Biblical Hebrew Workbook: Reading Genesis and Psalms Verse by Verse

The best way to learn a classical language is to read it — early and often. This workbook-style course puts you inside real biblical passages from the first session, using structured worksheets that walk you through every grammatical decision needed to translate a verse independently. Rather than drilling grammar in isolation, you encounter each new concept in the context of a text you are actually reading. By the end of this course you will be able to parse nouns and verb forms encountered in selected passages of Genesis and the Psalms, construct a working vocabulary of approximately 150 high-frequency Hebrew words, translate short biblical verses with confidence, and identify common poetic devices such as parallelism and chiasm in the Psalter. What you will learn: - Verse-by-verse reading of Genesis 1–3 with grammatical annotations and translation worksheets - Reading and parsing Psalms 23, 121, and 130 in full - How to build a parsing chart: identifying root, stem, person, gender, number, and tense - The Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil verb stems introduced through attested examples - Recognizing the Masoretic cantillation system as a guide to phrase boundaries - Vocabulary acquisition strategies tailored to the repetitive structure of biblical prose - Using interlinear resources and critical apparatus as learning aids — not as shortcuts - Common exegetical insights unlocked by reading in the original (wordplay, etymology, repetition) Each unit provides a passage in Hebrew with full vowel pointing, a parsing worksheet, a translation template, and a set of guided reflection prompts. After completing the worksheet independently, you review annotated worked examples that explain each grammatical choice. Vocabulary review checklists appear at the end of every two units. The course builds cumulatively: skills from earlier passages are reinforced and extended as the texts grow slightly more complex. This course is written for learners who have completed an introductory Biblical Hebrew course or who have equivalent self-taught knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet and basic noun/verb concepts. It is suitable for seminary students, rabbinical program participants, independent scholars, and engaged laypeople who want to move beyond the alphabet into actual reading. No prior formal coursework is strictly required if you can already vocalize Hebrew script.