ARC - Academic Resource Center: Hebrew Resources

Chapter 2: Noun Morphology (Gender and Number)

In this chapter, Bartelt goes over the basic noun forms and discusses various patterns of vowel reduction when adding syllables to nouns. 

Resource #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJenAH-zNDw&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers

This video reviews how to form basic nouns and provides nice visual examples to reinforce the material. It also previews how Hebrew adjectives operate under the same rules and how one can make indefinite nouns definite. 

Resource #2: Chapters 6 (pp.20-25) & 8 (pp.32-38) of A Basic Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, written by Jo Ann Hackett (can be found in our library with the following call number: PJ4567.3 H23 2010). 

These chapters of Hackett's text are great resources for further reinforcement of the mechanics of Hebrew introduced in Ch. 2 of Bartelt. Ch. 6 deals with the Hebrew syllable and talks more about vowels and how they are affected by added syllables. Ch. 8 specifically addresses the intersection of nouns/adjectives and vowels and introduces the definite article and conjunctions. Each chapter has helpful and challenging exercises as well. 

Resource #3: Chapter 13 (pp.59-66) of Biblical Hebrew for Beginners, written by P. Rajendra Babu (can be found in our library with the following call number: PJ4567.5 B338 2011). 

This chapter of Babu's text succinctly recaps how Hebrew nouns function and are formed and gives a multitude of examples for each noun case. Babu also introduces the notion of construct nouns, which will come in handy once you begin forming clauses and sentences. 

Chapter 3: Prefixes (Article, Prepositions, Conjunction):

In this chapter, Bartelt discusses the addition of the definite article, various prepositions, and conjunctions on nouns and how these additions affect their morphology and meaning. 

Resource #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXkO18brCm0&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers

This video goes into detail about what the definite article in Hebrew is and how one goes about attaching it to a noun form. It also touches on the relationship between the definite article and vowels/prepositions. See also videos on prepositions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2lPnjwUq6Q&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers) and conjunctions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg7yQIRJ-4U&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers). 

Resource #2: Chapters 7 (pp.27-29), 8 (pp.30-32), and 12 (pp.49-58) of Biblical Hebrew for Beginners, written by P. Rajendra Babu (can be found in our library with the following call number: PJ4567.5 B338 2011). 

These chapters expand on the topics of the definite article, the waw conjunction, and the various types and functions of prepositions in Hebrew. Babu clarifies many of the exceptions of attaching prefixes to noun/adjectival forms and also highlights the various usages of each prefix, which is an extremely helpful tool for later chapters. 

Resource #3: 

 https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_Seven/Inseparable_Prepositions/inseparable_prepositions.html

This page is a review of inseparable prepositions and how one goes about attaching them to noun forms. The chart at the top of the page and discussion of the merging of definite article and preposition are especially helpful. See also https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_Seven/Independent_Prepositions/independent_prepositions.html for a discussion of independent prepositions. 

Bartelt Chapter 4 (Verb Morphology): The "Perfect" Aspect (Afformative Verb Forms)

In this chapter, Bartelt addresses the perfect aspect (basically the "past tense"), which is the basic form of Hebrew verbs. The chapter deals with how this aspect functions, what the different verb endings are, and a few other topics dealing with verbs (direct object markers, finite verb negation, etc.). Found on pages 31-38 in Bartelt's text. 

Resource #1: https://scholar.csl.edu/do/search/?q=hebrew%20perfect%20aspect&start=0&context=7404402&facet=

This is a lecture given by Dr. Bartelt on chapter 4 (in 5 parts which amount to about 30 minutes) and essentially reviews all the things discussed in the chapter. This lecture is useful because Bartelt gives more information on Hebrew verbs in general, especially how they are both similar to and different from Greek, and in doing so introduces the other major form of Hebrew verbs, the imperfect aspect.  

Resource #2: https://biblicallanguages.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/perfect-verb-personal-endings-handout.pdf (handout); https://biblicallanguages.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/in-class-practice-sheet-for-identifying-perfect-suffixes1.pdf (practice sheet)

These are worksheets for review and practice. The first is a review of the perfect aspect and the verb endings for said aspect. The second is a drill worksheet that will assist you in recognizing the perfect suffixes and determining what person/number/gender a verb is. 

Resource #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFJ-_d7MDtw&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers

This is a quick 8-minute review of the perfect tense and how endings are attached to the stems of Hebrew verb roots. A great way to recap with the practice sheets alongside!

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Bartelt Chapter 5 (Verb Morphology): Variations of the "Perfect" Aspect

In this chapter, Bartelt discusses minor and major variations of the perfect aspect, most notably two-consonant roots, III-He roots, and stative verbs. Found on pages 39-46 in Bartelt's text. 

Resource #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt16yU1JPL8&ab_channel=WTSHebrewPlayers

This video is a 10-minute theoretical introduction to the distinction between regular ("strong") and irregular ("weak") verbs in Hebrew. Several major variations are mentioned and elaborated upon from Bartelt's chapter, and it would be useful to memorize the lists he gives of which Hebrew letters are weak and which are considered gutturals. Please note that this video operates under the grammar pattern described by Bartelt on page 39, derived from the verb meaning "to do"). 

Resource #2: https://myluthernet.luthersem.edu/ICS/icsfs/Weak_Verbs.pdf?target=131430b2-f5c5-4930-aaf2-e43914687c93

This is a slideshow focusing on weak verbs in Hebrew in all the aspects you will learn and how to identify each weak verb when reading Hebrew. This is a great resource as you learn more verb aspects such as the imperfect, Hiphil, Piel, and Niphal aspects. Specifically note the last few slides which give pointers as to how to discern if a given verb is weak and, if so, what type it is. 

Resource #3: https://hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_Ten/Introduction/introduction.html

As with the previous resource, this is a more broad overview of the Hebrew verb system and gives helpful insights to the perfect tense (and weak verb variations), as well as information on other aspects you will soon learn. Both this page and the aforementioned slideshow are good long-term resources for you to understand the mechanics of Hebrew verbs as you learn more variations and begin parsing/translating them in their context. 

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