Biblical Hebrew I (Beginner) – Textbook Required – Zoom
What if the language that birthed the universe could also empower your spiritual journey? Hebrew, the original tongue of the Scriptures, offers invaluable insights that can deepen your understanding of God’s word. We will embark on a 15-week transformative journey designed to equip you with the essential skills for Hebrew language mastery. By the end of this course, you’ll not only grasp words and syntax but also integrate your learning into ministry and theology in ways you never thought possible.
Text Book (Required): The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner’s Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition by Ethylyn Simon. Click to order on Amazon.
This all-encompassing grammar resource is designed for novice learners. It provides a clear and systematic approach to mastering Biblical Hebrew through 30 lessons that feature verb conjugations, grammar and spelling tables, vocabulary lists, oral practice, exercises, narratives, biblical references, and the Book of Ruth. The material covers 95% of the words found more than 200 times in the Hebrew Bible. The edition comes with detailed explanatory end notes and spans 402 pages.
Instructor: Professor Charles Lu, PhD
Price: $175 for all fifteen sessions (per person)
Schedule: Saturdays 9AM – 11:30AM (HST) January 10 – April 18, 2026 – ( 2 1/2 hrs per week for 15 weeks. Going through first 10 chapters of the book.)
Live participation is not required – Recordings will be provided to all registrants
Click here to see the times for your time zone.
Course Objectives:
Students who successfully complete the course should:
1. Be able to recognize vocabulary words and recall the meaning of each vocabulary word learned during the course.
2. Be able to comprehend basic Hebrew grammar and syntax rules as they apply to nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions.
3. Be able to apply the knowledge gained in the course to his or her own study, translation, and teaching of the biblical texts.
4. Value reading from the “original” Hebrew for interpreting Old Testament and become motivated to embrace the discipline of Hebrew language study as part of an ongoing commitment to excellence in ministry.
Course Objectives: There will be a weekly quiz with 9 written questions and 1 in-person oral question.
Grading:
10% Attendance
50% Quizzes
15% Midterm
25% Final
Typical Class Time Spent:
30 min. Oral Exam
45 min. Going through 1 chapter per week (or 2 weeks depend on the content)
30 min. Break
45 min. Introduction to Genesis 1
About the instructor:
Professor Lu offers a wealth of talent in the development and implementation of educational technology tools and applications in a classroom setting whether in-person as well distance education. He has an in depth knowledge of biblical Hebrew as well as the Old Testament history; adept in creative teaching strategies that fully engage students in the learning process, and an accomplishment-oriented approach to teaching.
Additional Resources (Not Required):
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) Click to order on Amazon
Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old Testament: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and English Standard Version (ESV) Click to order on Amazon
The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible by Jeff Benner Click to order on Amazon
Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew: Based on the Commentaries of Samson Raphael Hirsch (English and Hebrew Edition) by Matityahu Clark Click to order on Amazon
