"Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew" (H. H. Hardy II)

TITLE: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
AUTHOR: H. H. Hardy II
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019, (224 pages).

The inspiration for studying Hebrew could be summed up in the words of the author's professor of Hebrew: "One cannot have good theology without good morphology!" Some seminaries and Bible schools to their detriment are doing away with language studies. This book reminds us once again that the original languages are biblical treasures that we could constantly discover. Faith comes by the Word of God. Fruitful spiritual growth comes from an earnest study of the Bible. As one goes further into the book, one could easily feel the conviction of the author rising out of the pages. Using a basic second-year Hebrew syntax syllabus structure, we get a chapter by chapter treatment of nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions, particles, and so on. The format is similar.

1. Introduction
2. Overview
3. Interpretation
4. Further Reading

At the beginning of each chapter, there is a Hebrew verse (without transliteration) taken from the Old Testament. As the author introduces the chapter, he shows us a couple of English translations to set the pace. Phrases are underlined to help us see the different renditions in the translations. It shows us how even the English translation is an interpretation in itself. The overview sections explains some basic exegetical tools to be used in the chapter. This is then followed by Interpretation which is probably the most technical part of each chapter. As I read the resources section, it is clear that the author wants readers to go further to use the example verse as a springboard to more exegesis work on our own. We learn about the "five-step method" of word studies. We are reminded of the differences in the way adjectives are understood between English and Hebrew. We have quick primers of verb conjugations, stems, prepositions, and many other grammatical structures.


Targeted at three main audiences, Hardy II shows us that we all need a refresher guide of Hebrew from time to time. For college students and seminarians, we connect the theory with the practical. Many first-year students get so caught up with the grammar that they find it hard to connect it to real life application. By guiding the reader from exegesis to analysis, and from analysis to application, not only will the student be guided, they too would be excited about the potential language studies bring. For former Hebrew students, like me, we need to be reminded about the valuable gems in the language itself. Moreover, God's Word is to be preached and is expounded best with an understanding of the nuances of Hebrew, something the English language still couldn't quite capture it as well.  For Hebrew instructors, this book is a ready supplement for teaching. I remember my Hebrew class was constantly thirsting for examples about how exegesis leads to real insights of the Bible. This book is a treasure of such illustrations.

The way Hardy II uses the English translations clearly shows us that English translations are insufficient for a proper understanding of the biblical texts. They could only let us appreciate the many questions and struggles of the Bible translators. When the translations differ, readers naturally would gravitate toward the original languages, which is precisely what the author had wanted to achieve. I appreciate the care and consideration Hardy II has put into the overview, showing us the unique grammar characteristics prior to exegeting the verse concerned. Though each chapter is relatively brief, the section that requires the most heavy lifting is the "Interpretation" section where readers would need to take the Hebrew word and follow along the author's analysis. This takes time and effort. If the reader could make the extra effort to plow through the work, like polishing a rough diamond, he will eventually capture the "exegetical gem."

H. H. Hardy II (PhD, University of Chicago) is associate professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is the author of two language resources and numerous articles.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.