to read Biblical Hebrew with "Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew" as the required textbook. Each chapter in the booklet has basic information on how to pronounce and write Hebrew letters. Brief meanings of certain Hebrew words are given at the end of most chapters. Answers are provided for certain exercises in the back of the booklet. For additional information, the back cover foldout organizes in chart form the pronunciations, letter names, and written forms of the consonants and vowels as well as the numeric values associated with each consonant. Included in the book and CD set are three audio compact discs covering most of the written material chapter by chapter.
   
   With a competent tutor, the revised edition of "Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew" Book and CD Set is a recommended resource that enables students to read and write Hebrew without being bogged down with unnecessary technical information. Unfortunately, important information is missing. For example, in "Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew", the vowels Tsere and Segol are pronounced differently. However, many Israelis pronounce both vowels in the same way but with different sound lengths. That is why it is advantageous to have a tutor who knows Hebrew to fine tune the material being taught from the booklet and compact disc.
   
   Please note that the set is not geared for translating Hebrew or memorizing conversational Hebrew phrases and sentences.



2. This book is great for those beginning to learn Hebrew. I have used it as complimentary to audio tapes and have found it very helpful. The book is easy to understand and provides many interactive examples that make learning more effective.



3. The book goes step by step over Hebrew alphabet and presents the exercises in the easy to memorize methodology.
   Included CDs provided additional but neccessary phonetical material.
   Very easy to follow instructions make the learning fun!!!



4. Amazing little book! Barely half-way through, I was able to read and pronounce real Hebrew words! Of course, the language vocabulary in itself has to be learned separately. But this is a real start at learning to read and write Hebrew. The book is beautifully done and easy to follow. At later times, I would find out that the actual pronunciation of some words were different than how I had thought them to sound while learning them - the point being though, I was now able to make real sense of real letters or words and also to read and write them out!
   
   In times past, I used to look at the Hebrew alphabets in despair, wondering how and if I was ever going to understand the language. If I had a word which I wanted to learn presented somewhere, I used to try hard to memorize the "pictures" the word makes, to be able to recognize it later on - and was almost convinced anyone who could actually read the letters of that or any Hebrew word must have been endowed with very extraordinary and special abilities! After just some chapters in this book, I could already discern various word settings and my overall feel for the language was greatly improved.
   
   As presented in this very neat book, I believe anyone can be up and running much more steadily in a short period of time. For someone just beginning to learn Hebrew, I most highly recommend it!



5. Okay, so you have a little booklet, and you insert your CD and the speaker reads directions in English, then enunciates the Hebrew sounds aloud while you follow along. Effective. The speakers are native English speakers and they do enunciate each word clearly. Easy to use.
   
   It works, but it was WORK to make myself sit there and listen/read through the Lessons with the speakers monotonous voices. What I really disliked is that the narrators read every little English instruction, note, etc. I can read the English instructions myself. So, it was annoying when I wanted to repeat an exercise, but in order to do so, I had to start at the beginning of a lesson, which involved having to re-listen to all the English narratives again and again. Some sounds/letters were easier for me to learn than others, so, I would have liked to be able to just repeat those exercises ALONE.
   
   For the money, I would have prefered a disk that I insert into my laptop that is interactive; I could press play when I was ready to begin an exercise and the narrator could also begin.
   
   I had already taught myself the aleph bet just from various free websites. I bought this set hoping that I would begin to READ, not slowly sound out words. I've managed to listen/read through this set in its entirety ONCE - I am STILL slowly sounding out words.
   
   I know that this product has received a lot of good reviews, so obviously most people like the product ... and maybe if it had cost me $10, I wouldn't bother to write a review that is essentially complaining, because I don't like using it, so, for me it is ineffective waste of money. But consider this: I bought Rosetta Stone and hated it while many people love it ... but Pimsleurs was highly effective for me. Differnt styles ... gotta figure out what will work for you.

5 comments about Biblical Hebrew Laminated Sheet (Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides).

1. This is a good memory jog device, especially for those of us who are getting older & forget some of the basics from seminary. Great job. It is easy to carry w/ me when I teach overseas.



2. The Hebrew Laminated Sheet gives a ready reference as one seeks to become proficient in one of the original languages so that you can learn what is really written and bypass the inept and often incorrect english versions.



3. Basics covered in depth in this 4-pg laminated document. Also has holes for binder which will make it handy for immediate access.



4. This is a great product. It's especially helpful for Siminary students that are not fimiliar with Hebrew. If you are a bible college or bible Grad student, Then is a Must buy. Thanks



5. This is a great tool if you already know Hebrew; not if you are just learning or novice. There should be a note before buying that this if for people that already have the Hebrew aleph-Bets learned and you are now studying the vowel pointings. So I would not recommend if you are a novice, but if you have something else that will help you with this guide, then buy it